Friday night in Reykjavik and the streets are heaving with revellers. My last full day in Iceland began in driving rain so I headed back to the capital and some museums. Cleared up later so went for a long walk around the city, at one point going past the domestic airport. Quite an unusual feeling having a jet take off over your head. Back to London tomorrow.

Bleak this morning with gale force winds and horizontal rain. Drove around the fjord to see the view but the mountains were mostly hidden in cloud. Bit better this afternoon. Saw a seal colony at the end of one promontory. To get there had to drive 30km down a dirt track and then hike 2km along the coast, battling winds straight from the north pole. I did think that the colony at the end of the pier at San Francisco was slightly more accessible, but did feel I`d achieved something seeing this one.

Traveled to the end of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and am staying beneath the old Volcano Snaefellsjokull. Not that I can see much of it as it´s clothed in cloud at present. I pinched the picture of the Internet. According to Jules Verne you can go on a Journey to the Centre of the Earth by descending into the Crater. Don´t think I´ll be trying that. Think of the walk back.

Spent the day in Akureyri where the nights are really drawing in. Looked out of my hotel window at midnight to see a glorious sunset giving the mountains on the other side of the fjord a golden glow.
Officially night is about two hours long at present , but it never gets dark. The sun just dips below the horizon for a couple of hours. On 21st June there is just 21 minutes between sunset and sunrise, and just a few kilometres north you hit the arctic circle where the sun doesn`t set. Of course it`s all balanced out in winter when it hardly gets light.
As the saying goes had all four seasons today. Glorious summer this morning and winter this afternoon. When the rain came on I retreated to the local pool. The main pool is 29°c and the hotpots around it go up to 43°c. Couldn`t stay in that one for long though. Felt like a blanched sprout.

Wonderful day whale watching just of the coast of Husavik. Clear skies and beautiful mountains around the bay. Saw a Minke whale, Humpbacked whale and a Blue whale, the largest animal on earth. It did a poo right by the boat, and that was pretty impressive as well. Now in Akureyri, a lovely city at the end of a long fjord.

Up to lake Myvatn, ominously translated as midge lake on account of the hundreds of the varmints which hang around the lake ready to take a dive towards the nearest source of carbon dioxide, usually up someone`s nose. However the good news was that it`s so damn cold they are all in hibernation. There are some lovely views and peaceful walks down by the lake and among the lava flows. Spent most of the day exploring them and then had a well deserved dip in the local geothermal pool.

Writing this overlooking the wonderful Seydisfjordur fjord. Just finished an exhausting walk up over the mountain. Stunning scenery and no one around for miles. Lots of waterfalls and snow patches to negotiate. Weather ok as well just a few spots of rain. Back in the quaint old town now. Ferries go from here to Lerwick, so if I don`t want to fly it`s the only way back.

Weather was too good to last. After some lovely sunshine yesterday back to rain and wind today. Drove along the coast around some wonderful fjords, and along some very bumpy roads. Tonight in Egilsstadir, the capital of the east, with a population of 1637. Just been for a dip in the local pool. Lovely and warm.

Did the Golden circle yesterday . Well most of it as I branched of to head east along the coast. First stop was Pingvellir the site of the old Icelandic parliament, the Alping, set in a stunning location on the rift between Europe and north America. Drove up to Geyser, the original you might say, although it is well past its prime now and only performs after earthquakes. Luckily it has a sister to do the honours. Up to gullfoss to see an outstanding waterfall then across lava planes and past volcanoes to the coast.

Today woke to sunny skies for the first time. Drove along the south coast taking in many stunning glaciers and wonderful sights. saw thousands of Puffin on the cliffs near Vik. Tonight in Hofn

Left a blistering hot London for the three hour flight to Iceland. Picked up hire car and drove the 50km into Reykjavik. Nice hotel overlooking the bay, even if they haven`t finished building it yet.
Evening spent wandering around old town.
Spent next day driving around the Reykjanes peninsula. Foul weather, windy and wet. Bizarre landscape of lava and lakes. Visited the famous Blue Lagoon spa and spent a couple of hours submerged in wonderfully warm volcanic water.