For this second release outside the Italian borders we refer to a week-long trip we did in August 2015 and which left a deep mark on us. Obviously when we say Iceland we use a big word: our experience was limited to a small stretch of the southern coast, based in Reykjavík with excursions by minibus which still included the return to the hotel in the evening. Yet in so little time and space we have concentrated so many accessible places that it is certainly worth the trip, with its good 4 hours by plane. Let's say immediately that in early August we found temperatures between 9-10 ° C and 15-16 ° C, a lot of wind in some particular points but we never suffered from the cold or the rain. We visited waterfalls, geysers, hot steam springs, seaside towns, natural parks and last but not least the capital Reykjavík which deserves at least a day dedicated to its exploration; all this with the help of footbridges and facilitated paths for wheelchairs that are truly remarkable, as we will see from time to time. Let's start with one of the most famous places, Gullfoss (golden waterfall), which is also one of the easiest Icelandic names (you will see the others ...):
Another very famous site is the Thingvellir Park, an area of volcanic origin where you can clearly see the fault that divides the European continental shelf from the American one:
But let's take a closer look at this fault; in the western part of the island there is this bridge that allows you to pass from the European continental shelf to the North American one, crossing the fault itself:
And the fire? That is an underground presence, which occasionally comes out impetuously, as in this site whose name, Geysir, is known all over the world:
But let's go back to the water of the falls, with this Seljalandfoss, where you can approach up to under the jump and ask whoever accompanies you to take the tour behind the waterfall:
Or there is this other majestic Skogafoss waterfall, in the immediate vicinity of which we find a nice restaurant with a viewpoint, accessible and equipped with facilities for the disabled:
And in the same stretch of coast we meet the town with the simplest name in Iceland, Vik, few houses by the sea:
and immediately after we can look out at the Cape Dyrholaey viewpoint, with an adjoining river mouth:
Now let's see how Icelanders warm up. This is the hot spring (water emission temperature 100 ° C) of Deildartunguhver, which with its 180 liters of water per second has been used for heating since 1925:
Another Icelandic peculiarity are horses, a particularly protected native species; it is easy to meet some specimens of these foals running free in the meadows:
But perhaps the most suggestive place we have found is Hraunfossar, a symphony of waterfalls and streams in which the effort to remove architectural barriers has been even more remarkable than what we have become accustomed to so far:
Let's go back to the sea, to visit the town of Stykkisholmur, a small fishing port, where we found Skurinn, an accessible restaurant with an equipped bathroom:
It is time now to visit Reykjavík, this capital that is home to almost all of Iceland's 300,000 inhabitants: it is a beautiful modern city, well maintained, with a beautiful waterfront and many tourist and cultural attractions. Let's start by giving an idea of the waterfront:
the monument to the Viking ship:
the Harpa building, home to many cultural initiatives:
the old port, with the excellent, accessible and equipped Kopar restaurant:
Sculptures abound in the streets of Reykjavík:
A look at the reproductions of whales in the dedicated museum:
Let's now move on to visit the city center, starting with the imposing Cathedral:
Near the cathedral there is a garden dedicated to the sculptor Einar Jonsson:
It's time to think about a restaurant: we have found one that we could define as Italian-Icelandic. It is called Primo and is fully accessible and equipped:
Still around the streets of Reykjavík (the rainbow is in preparation for Gay Pride):
Let's take a look at the town hall, a building open to the public also for cultural events:
and this is the most original sculpture (dedicated to all employees ...):
And to finish the tour of Reykjavík, a look at the objects exhibited in the National Museum, which traces the history of Iceland from 800 AD, when the first monks landed, until 1944, the year of independence from Denmark; a short story compared to ours but full of peculiarities and interesting things:
and this bronze figurine, datable to 1000 AD, could represent the god Thor holding his hammer, but it could also be a Christ holding the cross:
But you can't leave Iceland without stopping by what is perhaps the country's most famous tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon, near Grindavík, about 39 km from the capital Reykjavík. It is a thermal plant with a tank fed by the waters of the municipal heating system, after they have exchanged heat and dropped to a temperature of 37-38 ° C. The blue color of the lagoon waters, in particular, is due to the presence of silica, limestone, sulfur and blue-green algae. The facility is perfectly equipped for people with motion disabilities who can easily access the tub, take a shower and change in large changing rooms.
This is only a part of all the things we managed to visit in one week; there are many other accessible attractions and many more that we have not been able to reach given the time limits. The important thing is to rely on a good tour operator who knows the problems of "seated warriors".
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