Find Magical Places, We Must!

    Today was seriously the most magical of days!  We got up a bit earlier than yesterday, knowing that we wanted to stop at a few places along the way.  The first of which was only about 15 minutes from our campsite, but almost no one else was there and it was so cool to find.  We hiked to Yoda Cave, or Hjorleifshofdi Cave and the view from inside did not disappoint.  

     After finding Yoda, the kids found an old trail and hiked a little ways straight up the cliff.  Drew was feeling adventurous, so he continued on another path and finally reached the top.  The rest of us just grabbed some snacks in the camper and waited till he got back.  

My kids are the super tiny dots about three-fourths up the cliff.

     After leaving the Yoda Cave area, we headed east over the  Eldhraun Moss Fields towards Fjadrargljufur Canyon.  The scenery we've driven through in southern Iceland changes constantly.  One minute we're zooming past moss fields that look like small stacks of boulders covered in a thick green carpet, the next minute we're in a more barren, yellow field filled tall grasses and the occasional farm.  All the while, on the northern side of the road there are huge rock formations which give way to black sand with snow-capped mountains ahead.  Throw in waterfalls and sheep at every turn, and there is always something to look while we drive from point to point.  

The picture does not do the moss fields justice.

     We finally reached Fjadrargljufur Canyon just before lunch. If any of you are "Beliebers," or fans of Justin Beiber, you may recognize this stop as a scene from one of his recent music videos.  In fact, his use of the canyon made it so popular that the Icelandic government had to close it for a few months due to overuse.  Thankfully for us, it was open again.  The canyon has been my screen saver at work for a couple of weeks now, and the pictures (as usual) do not do this ancient canyon any justice.  It was breathtaking!  

     Back in "Sharky," we drove another hour and a half to one of the most beautiful spaces I think I've ever been!  We headed further east to the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and Diamond Black Sand Beach.  Mike really wanted to get a boat tour through the glacier lagoon, and we literally got the last six tickets for the day, hopped right on the duck boat, and took a forty minute boat ride in a giant circle around the incredible floating glaciers.  As much as Mike really wanted to go on this tour, I was the one that was in complete shock and awe over the beauty of these glacial beasts up close.  It was truly magical! Our guide even broke off a big part of a thousand year old ice for us to hold and taste.  We got to break off our own little pieces and let the glacial ice melt in our mouths.  So awesome!  And, don't tell anyone, but Mike brought a big chunk home for tonight to put in his bourbon.  

     The last stop was right across the street at Diamond Black Sand Beach.  It was again, an impressive sight!  Some of the ice from the glaciers break off, float out to sea, and then wash up again on the black volcanic sand.  Incredible!!!!

Mike proposed again with a giant piece of ice!

     Three magical places made our day complete.  And, we've had the best weather we could have asked for...I mean, yeah...it's cold...but that's Iceland.  But, the sun has been shining, we haven't had terrible winds, and every sight has been more amazing than the last.  We are in Deppe Six Pack Heaven!  We drove about another hour east to Hofn, a neat little fishing village and the "gateway to eastern Iceland."  We'll camp here tonight and head off for more adventures in the morning.   Good night, friends!