Day 2 (Golden Circle)

We began our second day in Iceland with a visit from a friendly black and white cat from the nearby farm, who came to say hello at the cabin (Slide 2). After enjoying a quiet breakfast in our Airbnb (Slide 3), we packed up for a full day exploring the Golden Circle, one of Iceland’s most iconic driving routes.

Before heading out, we stopped at GK Bakarí in Selfoss and picked up a loaf of sourdough bread with roasted sesame seeds—possibly the best bread in Iceland (Slides 24–25). We also had some salami and cheese, making it the perfect picnic lunch.

Our first scenic stop was Kerið Crater, a vivid volcanic caldera with striking red and black rock and a bright blue lake at the bottom (Slides 4–23). The rim trail offered breathtaking panoramic views, and though there’s a small entrance fee, it was well worth it. We took our time walking the rim and taking in the alien landscape.

Next, we headed north to Þingvellir National Park (Slides 26–57). We paid for parking at a kiosk when we arrived (Slide 27), then ate lunch in the parking lot, enjoying the bread, cheese, and salami. Þingvellir is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, forming a dramatic rift valley. The trail led us past Öxarárfoss, a powerful and scenic waterfall (Slides 29–31), and into a landscape filled with cliffs, clear streams, and lava flows.

One somber highlight was Drekkingarhylur (Slide 42), the Drowning Pool, where women were executed in the 1600s–1800s for alleged moral crimes. Though peaceful now, it holds a deep historical weight. The wildflowers, gorges, and views of the lake below added to the atmosphere (Slides 43–48, 51–54).

We continued east to the Geysir Geothermal Area (Slides 58–75), where steam vents, bubbling pools, and the erupting Strokkur geyser made for a thrilling visit (Slides 62, 71, 75). We climbed a nearby hill for a panoramic view of the geothermal valley (Slides 66–72), with Alaskan lupines blooming all around (Slide 64). Though the original Geysir is mostly dormant (Slide 74), the whole area felt alive with geothermal energy.

On the way back, we stopped at Bónus, one of Iceland’s popular budget grocery chains (Slide 77). Prices were high—529 ISK (about $4.37 USD) for a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce, for example (Slide 79). We grabbed a few Icelandic candy bars (Slide 80) and pre-prepared curry meals, which we warmed up later at the Airbnb.

Back at the cabin, the Icelandic horses were still out grazing in the golden evening light (Slides 81–82). We ended the day with another spectacular sunset at 11:47 p.m. (Slide 83). As before, the sky never truly went dark—Iceland is truly the Land of the Midnight Sun (Slide 84).