Blogs from Southwest, Iceland, Europe - page 16

IJsland in de zomer: onbeschrijflijk mooi en toch ga ik proberen te beschrijven hoe het is om twee weken wandelend het zuidwesten van IJsland te verkennen. Met een beetje voorkennis wist ik een plaatsje aan de juiste kant van het vliegtuig te bemachtigen en had ik ruim voor de landing waanzinnig uitzicht op gletsjers, bergen, spoelvlaktes van lavastromen, kliffen en zwarte stranden. Van Keflavik twee uurtjes onderweg naar onze eerste kampeerplek in het Hengillgebergte. Een mooi grasveld met uitzicht op de omringende bergen. Dit grasveld deelden we dan wel met duizenden vliegjes, maar zoals ik in mijn reisgids las: "als je last hebt van deze vliegjes, heb je eigenlijk geluk, want dan zul je waarschijnlijk mooi weer hebben". En zo werd het nog een lange zomerse avond, voordat we de warmte van onze slaapzakken opzochten. Een ... read more

Well it's that time of year again ? Since we got married we always vowed to take it in turns to plan our anniversary holiday ? This, of course it used to be Top Secret but 7yrs on and we get too excited for that. ? This year...it was my hubby's Andrew's turn......and shock horror he chose Iceland. For anyone who knows Andrew, for him to choose a place without a railway was a real shock ? . Think we were all 'trained' from last years adventures which unfortunately turned out to be quite hard work due to my fibromyalgia ? . So adapt we must and Iceland was ideal....one base for the week. We flew out of Manchester, a new airport for us which is always a plus for hubby. Security was slow going so ... read more

This morning brought snoozing until late (9am). Once we got going we drove to the Bridge Between Continents. At this point you are witnessing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge pulling apart. Thus you can walk across the bridge and you move from The Eurasian Continental Plate to the North American Continental Plate. The average separation is 2cm a year or 6 meters in 100 years. This process means the Atlantic Ocean is growing and Iceland is on the growth path. This rift of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge extends from the point in Reykjanes Peninsula to Thingvellir to Lake Myvatn. We also spent some time 'holding' up the bridge. #reykjanes Then we continued along searching for the planets (the geothermal plant in the area has a sun and then the planets are stretched in correct distance and size from that ... read more

We arrived in Iceland at 11:40pm and made it to the guest house with everyone in bed by 1:30am. Best way to describe the night is like 8pm in Salem during the summer with clouds all night. Eye mask and melatonin made the night well. Our guest house was built by the current owners' grandfather who was a fisherman in Gardur. Up and at 'em at 8:30am (4:30am east coast time). After a delicious bit of chocolate cake, tea, coffee, crackers and toast with jam or Nusica, we headed for the next stopping place - Kirkjubaejarklausfur. We took the southern route to Grindavik. Beautiful serene landscapes mostly devoid of trees. Volcanic rock and old lava flows spilled down the mountains to the north of our drive and the Atlantic crashed into cliffs to our south. We ... read more

After a too short sleep, I got up and looked out the panoramic window to see another dreary drizzly day. I am too used to getting up with the sun so when it is always light, it is hard to sleep for long. A great day to find an indoor activity. I had a light breakfast of yogurt and granola and a pain au chocolate. The yogurt was thick and creamy and the bread freshly baked. Still hard to stomach for $11. I guess this is a sign of what to expect as far as pricing. The exact opposite to travelling in Asia where getting there is the expensive part. I had a half price coupon for the Maritime museum so off I went. It was only a ten minute walk away. I missed it as ... read more