Westman Islands – Heimaey – Day 7 – July, 19, 2021

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Don McCoy

Heimaey, literally Home Island, is an Icelandic island. At 13.4 square kilometres, it is the largest island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, and the largest and most populated island off the Icelandic coast. Heimaey is 4 nautical miles off the south coast of Iceland.

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Djupivogur – Day 6 – July 18, 2021

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Don McCoy

Djúpivogur is a small town and municipality located on a peninsula in the Austurland in eastern Iceland, near the island of Papey and on the fjord Berufjörður. This small town, situated at the mouth of Berufjörður fjord, on the south coast, dates back to the 16th century when the Danes established a trading post there.

In fact, a store from the olden days, Langabúð, can still be found in the town and many of the oldest houses (1788-1818) have been restored to their original glory. The scenic beauty of the surrounding area makes Djúpivogur a popular tourist spot and boat trips to the island of Papey are one of its highlights.

Djúpivogur is also home to one of Iceland’s more offbeat attractions: the Eggs of Merry Bay (Eggin í Gleðivík), 34 granite eggs representing various local bird species. Each oversized egg, created by local artist Sigurður Guðmundsson, is atop its own pedestal along in the town’s harbour.

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Seydisfjordur – Day 5 – July 17, 2021

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Don McCoy

Seyðisfjörður is a town and municipality in the Eastern Region of Iceland at the innermost point of the fjord of the same name. A road over Fjarðarheiði mountain pass connects Seyðisfjörður to the rest of Iceland.

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Day 4 – Akureyri – July 16, 2021

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Don McCoy

Didn’t get off the ship today so only a few pics.

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Isafjordur and Bolungarvik – Day 3 – July 15, 2021

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Don McCoy

It’s been difficult to get reliable internet at times so I’m behind in updating our journey. But here are some photos from the villages of Isafjordur and Bolungarvik.

Ísafjörður is a town in the Westfjords region of northwest Iceland. It’s known for its dramatic landscapes. The old town has wooden houses with corrugated tin roofs built by fishing merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Westfjords Heritage Museum has exhibits on the town’s maritime history, including a collection of old fishing boats. The old hospital, now a cultural center, contains archives and photography.

Bolungarvík is a small town and the only built-up area in the municipality of Bolungarvíkurkaupstaður in the northwest of Iceland, located on the Westfjords peninsula, approximately 14 kilometres from the town of Ísafjörður and 473 km. from the capital city Reykjavík

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Iceland – July 14, 2021 – Day 2

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Don McCoy

Today was our first full day on Viking Jupiter. After an early morning orientation session we left by bus for “the Golden Circle” tour. This was a full day as we visited Iceland’s UNESCO World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park. One of the notable and most interesting things about this area is that you can see the cracks in the earth where the tectonic plates of North America meet the Eurasian plate. Lots of cracks in the earth where these two plates meet and drift apart. Next we went to the Haukadalur geothermal area to see the hot springs and the Strokkur geyser. Following the geothermal area we made our way to Gullfoss to see the amazing “Golden Falls” of Iceland. They falls were stunning! On our way back to Reykjavik we went to amazing lava fields of the Hellisheioi mountain plateau.

It was a rainy, cold day. I had a hard time getting the photos I really wanted to get.

Click on thumbnail for larger photo.

  • Tectonic Plates Separated
  • Strokkur Geyser
  • Golden Falls
  • an incredible volume of water
  • Glacier in the background
  • Lava Field
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We have arrived Iceland

Posted on July 13, 2021 by Don McCoy

After a long day of traveling, spending way more time sitting around airports than actually flying, we have arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland. It’s been a very cool and overcast day today in the city. We were able to board the Viking Jupiter around 10:30 am. They are so happy to see all the passengers arrive. Turns out this is the very first sailing of the Viking Jupiter in well over a year. The crew is so happy to see us and it really shows. Everyone is super friendly and so excited to have us aboard. Looks like a new ship, everything is so fresh and sharp looking! The have allowed only about half the normal passenger count in an effort to keep everything safe (less than 500 passengers.) We had to show proof of vaccination mutiple times to get on the Delta flight, enter Iceland, and board the cruise ship. We were immediately tested for Covid on arrival via a saliva test. We will be tested everyday we are aboard. Viking has strict policies on wearing your mask, having your temperature taken before entering the dining facilities, and washing your hands before entry in several of the sections of the ship. I’m happy about all they are doing to keep everyone safe.

One of the highlights of seeing Reykjavik is seeing the historic church that dominates the skyline – Hallgrimskirkja. Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran parish church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 74.5 metres high, it is the largest church in Iceland and among the tallest structures in the country. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson, author of the Passion Hymns. Wikipedia

So here are some of the photos I took today.

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Coming up on July 12 !

Posted on July 4, 2021 by Don McCoy
We will be leaving in about a week for a trip aboard the Viking Ship Jupiter to Iceland…. more to come
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Day 17 – Street views from Amsterdam

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Don McCoy

Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are numerous bike paths.

According to the most recent figures, the 850.000 residents (442.693 households) of Amsterdam together own 847.000 bicycles. That represents 1.91 bicyles per household. 78% of people 12 years and older owns at least one bike. Bonus fact: each year between 12,000 and 15,000 bikes are fished up from city’s canals.

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Day 16 – Kinderdijk, Holland

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Don McCoy

Kinderdijk is a village in the the Netherlands’ South Holland province, known for its iconic 18th-century windmills. Its water-management network features 19 mills and 3 pumping stations, plus dikes and reservoirs that control flooding in the polder (low-lying land). Waterways, footpaths and bike trails crisscross the area, leading to the main visitors center and museums in preserved working windmills.

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