The Bench – a diary from the Golden Circle gives an insider’s view of the Icelandic tourist boom when it peaked in 2019, just before the covid 19 pandemic. Seventy-six photos document the ever-changing weather in a twelve months period while the text describes a diverse group of international visitors as well as a man on crossroads – caught in a gold rush without an end.
During a one-year period, Thorarinn went on 76 Golden circle tours with international tourists. Each time he stopped at Geysir he took a picture of a bench in the middle of the park. He also kept a diary of whatever took place on each tour and gave the day a rating in TripAdvisor style.
The Bench was published by Thorarinn Leifsson himself in a limited edition. A translation is available in German.