We are having full days of gorgeousness – no rest for the wicked photographers. We leave around 6:45 for sunrise photos (always hopeful that there might be some lovely sky colours, but not to be had so far) and return to the hotel around 22:00, especially if there is a hint that an aurora may be viewable.

Hverir – geo thermal spot noted for its bubbling pools of mud and steaming fumaroles emitting sulphuric gas. Loved this pattern in the lava field covered in snow. 

Lovely Icelandic horse came to greet us on one of our stops. You can’t get tired of seeing these delightful creatures – did you know that their gait is so smooth, you can sip a glass of wine while riding on one, and not spill a drop? Please note, no horse has been subjected to this in our journey!

The Hrafnabjargafoss waterfall in the river Skjalfandafljot, Highlands of Iceland, is a little off the beaten track (we got there in a bumpy journey over lava fields covered in DEEP snow, by modified 4WD vehicles with 44 inch tires, slightly deflated to allow ease of travel over glacier and snow). Skjalfandafljot falls into several highly impressive canyons. Other beautiful waterfalls in the river are Aldeyjarfoss and Godafoss.

Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods), beautiful and elegant semicircular arc of cascades, swirling patterns in blue and green. Has a connection with a momentous time in Icelandic history – the decision to reject Norse paganism for Christianity by the Legislative Assembly in 1000.

Aldeyjarfoss, is 20 metres high, tumbling through a narrow passage into a wide basin, the concertina black basalt columns providing a stark contrast against the thrashing white foam, making it one of Iceland’s gems. 

We stayed in a lovely hotel next to next to Lake Myvatn and I went for a walk early one morning to see the pseudocraters, formed by a gas explosion when boiling lava flowed over the wetlands.

Dettifoss waterfall, with water drawn from the immense Vatnajokull glacier, is reputed to be the most powerful in Europe, with 500 cubic metres falling per second. 

And we’ve had crazy driving conditions, with snow blizzards across the road, close to white out conditions – our driver Rainier, does such a splendid job to keep us safe.