Around Reykjanes Peninsula.

During our stay in Reykjavik we spent three nights in Keilir base in Keflavik, the same in which we stayed during Study Tour. This allowed us to explore Reykjanes Peninsula better than before. The pictures are from various trips during this few days.
This is Mid-Point - the place in which North Atlantic Continental Plate meet European Plate. As you probably know, Iceland lays on 2 continental plates, that's why it has such a high geothermal, seismic and volcanic activity.







































Steam discharge near south-west end of peninsula. It emitted a strange, base-like sound, like the devil was speaking to you :D













Cliffs on south-west end.







































Tomek in the steam :P He was actually running from birds which defended their nests :)













This is the trip from summer school - lake Kleifarvatn. It slowely started to disappear because of the crack that was created as a result of a so called "silent earthquake". Now the situation stabilized and the water level almost returned to its normal state.


























Mud pools.


























"Brithest mind of the 21st century"...













Blue Lagoon - this time the weather was a lot better and I had opportunity to take more pictures.







































Þorbjarnarfell - on 21st of June, longest day of the year, there is a tradition of a walk from Grindavík to Þorbjarnarfell hill and than to Blue Lagoon. On the hill Icelanders sing traditional songs and have a fireplace. We decided to take a part in this unique event :D

Back to Reykjavik!

After the exams mine concentration (Fuel Cells) was supposed to start next course in Reykjavik with Summer School and International Conference on Materials for Hydrogen Storage. We left Akureyri after the lunch and took Ring road to Reykjavik.










There is a tunnel under one of the fjords near Reykjavik, which makes the trip much shorter, but we decided to take a longer rout to see Iceland's highest waterfall Glymur.










Icelandic bank?










Abandoned farm near the waterfall.










Crossing the river.






























We didn't have a map of the area so we took a wrong turn by mistake :D That's why we just saw waterfall from some distance :P













Instead of the waterfall we climbed one of the nearby hills - the view was breath taking.




































Crossing the stream this way was easier, but on the other way I got a bit wet :P On the picture Tomek "The Jumper".


























In the farm.























After the first day of school we went to see artificial beach in Reykjavik. They're pumping hot geothermal water into the bay so that the temperature is not so low. "Almost" like Spain.










The beach is next to the domestic airport.




















On the top of Perlan.

Grill Your Exams!

Exam period started and we were still thinking about Study Tour we had for previous 2 weeks. We came up with the idea to make a BBQ party after the exams to, sort of, officially finish 1st semester. We decided to invite also RES staff and their families. But before that there was beginning of EURO 2008 and the first match, which Poland played, was on Sunday evening. This interrupted a bit with our dinner so we made a fast pizza instead of 3 course meal we usually had.










When we came back from Study Tour, first cruise ships arrived in Akureyri.













































Preparation for "Grill Your Exams" event.








































Actual party.













Don Birek :P


























Fireplace we did - we gathered wood from the fjord as Iceland has almost no trees :P













Just day before we were to leave to Reykjavik, me and 4 other guys went to the sailing club to do some kayaking. Despite big waves and strong wind we had some fun. Of course I finished in the water finally, but luckily we had our wet suits on.