May 11 Whale Watching in Iceland

May 11 Whale Watching in Iceland

We boarded a boat and set out to sea!  Our whale watching adventure started in1.2 meter swells.  Our feet went here and there, and we hung on to the side rails for dear life!  Once out about 12 miles from shore we started to see signs that whales would be about—and they were.  Minke whales were abundant.  We saw them dive and glide and blow water spouts.  Porpoises swam near the boat.  A fabulous bird show took place just off the bow, with gannets diving straight into the water.  They feed on the same small fish the whales enjoy.  The guide told us that gannets have an air sack protecting their necks when they dive into the ocean at over 60 mph. Alas, a few of our cheerful Cobbers were a bit seasick.  The crew was marvelous with them and getting back on land made all the difference.

The front door of our hotel.

Karla's favorite lunch so far:  cream of mushroom soup (some of the best she has ever had, she claims), a grilled pesto and mozzarella panini sandwich, and black coffee (about $14.00 total), at a little breakfast & lunch bistro just down the street.

On the bus ride down to the harbor.

Skeleton of a Minke whale in the enclosed gangway to the whale watching boat.

Joni, Kairsten, Laura, and Nicole down on the second deck awaiting launch.

A big bright red boat.

Pulling away from the pier.

That church dominates many skyline views of Reykjavik.

Usually on the other side of the camera.

Moriah and others as we’re taking off.

Moriah, Danielle, Page, and Kristin up on the third deck bracing against the seas. The horizontal black bar between the land and sea (up and to the right of Kristin) is the harbor breakwater.  We are out of the harbor and at sea.

Karla, Danielle, Kristin, Moriah, and Paige

The sun kept going in and out of the clouds.  There was a little rain, but the wind was more noticeable. 

Joni, Laura, Kairsten, and Nicole looking up from the second deck (raindrops on the camera lens caused the blur).

Another whale watching boat that was about the same size as ours.

A Minke whale breaking the surface.

Another view of Reykjavik’s skyline from the harbor.

Another view of Reykjavik’s skyline from the harbor.

This is the new Reykjavik music hall just past a small marina of sailboats.  The music hall is all glass windows kind of going at different angles from each other, with some of them having a coating that makes them iridescent in different colors.

Small boats moored in the harbor.

A seafood café at the harbor’s edge.

A sculpture between the road and harbor, stylizing ancient Viking longboats.