Day 59 – Reykjavik, Iceland

Day 59 – Reykjavik, Iceland – Friday 13/7/12

Weather – Fine and Sunny 12C - 14C

Sunrise – 3.33am

Sunset – 11.31pm

Time difference - minus 10 hours ex Sydney (back an hour last night)

Well this is as far from home as we get, the most northern capital city in the world, Reykjavik. The weather is was lovely and sunny, albeit cool. It was not as cool as Shetlands was, but it just hung around 13C most of the day.

Rather than our usual sightseeing, today we elected to do something quite unique, in this unique country. We went for a swim in the Blue Lagoon.

The blue lagoon is a geothermal spa outside the city set in a lava field south of the capital. The Blue Lagoons warm water, and natural active ingredients (mineral salts, silica and blue-green algae) are said to soothe the body and de-stress the mid.

The lagoons white silica mud cleanses and exfoliates the skin, the blue-green algae nourishes and softens the skin, while the mineral salts balance and relax the body and soul. Now thats what the marketing blurb will tell you. I would not know if it does any of that, but it was a marvellous experience, and so glad we did it.

The drive there and back was through expansive fields of ancient basalt lava along the Reykjanes Peninsula, which is such a stark landscape. The snow capped mountains in the background provide a picturesque backdrop to what is a really unique landscape.

Once back on the ship, we had a quick bite, and ventured out again for a stroll around the harbour, which was quite breezy and cool. A little splash of the hands in the chilly Icelandic Sea was quite enough thanks:) We did have time to venture into the city proper for a look around, but I was not really up for it, I have been trying to shake a head cold for the last couple of days which is giving me the yipps.

Sun Princess left berth about 7pm, and we retraced our steps out of the port. Passing the island of Engey portside, and then steered a westerly heading. At 9pm we passed Gardskagi Point, and then steered a south westerly course towards Halifax through the North Atlantic Ocean.

The scan display system, which displays a plot of our path on a map in the cabin tv has been down since a few days before Dover, which is a real disappointment as it was great to be able to see where you are on the map. They have said they were going to have it fixed in Dover, but not done yet.

After dinner we went to a singer/comedian show by Dan Riley. He was quite entertaining, and we enjoyed that, as it has been a while since there has been any entetainment that we have been pleased with. We then danced the night away in the Wheelhouse Bar. The house band , Derringer, is quite good, so we tripped the light fantastic there.

The night sky up here is just amazing, broad daylight at midnight still, with a marvellous sunset sky gradually turning red. I dont know if it actually got dark at all last night, but we did not see darkness at all before we hit the sack at about 1am. So unique..still livin the dream :)