So, here we go - ÞINGVELLIR.
Ahh - that strange character? The "Þ"? We believed that those who know pronounce it as "th", we simply switched to a "P" - the raw savages us!
ÞINGVELLIR.is Iceland's National Park and the World's UNESCO Heritage site.Since it is not far from Reykjavik it is easy to reach by car or by a bus and it is an important part of so called "Golden Circle Tour" that takes tourists to the "most interesting" sites of South-West Iceland.
There is no doubt that Pingvellir National Park is of interest to many people: geologists, naturalists, historians and photographers alike.
The park is on the northern edge of Iceland's the largest natural lake named Þingvallavatn
(vatn = lake).
This is another place in Iceland where one can observe the continental rift and the separating continents first hand - it is even more dramatic and telling than the Bridge Between The Continents south of Keflavik.
They are only about 50 km apart.It is a part of the same rift but it looks totally different. And as we look at the photo Eurasian plate is to the right and the North American plate to the left. Pretty neat.
When we arrived it was - of course - raining. Hard.
Who said that a photographer should travel with a clear plastic bad to put over a lens? At least that! And who knew better but completely ignored all of it? Served me right. I lost way too many snaps to the rain drops on the glass.
By the way: this is a really good website to check for those who wish to know the weather forecast: http://en.vedur.is/
A million years from now this trail should be several kilometers wide.
Below is the photo of the rendering of the people's assembly, the AlÞhing, to illustrate the point.
It was strange to be there - at a place where people started to come together in the year of 930 - almost 1100 years ago. They came from all over Iceland; bringing their suggestions how to build the country, their joys and grievances, their up and down stories of their every-day lives. The remains of their booths built from turf and stone remain in the area until today.
The AlÞhing is seen as the first democratic parliament in the world.
The Icelanders kept on meeting here for two weeks every year until 1799. Then there was a 45 year gap in the meetings (politics, what else) but in 1844 the assembly renewed itself - this time in Reykjavik where it resides until this day.
That's why ÞINGVELLIR is so sacred to the country of Iceland and why it is under UNESCO today.
As the plates are separating the flatland that forms the valley floor (seen from the trail) are slowly sinking. It is a snail pace by our human standard - but it is a downward movement nevertheless.
EVERYTHING is in a constant motion. Here we truly feel the time.
We found this structure nearby the park - not sure - but that's how we imagine people living here so many centuries ago.
Perhaps we will make it back to this remarkable spot on Earth! One day ....
As one of the photographers in cyberspace have said:
"The best thing about Iceland? It is going back."
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