It is 2:15 pm in Iceland and Tamy and I are now "killing" time in Keflavik (Iceland's international airport). Our flight leaves at 4:45 and we are scheduled to land in Minneapolis at 6:00 pm... I feel like I will be traveling through space and time. This is exactly opposite to the "red-eye" we took to get here. To say Iceland was fantastic would be the greatest understatement in my life. Much like my first trip to Africa, where Tamy and I safaried throughout Tanzania for 12 continuous days, this was a life altering experience. I have so many stories and images to share, but will just offer this one for now.
On day three Tamy and I began a day's long drive to our lodging near the Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon. I pointed the 4x4 east on the main "ring road" that encircles the island and planned to stop and shoot some of the waterfalls along our route. While there is a near infinite number of ephemeral falls that develop throughout the summer, a few are must see locations. Known internationally, a few of these are a part of nearly every short of long tour of the country. Having just left the solitude of the Westman (Vestmannaeyjar) Islands, we were sorely disappointed when we arrived at one Iceland's most spectacular falls. Known as Skogafoss, these falls form a giant sheet of water that is nearly as wide as it is high. I was so mesmerized by this natural wonder that I do not have the words to describe what I saw. Magnificent and uninspired... the two dichotomous thoughts that now describe what I felt. Uninspired because the valley was choked with tourists. Sure, I too was a tourist, but I was not rude and disrespectful to the space we shared. All I saw were self-abhorbed people taking selfies, blocking views and sidling up to photographers trying to lose themselves in the beauty. So disheartened, I took only five photos while Tamy did not even extract her camera from the pack.... opportunity lost!(?)
In the end, this was an opportunity made. Three nights prior to the end of our travels we found ourselves in a loop back towards the falls. With lodging only 80km from Skogafoss we decided to sleep during the day and visit the falls at midnight. Sunset in southern Iceland was at 12:03am on June 21 and we arrived at 11:00pm. With only six people milling about and taking pictures, we had this place to ourselves. The photo shared is at sunset, made around 12:00 am....This is now how I will always remember Skogafoss.
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