Cruise to Iceland - Isafjordur, Iceland - 13th July 2023 Thursday

We were supposed to kayak in Isafjordur but it was cancelled due to weather. So we walked in the rain around an area smaller than St Francis Bay. Walked up to a vowing platform.

Rain and wind made for a miserable day. We walked until we found a coffee shop. Best hot chocolate and coffee. Tastes so good on those terrible weather days. We got back to the ship and after running 30mins I swam for 10 lengths in cold water. Day 6 in cold water swimming,I feel great, body tingles and I hope to continue swimming in cold water indefinitely.

Cruise to Iceland - Reykjavik - 12th July 2023 Wednesday

Very young city, modern with most buildings less than 100 years old, many made out of zinc but well maintained.

Buildings are artistic in construction and much of the materials used are locally sourced.

Michael found a new shirt at the very posh Farmers Market store and I found a disigual bag at a charity shop, grateful for my custom.

Massive church at the end of one of the sreets

The massive celebrity allcruise ship coming into dock

After a shuttle roundtrip into Reykjavik, we were grateful to get back to the ship where we had tea and sausage rolls and watched everyone get back onboard.

Cruise to Iceland - Silfra - 12th July 2023 Wednesday

What a day. We had a great breakfast, rushing it with anticipation of our trip to Silfra. Our difficulty is that we booked the paddling Silfra online as it was not an excursion available on board. So with no WiFi or voice call capability we rely on downloaded Google maps and proceed to our agreed meeting point at 8:00 am. As the time progresses we get more and more anxious that our bus is waiting for us elsewhere. At 9:00am a very harassed bus driver arrives. Clearly we were at the correct point whereas many of our onboard colleagues had missed their rendezvous points within Reykjavik town. Late and with a 45 minute journey ahead of us to get into the National Park, we drove off. The journey was beautiful with the fields covered with a purple Alaskàn lupid blanket of flowers.

We finally got to the parking area where we dressed in undersuits and oversuits - looking like yogi bears, walked to the start of the Silfra fissure, a metal platform from where we started the snorkelling.

Face masks, snorkel and flippers came next and we flapped down the metal platform into the water, learned the recovery position (floating on your back) and how to kick sideways in gigantic flippers. (still have not quite the hang of that).

Floating in freezing clear, cold water, 60m deep in some places and shallow enough to stand in others. Massive underwater rock formations made from collapsed rock and magma from volcanic incidents, covered in luminous blue, green, orange and yellow algae. No fish and so very quiet.

We snorkeled the route shown to us and nearly lost Michael into the lake, a no go zone due to strong currents. 

Marcin our guide thought Michael was Andreas and while shouting for Andreas to turn urgently, Michael unimpressed that Andreas was not listening, continued on his way. Marcin swam after Michael and physically turned him back.

A thirsty exercise, we removed our restrictive clothes and indulged in hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Once again our driver ushered us into the vehicle and headed back to the ship. Once in a lifetime as I do not think we will visit Reykjavik again.

Cruise to Iceland - at sea 11th July 2023 Tuesday

Early morning gym and rowing, breakfast and then pilates. A very informative lecture on Iceland. Creation of Iceland from the solidified magma of a volcano into the 5th largest, yet very recent island on earth. A fashion show and a great evening extravaganza - Motown. Early to bed and hopefully a decent night's sleep to prepare us for snorkling in Silfra.

Cruise to Iceland Tórshavn, Faroe Islands - 10th July 2023 Monday

Arrived in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands in rain and mist. After breakfast we caught the 800m shuttle into town. Walked in the rain all day, chatting to locals it is normal local weather. We walked to the lighthouse and fort that protected Tórshavn, Faroe Islands from pirates.

Walked into town and Michael and I became separated and bumped into each other an hour later. Grateful for each others company we saw the old town, still inhabited, with grass roofs for insolation and the church.

We continued up the mountain to see another gigantic church and some unusual houses.

We walked back down to the harbour and investigated the government buildings.

We nearly missed a very pointy structure well hidden. Dedication to a Danish king.

Drenched we walked into a coffee shop and after a fortifying cup of hot chocolate, coffee and chocolate brownie we carried on and into a small shopping mall where Michael got a new pair of black trousers, serviceable and hardy and very spiffy.

We bought some other souvenirs and bedraggled walked back to the shuttle area - taking a very long time due to my sometimes lacking sense of direction.

Cruise to Iceland - Faroe Island - 10th July 2023 Monday

Discovered yesterday that we have a drinks package, not coffees or speciality teas but most alcohol. Big mistake - we are not sure how but think it has something to do with booking the cruise on black Friday. There is a lovely - package 3 on both our cards that makes our drinks reverse themselves and all our alcoholic beverage bills zero. Even the waiters gratuity is included. Yesterday I drank 3 glasses of house bubbly and 1 margarita which was awful in comparison to the one with Jacqueline at the Beach hotel. Our cabin is bigger than usual and very comfortable though there are few TV channels and the TV is smaller than my smallest computer screen.

Cruise to Iceland - at sea 9th July 2023 Sunday

Today we went to gym then breakfast, a yoga class and then read our books until it was time to go and do a circuit class. Lots of exercise and eating which is typical of our cruising experience. We saw a great show and went to  bed exhausted. Heading towards the Faroe Islands and our first port of call.