Day 14, Reykjavik first day

We have reached Reykjavik, capital city of Iceland. It's the largest Icelandic city with a population of about 140,000. This is our last day and night on The Prima cruise ship.
Our excursion takes us toward Keflavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula to the Vikingaheimar (Viking World) Museum. There is a lot to learn and very little time. We see the Viking ship, burial ship and other exhibits. We are reading one of the exhibits when the page begins to shimmer. It's an earthquake tremor too small to be felt. There's been increasing tremors in this area and warnings of volcanic eruptions.
Our next stop is the Blue Lagoon. Alicia has been looking forward to this place. It's a warm thermal lake with an amazing blue color. We have to shower completely naked in a room with other women before putting on our bathing suits. We've been advised to put conditioner in our hair and put it up. The minerals and silica in the water will apparently strip color and damage the hair. We walk or swim around finding the warmest spots in the lake. There's a cool breeze so I try to keep my shoulders under water. Our lagoon package includes a deep cleansing facial mud package and we can get a drink, either alcoholic or not, from the bar in the lagoon. It's fun and different. A couple of our tour guides say it is a rip-off but we've already paid for it and we found it enjoyable. Thankfully, we can shampoo our hair in the shower after the swim. They provided blow dryers and a environmentally safe plastic bag for our suits so we are comfortable walking back out into the cold.
Next our excursion takes us to the geothermal and volcanic areas nearby in southern Iceland. With increasing seismic activity in the area there are concerns about tourists getting too close to the volcanoes. Our guide does not take us there but I do believe we were in the vicinity of the eruption that occurs 3 days after we leave Iceland. I asked the guide how Icelanders feel about living in a geologically active area. His response is that they are used to it. They are happy when the volcano erupts because then the tremors and earthquakes diminish or stop. Hardy people, those Icelanders. Of course, I've never lived close to these types of areas so it's all new. Now I can say I've experienced an earth tremor.
On our way back to Reykjavik we drove through the 3rd largest city in Iceland, Hafnarfjordur. It's a fast growing community located about 10 km (6.21 miles) from Reykjavik.
Back on board we have dinner at the Japanese Grill, Hasuki. I drink sake. We have to pack and put our suitcases outside our stateroom by 10 pm. They will pick them up and have them ready for us to pick up in the morning after we disembark.
It's been a fun time. We have one more day in Reykjavik on our own before flying home.Baca lagi