Final Morning - Return Flight and Thoughts

I am sad to have to bring this adventure to a close.  By all means, if you ever decide to go to Iceland, GO!  I cannot tell you enough how beautiful it is, how incredible the food is, and how nice the people are.  Plus, they speak English!  That makes travel all that much easier. 

Slide Show of Developed Photos

I have been trying to share images and video with you as they happen real time.  The positive for that is that you get to experience everything in the moment with me.  The downside is that most of the images I have shown are unedited, undeveloped and untouched.  Basically, they are raw.  I want to share some slideshows of various images AFTER they have been developed using technology.

Flatey Island

Flatey Island was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  It has only one road and is so peaceful.  Icelandic people come here to relax and get away during the summer months.

Puffins!

The puffins are so very cute.  Honestly, they are very hard to photograph.  I almost thought I wasn't going to get to see any.  They like to hide in their rock dwellings and then dart down really fast to the to catch some fish.  They are much faster than penguins!

Breathtaking Countrysides

Everywhere you look there is a postcard to be taken!  I took so many photographs is mountains and hills - just because I don't think I get to see them that often.  It really makes it easy to take a good picture when you have a small colorful house in the shot with a majestic landscape in the background.

Sheep and Horses

I should have told you about the sheep.  They are EVERYWHERE.  The Icelandic people release them to the mountains to eat and live during the summer. Then, during the winter, they go into the hills to feed them and keep them safe during the wintertime.  It is very trusting to let them go up and away like that.  They don't fight over who gets which lamb at the end of they day. Some are marked. Some are tagged. At they end of they day, the Icelanders live in peace.

Waterfalls and Geysers

.So, I can honestly say that I think it is hard to take good photos of waterfalls.  The geysers are very mystical and neat.  I hope you like what I have shared with you so far.  I did notice that in the beginning of my travels, I spelled geyser differently.  In Iceland, they spell it, "geysir."  So, ifyou noticed a difference, it is because I have switched back to American spelling.

A Troll Photobomb! 

I know that you are mostly interested in the trolls.  I am so lucky to be surrounded by real Icelandic people who can really give some background on them!  Everywhere you look in Reykjavic, there are reference to these creatures who spend so much time under ground.  I wanted to share with you some more that I have learned today.

A troll jumped into Mrs. Crawford's picture last summer. Tricky thing isn't it?

Troll Kids

Mr. S. found this image on the internet of a baby troll. It isn't surprising that I haven't seen any because they sleep so much and stay underground.

I mentioned that trolls live a long time the other day.  But, they can live for SEVERAL hundred years!  But trolls do not have a ton of kids in their lives.  This is largely due to the fact that they spend so much time sleeping.  Trolls also take much longer to grow up.  A child that is 1 years of age is basically 10 in "troll age."  Now, they don't look like 10-year-olds. They look like babies at this point.  Troll children do not live one their own or even particularly with their family. For the first 15 years, they live in a communal group called a "creche."  What really happens is whichever adult troll is awake, is the one who has to watch the children who are not sleeping.  I guess it means that all hands are on deck! As the trolls get older, they sleep more - sometimes for even years!  A newborn/young troll will only sleep for weeks at a time.  Because the trolls spend so much time underground they don't mind it much.  They don't have a day and night like we do - they have "sleep time" and "awake time."  Trolls children are hairy; so, you might think that is a little weird.  They have dolls like you do - almost like Ken and Barbie dolls.  It wouldn't shock me if some of the little handmade dolls I have seen in the gift shops are made by them!

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Don't worry!  Even though I am returning home.... I will be sharing more about trolls!  Stay tuned!