In Iceland, we had limited Internet access, so we were unable to post regularly.
The most remarkable aspect of Iceland is how new it is. There are vast lava that support only minimal vegetation. The landscape is stark and incredibly active. Helen and I took a tour to the Skaftafell National Park where Iceland’s beginnings as an organized country began. During the 10th Century, the ruling chiefs established an assembly: the Alþingi. 
The assembly, which Icelander’s to be their first parliament, convened each summer at Þingvellir. Here chieftains amended laws, settled disputes and appointed juries to judge lawsuits. This was a preliterate society so laws were not written down, but were memorized by an elected Lawspeaker. When Iceland declared its independence from Denmark (which was busy at the time being occupied by the Nazis) they did so at this same spot. 
It is also where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. You can see the fault lines. In this same trip, we saw a geyser, a waterfall, a volcano, and a glacier.
My favorite little Icelandic fact is that everyone’s hot water comes from a geothermal borehole and is piped directly from underground into everyone’s house. It is very hot, and, unfortunately, smells kind of bad. It is also used to heat people’s homes and just about everything. The cold water comes untreated from underground springs.
At this time of year, it does not get dark. The sun “sets” at midnight, but it never got dark.
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