In February 2012 I went to Iceland with Coláiste na nGael, “Coláiste na nGael is part of a very lively Irish language scene in Britain and Europe. Coláiste na nGael and its allies run Irish language events, which include classes, all over Britain. This year we are arranging one and two-day events in Essex, Leicestershire and Somerset.”
There is a strong and historic connection between Ireland and Iceland and our trip was to explore those connections accompanied by a TV crew who are making a film for the BBC and TG4 – Teilifís na Gaeilge. We had a wonderful time and here are a selection of pictures from the many I took:
basalt columns at Reynisfjara beach
Rocks at Reynisfjara beach – reminiscent of the Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim
Black beach at Reynisfjara
Glacial crevasse
Glacial rubbish
Even more hanging rocks at Reynisfjara beach
More hanging rocks at Reynisfjara beach
Hole in ice
House
Moulin in the glacier
Names of boats
Skógafoss waterfall
Sólfar at night… I like this ghostly picture!
Spoons
Alli our guide in the ice cave
Who knows what this is?
This may have been a whaling ship
The fabulous colours of Kerið
With our guide
Little geyser… at Geyser
Geyser
Anchors I think
Whale backbone
Whale bone
Evidence of whaling
Extraordinary objects
The maybe whaling boat
My favourite photo
There must have been some sun, look at the shadows!
More boats at Akranes on a stormy morning in February
Gullfoss Waterfall 3
Gullfoss Waterfall 6
Gullfoss Waterfall 7
Valentine’s day menu – Nepali style, in Reykjavik
Wilderness
Our leader!
Ice cave 4
Ice cave 3
Ice cave 2
Ice cave 1
Ice in the ice cave
On the glacier
Lief Erikson, striding away from the cathedral in Reykjavik
I love this, Lois — what an interesting reason for the trip, and what great photos to share with the rest of us. My own return trip is now just 6 weeks away, so I’m training harder than ever. Would you like to go there again?
I would love to go there! It is the most amazing place,we only had a very short trip so I definitely want to revisit. There is a most intriguing book set in Iceland called ‘The Flatey Enigma’ – I recommend it!
Thanks for the book recommendation! I’ll go on the hunt immediately. Here are two for you, in case you haven’t read them yet: “Jar City,” by Arnaldur Indridason (Vintage Books, London, 2004) and “The Tricking of Freya” by Christina Sunley (Picador, 2009). I hope you also know about our fellow WordPress blogger Eva Lind. You’ll know her focus from her blog name: http://idratherbeiniceland.wordpress.com
Lois Elsden 
Reblogged this on Lois Elsden and commented:
I have added quite a few more photos and also some captions!
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I love this, Lois — what an interesting reason for the trip, and what great photos to share with the rest of us. My own return trip is now just 6 weeks away, so I’m training harder than ever. Would you like to go there again?
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I would love to go there! It is the most amazing place,we only had a very short trip so I definitely want to revisit. There is a most intriguing book set in Iceland called ‘The Flatey Enigma’ – I recommend it!
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Thanks for the book recommendation! I’ll go on the hunt immediately. Here are two for you, in case you haven’t read them yet: “Jar City,” by Arnaldur Indridason (Vintage Books, London, 2004) and “The Tricking of Freya” by Christina Sunley (Picador, 2009). I hope you also know about our fellow WordPress blogger Eva Lind. You’ll know her focus from her blog name: http://idratherbeiniceland.wordpress.com
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Thanks! I’ll look those out – and I’ll look for Eva too!
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