Just when we think we have seen Iceland, we come to a spot that is more powerful and beautiful than any that went before.

Very scenic site

Many colors

Scenic village

These lava fields are extremely rough, nearly impossible to traverse

I made a mistake, but I’ll circle back on this thought. We came to an attractive 250 foot hill called Helgafell. When the Vikings were pagan, this was considered a holy site. If unworthy people climbed the hill, the punishment could be death. after the conversion to Christianity, the Franciscans built a monastery on the site. There is a tradition that those who climb the hill without looking back and without talking can have three wishes fulfilled. And that’s where I made my mistake. I wanted to look back. I figured “What the heck, it’s just a wish”. But it was three wishes that I lost, not just one. Oh, well. Maybe I’ll do better on the next trip.

View from Helgafell

We visited a very modernistic church. The architect started out being a dentist. Maybe that’s why the building is so unusual. Could the church be an upper molar, the vertical stripes be the tooth’s root?

Modern Church

Church interior. I felt it gently inviting me to come forward.

I’ll bet these pipes fan fill the Church with music

This is our last visit to Iceland. What an amazing country. What amazing citizens. There are several more pics on the website, if you are interested.

The next two days are sea days.