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Two Lands of the Midnight Sun
  • RobCowell
  • RobCowell

Two Lands of the Midnight Sun

Follow me as I visit two Arctic locations where the sun never sets to photograph the summertime landscapes of the far north. During my first week I meet up with other photographers in Greenland, then it is back to Iceland to explore the south coast. Read more
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  • RobCowellTwo Lands of the Midnight SunTraveler
    A very pleasant evening in Vik.
    The evening colours were nice, though the phone hasn't done them justice.No sunset colours over the stacks.

    An Evening in Vik

    July 3, 2023 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    The weather was definitely improving. My drive today was very pleasant and it was actually quite warm. When I arrived at the campsite in Vik it was a very pleasing warm summer evening.

    The campsite was much busier this time though, but it was still easy to get a place. I settled in then went to get an evening meal: there are several options within walking distance.

    Photo 2 is a general view across the campsite on my way back. Note the Dacia Duster 4x4 with the rooftop tent. These are extremely common and in one case there were three adults travelling and sleeping up there. It looked a nightmare as they juggled suitcases etc to exist. There were also a lot of people just sleeping in their rental cars too, which was even worse. At night they stored their suitcases under the car. It all looked very uncomfortable and at times must have been very cold.

    Later in the evening I attempted to photograph the sunset colours (around midnight!) but the sun was in the wrong direction for the sea stacks. I tried to get a nice shot of the church but I'll have to wait and see how that comes out when I process my camera photos. I got to bed about 1am. With it always being light at this time of year, you tend to lose track of what time it is.    Read more

  • RobCowellTwo Lands of the Midnight SunTraveler

    Vik

    July 4, 2023 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Today I drive back to Keflavik and one last overnight stay before my flight home tomorrow, though there's one more activity I'm looking forward to this afternoon.

    I realise that Vik has featured a lot in the Iceland leg of my adventure and you might get the impression it's a huge place and a hive of activity. This isn't actually the case because Vik is really quite a small place, but it is in a relatively central location along the south coast of Iceland, so it's a bit of a staging post really.

    Before leaving today, I drove up to the church to take some phone photos for you. Photos 1 and 2 show most of Vik: there's a little more, but not a huge amount, but the church is quite attractive and is typical of the churches in Iceland.

    It's a three hour drive to make it to my next event and I have three and a half hours available. No problem. 🤞🏻    Read more

  • RobCowellTwo Lands of the Midnight SunTraveler
    Such a lovely and relaxing place for both mind and body. Even better when shared. 😄First drink free then you pay with a wrist band you are givenThese pools are before you pay so you can just visit to these for free.

    A Luxurious Experience

    July 4, 2023 in Iceland ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    This has been an absolutely brilliant and fantastic adventure in two wonderful countries but there is no doubt my poor body is feeling the strain. I've carried camera equipment on and off boats and planes, I have hiked over a variety of terrain and all, it seems, with the minimum of sleep. 😂 Now it's time for a little luxury.

    The Blue Lagoon is a thermal spa where its waters come from the hot rocks 2000m below ground and is 38c when it enters the pool. It's not cheap to visit here but when you walk into the water the feeling you get makes it worth every item of whatever currency you use. I used Visa. 😂

    This is a popular attraction and is often the last thing travellers do before leaving Iceland. It is only about half an hour from the airport but interestingly, it is only about twenty minutes or so from where the last volcanic eruption occurred recently. I'd love to have seen that but it has stopped now ... for a while. [Edit: it erupted again less than a week after I got home. So annoying!]

    This is a lovely place and your first drink is free from the pool bar (photo 4) and I had a glass of sparkling wine. You must book in advance to get a time slot but once in you can stay as long as you like and I stayed a little under three hours. My time slot was 3pm.

    Afterwards I took a walk around the turquoise pools (last two photos) outside the complex then left to find my campsite for tonight. I needed to find somewhere to eat too, sort the van out and pack. I'd rather be in that lovely warm water though. 😁

    Strangely, this never fixed my sunburned nose though. 😓🙄 😂    Read more

  • RobCowellTwo Lands of the Midnight SunTraveler
    Since I was last here seems so long ago and yet, no time at all.
    Another in the series of one bite photos. 😂The obligatory aeroplane photo. 😄Taken whilst we taxi to the runway, even the airport is surrounded by lupins.View over Keflavik.Take my word for it, but the dark area is the lava field from Iceland's recent eruption.My last view of Iceland before the clouds arrived.

    Leaving Iceland

    July 5, 2023 in Iceland ⋅ 🌬 7 °C

    It didn't take long to find the campsite for my last night - it was less than 15 minutes away from the Blue Lagoon after all. My meal tonight was Domino's Pizza and soon it was time to sleep, with the alarm set to 5am

    I woke early, finished packing then went to return the campervan, which went smoothly. Then all of a sudden I was back under that orange meeting sign at Keflavik airport after what has been a most amazing, awesome and enjoyable adventure. I can hardly believe I have experienced the things I've done these past two weeks.

    I do hope you've enjoyed seeing the photos and reading about the journey and the events along the way. I have enjoyed capturing the moments on my phone for you to see and now I must look through the photos taken on my main camera, though that may take some time as I know there are thousands stored on the memory cards. I'm looking forward to seeing what I have.

    That's it then, it's over, but hopefully you will travel with me on the next adventure. In the coming weeks I'll be posting photos on Instagram where I'm @robcowellphotography so please check there if you feel you'd like to.    Read more

    Trip end
    July 5, 2023
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