South Iceland 冰岛南部
Today, we joined the South Iceland tour through Viator to explore the southern coast, visiting glaciers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches. Iceland's ever-changing weather had taught us not to be fooled by the clear blue skies in the morning, so we brought our raincoats and warm jackets whenever we ventured out. We walked to the Bus Stop #12 in the morning. A pickup bus collected the eagerly waiting tourists at the bus stop, transporting us to a gas station on the city's outskirts. Over there, tourists went to their designated destination buses. Fortunately, the pickup bus was also our tour bus, so we didn’t have to get off the bus. During the journey, the bus made three stops for breakfast and restroom breaks, which felt somewhat redundant.
First, we arrived at Skogafoss, a majestic waterfall with cascading waters, often creating rainbows when the sunlight hits the spray. The land below was relatively flat, allowing visitors to approach the water curtain of the waterfall, but the mist required raincoats to stay dry. Climbing the 465 steps to the top of the waterfall was a bit tiring, but the effort was rewarded with a breathtaking view of the unique landscape of Iceland's southern coast, especially when the weather was great. According to Connie, there were only a few tourists, and taking photos was a breeze two years ago when she visited here. However, today, it was a long line of people winding up the stairs.
Leaving the waterfall, we reached the black sand beach. Connie still vividly remembered being almost blown away by the wind during their last visit two years ago. Today's weather at the black sand beach was even worse with the fierce winds and pouring rain. Our tour guide repeatedly emphasized that we should not touch the seawater, which could be extremely dangerous. Braving the elements, we managed to walk along the beach and take a few photos at the foot of the mountains before returning to the bus, completely soaked despite our raincoats.
Our third destination of the day was the magnificent Solheimajokull Glacier. Hiking on the glacier required the expertise of a specialized guide, which our tour did not include. We admired the breathtaking views from the glacier's edge before proceeding to our next destination.
Our final stop for the day was the renowned Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland's most famous waterfalls. This tall waterfall created a mesmerizing curtain of water. What made it truly special was the pathway that allowed visitors to walk behind the waterfall, providing a unique and thrilling perspective. However, venturing through the waterfall meant being enveloped in a refreshing mist, impossible to stay dry. Although we were soaked, the experience of being so close to this natural wonder was genuinely unforgettable.
As the bus returned to the city, the surroundings were shrouded in dense fog, significantly reducing visibility on a particular stretch of the road. Fortunately, we were not responsible for driving, allowing us to relax and even nap on the bus. Our journey had begun at eight in the morning and stretched until seven in the evening.
For dinner, we prepared a delicious tomato mushroom egg drop soup, bacon stir-fried cabbage, roasted chicken wings, and some grilled pork belly bought from the supermarket. As always, homemade dishes tasted wonderful.
6/24:大清早公寓门口的彩虹街没游客非常安静。今天参加当地旅游团去南岸看冰川,瀑布和黑沙滩。都说冰岛的天气变化莫测,千万不可让早晨看见的蓝天白云给蒙骗了,每天出门必备雨衣,羽绒服。今天上午出门时天气还算帮忙,我们先来到斯可加瀑布(Skogafoss),这个瀑布非常高,水冲击地面溅起的水花在阳光下常常能看到彩虹。下面的陆地很平坦,游客能走到瀑布的水帘附近,但一定要有雨衣。沿阶梯可以走到瀑布的顶端,465级台阶走上去虽有点累但值得,在上面能俯瞰冰岛南岸特有的地貌。佩民二年前来这里时游客稀少,照片随便拍,而今天爬阶梯都是弯弯扭扭一条长龙。
离开瀑布来到了黑沙滩,佩民对二年前来黑沙滩时人都要被吹走的经历记忆非常深刻。而今天这里的天气更糟糕,来到海边时狂风暴雨,导游一再强调绝对不能碰海水,会有去无回的。顶着大风大雨在沙滩上走一走来到山脚下拍几张照片,雨衣根本挡不住雨水,全身湿漉漉的回到大巴。
今天第三个景点是冰川(Solheimajokull Glacier),徒步上冰川必须有专门的向导带领,我们只是走到冰川边上饱饱眼福之后就赶往下一个景点。
塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss),也许是冰岛最著名的瀑布之一。瀑布很高,像水帘洞,最大特点是游客可以沿着水帘后面的通道走到瀑布的后面,从里看外感觉很不一样。穿越瀑布时被水气溅湿是绝对的。反正今天一整天是湿了又湿。
大巴往返城市里时,又是大雾笼罩,有一段路的能见度相当低,幸好我们不用自己开车,还能在车上打瞌睡。早上八点上的大巴晚上七点才回到住宿。番茄蘑菇蛋花汤,培根炒白菜,加上烤鸡翅膀和超市买的烤五花肉,自己做的菜味道总是好吃。