The Frozen Scenery of Iceland

We have visited many places where the scenery was just absolutely amazing and Iceland was certainly one of those places. We will often take hundreds of photographs, using multiple cameras, and even though we find the photographs stunning, they don’t always capture the moment. Whether it was driving around the Golden Circle or heading along the coast to places like the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the views are just spectacular. It is such a rugged environment and the fact that we visited in winter made it even more stunning. We stayed in the capital city of Reykjavik and rented a car so that we could drive ourselves around the beautiful island.

Rugged Scenery
Geysir Starting to Erupt
Lava Contrasting with the Snow
Very Serene

Although we have shared many of the photographs during our time in Iceland such as those of the black beaches, the Gullfoss Waterfalls, and Geysir, there are literally hundreds of images that we haven’t had the chance to share. The contrasts of the scenery from volcanos, the ocean, ice and snow, lava fields, mountains, and glaciers make every image unique. We decided to take this opportunity to share some of the photographs that we took during our trip that we have never previously shared.

Small Town by the Bay
Lava Cliff
Haunting Landscape
Rocky Scenery

We spent several days driving around Iceland, so the conditions were different as it was sometimes sunny and sometimes snowy. Also, because it was winter, the days were very short with the sun not rising until around 10:00 a.m. in the morning and setting in late afternoon. That allowed us to have different views of the places that we visited with many changes in lighting. At times the scenery was almost hauntingly beautiful and other times it was simply awe inspiring. Although we didn’t get a chance to make our way around to some of the more distant destinations in Iceland, like those driving around the Ring Road, the places that we did visit have made for some of our favorite memories.

Steam Rising from the Volcano
Gullfoss Waterfalls
Coastline
In the Middle of Nowhere

The Beauty of Colorado Sunsets

One of the things that we enjoy about living in Colorado are the amazing sunsets that we get to see almost all of the time. We enjoy seeing sunsets throughout out travels as well, but the ones that we see at home are equally impressive. Just like watching the sun set over water can be a mesmerizing experience, seeing the sun as it disappears behind the mountains is a very calming experience. We also get interesting clouds during the winter months and because they are often so low in the sky, it makes for an interesting contrast. Here are just a few of our favorite sunset photographs from here in Colorado.

Birds on the Treetops Watching the Sunset
Colorado Sunset
Sunset in Aspen
Sunset Over Pikes Peak
The Final Glow of Dusk

The Historic German Corner in Koblenz, Germany

The location where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers merge is known as the German Corner. It is also the location of the town of Koblenz, which is over two thousand years old with beautiful scenery, vineyards, churches, and castles. Across the Rhine River from the German Corner is Ehrenbreitstein, which is the second-largest preserved fortress in Europe. A cable car will take you from the town of Koblenz over the river to the top of the hill where the fortress resides. It is also a great place to get incredible views of the German Corner and the boats traversing the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.

Statue of Wilhelm I
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
Rhine and Moselle River Merging

The site was first named by Knights of the Teutonic Order and declared is considered a historic landmark. In 1891, Kaiser Wilhelm II dedicated a statue to his grandfather, Wilhelm I at the site. Although it was destroyed during World War II, a replica of the statue was erected in 1993 and dominates the park area. Seeing it from the hill across the river gives you some perspective on the size of the statue.

Walking Along the Rhine River
Looking Up at the Statue
Standing on the German Corner

Many people come through the area on river boat cruises, but we took a train from Frankfurt to Koblenz and since it was autumn, the leaves were vibrant and colorful. Although there are plenty of reasons to visit Koblenz, including the Stolzenfels Castle as well as the fortress. We found the town to be very relaxing and we enjoyed strolling along the banks of the river and all around the German Corner.

Colorful Trees
Ships on the River
A Wider View of the German Corner