Iceland 5: Basalt columns and legends of trolls and the Irish monks

Iceland is filled with legends and stories of trolls, fairies and ogres. Most studies say that 10% of Icelanders believe in supernatural beings, 10% do not, and the remaining 80% either have no strong feelings—or refuse to deny their existence entirely. One of our guides told us that Icelanders can enjoy nature more if they have legends to stir up their imaginations whether they believe them or not.

 I like that idea!

 A very quiet place we found (Dverghamrar- "Dwarf Cliffs") was an example of this. According to legend, dwarves live in the cliffs.

 As it was a rather misty, foggy morning, we could almost believe it!

Usually you see these basalt columns jutting upward, but in Klauster is Kirkjugólfið (Church Floor),  the basalt columns appear to be buried and only the tops are visible, looking like the floor of an old church.

There were apparently some Irish monks living here when the Vikings arrived, and the Vikings were convinced it was a man made church floor. But twasn't. 

 

 This ram, having a meal nearby, was not impressed.

This beautiful and somewhat haunting statue stands in the middle of the town and may refer to the fact that there was a Benedictine convent at Kirkjubæjarklaustur from 1186-1550. It is called the "Burden of History". Somehow, it speaks to me.

In the same village was a beautiful "twin" waterfall.

We saw many of these sod houses wherever we went and they are all so picturesque and cozy looking.

Onward to another famous basalt outpost called Reynisdrangar.  It was misting that day so pics are not as good as I would've liked. But the rocky pillars were pretty cool.  These are said to be petrified trolls that were caught outdoors during sunrise :)

This was the activity that I did not like. Groups of people posing and posing and taking their selfies and cutsie pictures. This group hogged the cave for so long, we never could enjoy it but you can see the stunning rock formations.

 I took this picture to show the black lava sand.

Really quite striking

From here, we drove on but the weather deteriorated.

At this point, we discovered that we should've brought along this:

instead of this:

Turns out rain ponchos are pretty worthless when the wind whips them around and lifts them up. Legs got wet as well.  But it was a minor inconvenience and through the misty rain we could see some beautiful rock formations. Just pointing this out if you plan to go to Iceland some day!

Thank goodness the rain stopped! 

But not the wind.

I'm assuming all of these were trolls who got caught in the sunlight!!

This area is Dyrhólaey. Apparently you can walk out on that jutting rock but with the wind whipping and misty rain, we decided to skip that.

If we were to have seen puffins, it would have been here.

Alas, we were three weeks or so late. 
Wouldn't have seen them in this weather anyway.