The Golden Circle is a trifecta of beauty and heritage. Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss compose this wonderful journey. It is the bread and butter of Iceland's tourism opportunities. We managed to make it to all three in the early morning, so we could catch the sunrise. The scenery is breathtaking. There are no places quite like these, especially Þingvellir.
Þingvellir, or "The Assembly Plains" are of extreme cultural importance to Iceland. It is here that the whole country would meet to recite law, conduct lawsuits and socialise. Iceland did not have a proper city until after 1950 when Reykjavík began to swell, so some historians call the Alþing at Þingvellir Iceland's temporary city. Nowadays, its mostly a tourist or ceremonial place. Folk from the area return to the church here to have their children baptised or confirmed for example. This is definitely a place of strong social energy. It sort of vibrates with importance. If you are interested in learning more, I recommed reading Jesse Byock's Viking Age Iceland.
Ah, wondrous Geysir. This is one of the few Icelandic words that has made it into nearly every language. All geysers in the world get their name from the original Geysir here in Iceland. Actually a complex of geyser activity, you can come here in hopes of seeing them go off...
... And they rarely disappoint.
Eternal Gullfoss. The word means "Golden Falls" in Icelandic. This is one of Iceland's most important and beautiful waterfalls. If you can only one foss on your trip, this is the one to see. Niagra Falls pales in comparison.
Thats all for now!
-Nick
Awesome pics! Can't wait to show Gamma!
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