Hafnarfjordur/Reykjavik - July 27, 2021

We cruised on reasonably flat seas last night back to Reykjavik. The captain will not have to make any apologies.

This is our last full day in Iceland the land of fire and ice. Our first activity on Tuesday is to a get a COVID test so we can re-enter the USA. This will cost $160 for the two of us. We have our COVID vaccine passports that allowed us to enter Iceland. However we need a COVID test to re-enter the USA.

This was our view this morning to get our COVID test. The health care worker was energetic. I thought she might poke a hole into my brain to get her sample. Iceland has reinstated mask rules.

This was our view this morning to get our COVID test. The health care worker was energetic. I thought she might poke a hole into my brain to get her sample. Iceland has reinstated mask rules.

We asked our favorite bartender Richie to take our photo in our happy place. We enjoy sitting in the lounge on deck six with a panoramic view from the bow.Today we explored the Golden Circle. That includes the Guillfoss waterfall, Geysir hot spring and Thingvellir national park.

We asked our favorite bartender Richie to take our photo in our happy place. We enjoy sitting in the lounge on deck six with a panoramic view from the bow.

Today we explored the Golden Circle. That includes the Guillfoss waterfall, Geysir hot spring and Thingvellir national park.

We had a special surprise stop at a horse farm and hydroponic tomato garden. The owner and his wife had a vision 25 years ago to start this business. They have been very successful and advised the tourists piece of the business has become the most profitable segment.

We had a special surprise stop at a horse farm and hydroponic tomato garden. The owner and his wife had a vision 25 years ago to start this business. They have been very successful and advised the tourists piece of the business has become the most profitable segment.

The owner advised there are 100,000 horses in Iceland.. They were brought to Iceland by the Vikings and have a pure blood line going back 1,000 years. No horses have been imported to Iceland since the days of the Vikings.

The owner advised there are 100,000 horses in Iceland.. They were brought to Iceland by the Vikings and have a pure blood line going back 1,000 years. No horses have been imported to Iceland since the days of the Vikings.

Lunch consisted of tomato soup, bread and roast chicken. This is the dessert. It was served in a tiny flower pot with tomato jam. They also serve tomato flavored beer. They ship two tons of tomatoes to market every day. They maintain swarms of bees to pollinate their hydroponic plants.

Lunch consisted of tomato soup, bread and roast chicken. This is the dessert. It was served in a tiny flower pot with tomato jam. They also serve tomato flavored beer. They ship two tons of tomatoes to market every day. They maintain colonies of bees to pollinate their hydroponic plants.

Our next stop was the Guillfoss waterfall.

Our next stop was the Guillfoss waterfall.

Then on to visit the Geysir hot spring. The water is 212°f. The geyser erupts every 8 minutes.

Then on to visit the Geysir hot spring. The water is 212°f. The geyser erupts every 8 minutes.

Icelanders tell it like it is.

Icelanders tell it like it is.

Our final stop of the day was at the Thingvellir national park. This is the location where the tectonic plates for the North American and European continents meet. They are pulling apart at 2 centimeters per year.

Our final stop of the day was at the Thingvellir national park. This is the location where the tectonic plates for the North American and European continents meet. They are pulling apart at 2 centimeters per year.

The ship’s doctor travels with our tour group. He carries a mobile hospital on his back. Tauck knows their clientele very well and those clients are really old.

The ship’s doctor travels with our tour group. He carries a mobile hospital on his back. Tauck knows their clientele very well and those clients are really old.

The tourist industry is bouncing back in Iceland. The gift shop parking lots are filling up with bus loads of tourists once again.

The tourist industry is bouncing back in Iceland. The gift shop parking lots are filling up with bus loads of tourists once again.

Here is one final photo from Haimaey Island. I took this photo from our cabin balcony. We have a lovely huge balcony that we never use due to the weather. Tonight we will pack our suitcases and put them out in the hallway for a 5 am pick up. Tauck has so many passengers with flights late in the day that they arranged some excursions in the morning to help pass the time. Our flight to Chicago departs at 4:45 pm.

Here is one final photo from Haimaey Island. I took this photo from our cabin balcony. We have a lovely huge balcony that we never use due to the weather.

Tonight we will pack our suitcases and put them out in the hallway for a 5 am pick up. Tauck has so many passengers with flights late in the day that they arranged some excursions in the morning to help pass the time. Our flight to Chicago departs at 4:45 pm.

John Simons