June 9 – Lake Mývatn to Laugarbakki

Today is mainly a day for driving the countryside and enjoying Iceland.  We saw a few waterfalls, lots of horses,

and wide open spaces.

We stopped in Akureyri (a port of call during the cruise) for lunch and to take a look around. 

and there was a street with lots of restaurants and shops.  

The church on the hill was very interesting.

We ended up having burritos for lunch at a Mex restaurant.

The countryside had an incredible amount of lupine in bloom.  Mary was obsessed.

We stopped briefly at Stóriðjulínur, with its overlook of the valley. 

About this time Mary discovered that the strong winds had managed to place what looked like a boulder on the INSIDE of her lens…leaving a massive dark spot on many of her pictures.  Since the lens is sealed there is no way she can get it out.  Makes one wonder how on earth the large piece of whatever could ever get inside the sealed lens.  Bummer.  So Mary shoots with her telescopic when feasible, and we both use the iPhones as well.

And earlier Paul took a couple of minor tumbles, not hurt but his expensive camera took the lead in the falls. The camera still works but it has lost some of its sharpness.  We both have good cameras so each of us backs the other up.  This time, however ...

We drove along some of the fjords in the north and ended up in a hotel in the middle of nowhere, Laugarbakki.