Iceland Day 4: Olive Bread and Tomato Vines, Fairy Land, and Mountain House

Hjálparfoss: the meeting point where two rivers join and fall together over basalt lava formations.  Also, plenty bugs and no bathrooms.

Gjáin Valley: The fairy wonderland that appears out of nowhere.  Renting a 4WD vehicle was worth it just to get here, and it was my happiest surprise of the trip.  This also happens to be the area where Arya debates water dancing on GOT.  

I wanted to bring the kids here--they would be just as excited by the views from every bend.  A waterfall kaleidoscope.

It was tempting to swim, but memories of cold water nausea were still vivid from Glymur Falls.

Háifoss is Iceland's 3rd tallest waterfall at 400 feet, pictured here with Granni falls (a word that means "neighbor").  Just when I everything would underwhelm after the stunning scenery we witnessed that day, we came here and I felt hungry to explore again.

As we approached the thunderous falls, the mist and sunshine combined for a gorgeous rainbow that was impossible to catch on camera.

Naps in the moss beds.

Sigölduglijufur Canyon: a fabulous gorge in the highlands that was the only site to disappoint.  Arriving a couple hours earlier, we would have experienced the photographer's dream turquoise waters and vibrant greens, but at sunset, it was only pretty (and pretty windy).

Hints at turquoise:

The boys worked hard on our Mountain House meals.  We learned that you have to be STARVING to think they are good.  Our experience in Washington weeks before left us thinking that Mountain House was delicious and we would be willing to eat it for dinner in a bind, but Iceland told us that you have to be backpacking and exhausted without any other possible options to think it is worth it.

The only thing worse than the bagged food is my high water 7/8 pants that look like an 80s accident.

Quote It:

Shireen: "Patagonia pants might as well be Kirkland."

Cory: "Gucci!"

Kristen: "I have to imagine my kids dying to stop laughing at inappropriate moments."

Shireen: "Welcome to Iceland, where people nap in the moss."

Shireen: "I wanted to do something that felt productive but actually wasn't so I did my hair."