Last Friday night, my mom, dad and I went to Joshua Tree for a night of stargazing and night photography. We were wanting to catch some shooting stars during the Perseid Meteor shower and we settled at Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park for our viewing point.
The conditions weren’t very favorable for a stargazing night. The moon was three-quarters full so it would’ve been very difficult to see any of the fainter meteors. Photographing the galactic center of the Milky Way was also challenging since it was in the same direction as the moon.
Still, we were able to see a couple bright meteors during the night and we got a couple interesting shots (although none with a meteor in them!). With the help of my dad, I got a few shots with my Maglite pointing into the sky. There are a lot of these images out there but I had to get a few of my own!
We will be looking at a couple locations for astrophotography during the next full moon, which falls on September 1st. Let us know if you have any good spots to suggest!
No road trip on the Golden Circle route would be complete without visiting Iceland’s popular attraction: Gullfoss Waterfall. Nicknamed the “Golden Falls,” the water flows in the Hvítá River and forms one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls. Above the main drop are cascades of smaller falls that leads to the main plunge. Gullfoss splits into two separate falls, the first falls measuring 11 meters and the second measures 21 meters, which dumps the river 32 meter (105 ft) into a canyon. Normally, 30,000 gallons of water flows every second into the canyon, but can produce up to 500,000 gallons of water per second!
Even where we were several hundred yards away from the drop, we could feel the sheer force of the falls. It was very windy and the waterfall threw cold mist all the way to the parking lot. We saw some other tourists that didn’t want to get too close to the falls in fear of getting wetter and cold. Surprisingly enough, it is actually less windy and drier as you get closer to the falls. At the lookout point, you can see up close the smaller cascades and get a closer look of the main drop. You can also go to the upper viewpoint, which has a spectacular view of the vast landscape that surrounds the falls. Rainbows are frequently seen over the falls on sunny days.
Gullfoss may not exist today if it weren’t for Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who is the daughter of Tómas Tómasson. Investors had looked into creating a hydroelectric power plant to harness the power of the falls, which would have effectively destroyed Gullfoss. Legend has it that Sigríður was so determined to protect the falls that she threatened to throw herself into the falls to save Gullfoss. Her protests did help prevent the plant from being built, although another major factor the plant didn’t get built was due to lack of funding from investors. The falls are now protected and a memorial of Sigríður Tómasdóttir sits above the falls.
Needless to say, Gullfoss is truly an amazing site to visit and experience. Check out the short video clip below to see and hear the force of Gullfoss:
It’s a little surprising how close to each other many sites are on the Golden Circle in Iceland. Just 29 kilometers east of Seljalandsfoss, you’ll be able to see the waterfall Skogafoss, nicknamed the “Curtain Waterfalls.” This impressive fall is 60 meters tall, 25 meters wide and is famously recognized for it’s rectangular shape and straight drop that forms the look of a shower curtain.
Skogafoss is also very easily accessible, which is probably another reason it is a popular destination for tourists. The ground to the fall was flat and, other than some rocky areas, it was an easy walk right to the waterfall base. Mat’s mom and dad could enjoy strolling around the falls without any stress. If you don’t mind getting cold and wet, you can get really close to the base of the falls. Even from a distance, you can feel the force of the winds and mist produced at the base of the falls. There are also campgrounds and hostels available if you wanted to stay there.
There is also a path with stairs to the right of the falls to climb to the top of a lookout point. It takes a good five minutes to climb all of the steps to the top, but it’s definitely worth it. From there, you can see up close the crest of Skogafoss, as well as a spectacular view towards the Atlantic Ocean. You can then follow a trail that leads upstream to smaller falls and green open fields.
Skogafoss will always have a place in our hearts because it is where I proposed to my fiancée. It was a perfect location and there were very few people to allow us to share our moment in private. We will definitely revisit and spend more time by this beautiful waterfall.
On the last leg of our Europe trip, we planned a layover in Iceland for three days during our return trip to preview the country. (It was also significantly cheaper to purchase flights with a layover in Iceland than purchase direct return flights). We quickly had our breaths taken away of Iceland’s natural beauty and it was clear that we would be returning for a longer stay in the future.
That doesn’t mean we couldn’t see a lot in just a few short days. If you only have a short amount of time in Iceland, the Golden Circle route is only 300 kilometers (186 miles), which means you can cover plenty ground with a rented car. Many of Iceland’s most visited and iconic spots are situated on this route and enabled us to get a glimpse of the natural beauty the country has to offer.
One of the stops we made was at the famous Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls. It’s only 1.5 hours away from Reykjavik and 2 hours away from Blue Lagoon. The waterfall’s height is an impressive 60 meters (200 feet), but what makes it truly unique and one-of-a-kind is you are able to hike behind the waterfall. It is mesmerizing and you can really feel the power of the falls with the windy mist it generates.
With the mist constantly being thrown in every direction by the waterfall, it may be advisable to bring a waterproof jacket or rain poncho to keep dry and warm. It can also be a challenge photographing behind the falls because of the mist. I had to constantly and quickly wipe mist off my lens every few seconds just to avoid having water droplets in my photos. And there are access points to the back of the falls on both sides of the waterfall, which allows you to see the falls at every angle possible and maybe find some drier areas.
Seljalandsfoss is no doubt a must visit on the Golden Circle and can provide many picturesque opportunities for visitors and photographers. If you are afforded a longer stay, there are places to stay and you can camp near the falls, which may provide some other amazing photo opportunities.
We were only in Iceland for a few days but we really believe it’s the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s hard not to enjoy and relax when you have sweeping views of its breathtaking landscapes and pristine natural wonders.
But if you need to take your relaxation to the next level, then you definitely have to check out the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa.
Only a 45-minute drive from the capital of Reykjavik, it is a very popular attraction in Iceland. As its name suggests, the lagoon is generally a blue color, although its color varies by the time of day. The facility is a modern contemporary design and has a restaurant, a couple lounges, and a gift shop.
Of course, the main attraction is the lagoon. The price of standard admission is 45 Euro, but we bought a “comfort” package that included admission, towels, drinks and some skin care products. In order to keep the lagoon as clean as possible, there are strict rules we have to follow. You have to leave your shoes in your lockers and they can’t be taken outside of the locker room. Before entering the lagoon, you have to shower anddry yourself off and you’ll have to do the same when exiting the lagoon to the locker room.
Once we got into the lagoon, that’s when the fun and relaxation began. Temperatures of the waters are around a nice 40 degrees Celcius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) and there are a variety areas to enjoy different experiences. There is a bar in the middle of the lagoon to order beverages, from cocktails to coffee or hot chocolate. The lagoon is shallow throughout but there are some deeper areas to swim in and I loved sitting near the vents where the hot water shoots out. There are also waterfalls, caves and you can even opt for a massage in the lagoon. You can also put on Silica mud on your face and body, which is supposed to be good for your skin. At the very least, it’s fun to put on and goof off!
Because the lagoon is rich in minerals, the lagoon is known to have healing powers for those with skin conditions and there are research facilities that use the lagoon for developing skin treatments. We were a little skeptical of this claim but we may have also seen a firsthand experience of its healing powers. A few days prior, Mat’s mom developed a pretty severe eye infection that made her eye very red and itchy. We tried antibiotics but they did not help to cure the infection and she had to wear an eyepatch, but she was still up for taking a dip in the lagoon. After spending just a little time in the lagoon, she said her eye started to feel a little better. A couple hours later, we saw she no longer needed the eyepatch and her eye looked much less red. By the next day, her eye was practically healed and we were pretty stunned at the progress of her healing. We didn’t have an explanation for it other than our trip to the lagoon, so if you have troubling skin, it may a great place to receive some healing!
Not only is Blue Lagoon a place of relaxation, but it is also very beautiful part of Iceland’s landscape and is a must-visit attraction. For more information, you can visit their website.
