Blogs from Iceland, Europe - page 5

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Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Keflavik July 18th 2022

A 5am wake up has not been unusual here, but of course, today I was fast asleep when multiple alarms went off…just in case! This is the price we pay for having breakfast before we leave. It’s an excellent help yourself buffet here so we have decided it’s worth the get up. Our taxi arrives promptly at 6.15am and whisks us to Kefvalik airport in ten minutes. Here we join the ‘speedy boarding’ queue, which may not be quite as speedy since the desk is unmanned. Maybe it doesn’t need to open as early because they are going to be speedy? Anyway the other queue is horrendous so it can’t be any worse. Our check in has open ended and it’s all quite quick. Though anyone with a soft sided bag has to walk back round ... read more
Scotland
Parched fields
Good driving certificate

Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Keflavik July 17th 2022

Nothing much to do today. The van has to be back at 3pm and the place we’re staying is not that scenic. We have a late get up. It’s apparent that this campsite is the one most people are using for their final night before a flight home as it’s only eight minutes drive to Kefvalik airport and all the car and van rental places are nearby. Suitcases are strewn all over the grass and people are madly cleaning the interiors if their vans. I go for a shower. I’m first in the queue but forty minutes later I’m still first in the queue. What IS that woman doing in there? Ian suggests I use the mens. He has seen a couple emerging from it whilst he was having a wash. As there is no one ... read more
Van returned unscathed
Giantess Deck Chair
Steel sculpture

Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Akranes July 16th 2022

There’s something rather nice about lying in bed all wrapped up warm listening to the rain hammering on tent canvas, or in our case van roof, all night. That’s what we had last night. The only main problem is no loo in this van but I made Ian park right outside the loo block so a mad dash over isn’t too bad. It’s not so nice to hear the rain hammering when you are about to get up. Loo dash is essential so it has to be done. We had hoped to do a nice walk this morning then go to the swimming pool. But the weather is not nice. Black clouds overhead. We have a slow start and debate an alternative. We have a slight break in the cloud and decide we will go whale ... read more
Sculpture outside Harpa
Sun Voyager Sculpture
Sandgerdis Harbour

Europe » Iceland » Southwest July 15th 2022

This morning we are going into Reykjavik. It’s possible to get a bus from here but Ian claims he’s happy to drive. I have located a good parking spot near the old harbour and the drive looks relatively straightforward. We just have to contend with the increase if traffic - which is nothing compared to other capital cities, but a lot compared to what we have become used to in Iceland! Our journey involves a drive through a 6km tunnel which goes under the bay at Hvalfjordur, saving us around 80km of ‘driving round the inlet’ time. We arrive at the old harbour area of Reykjavik, nabbing the one remaining space in the free parking area. Very handy as it’s also very near to the old town area that we want to be in. We begin ... read more
Lava art
Hallgrimskirkja
‘Earth’

Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Reykjavík July 15th 2022

Short and sweet - real fun begins tomorrow. Chilly rainy day today, so I didn’t do much. The benefit of Reykjavík, bad weather doesn’t bother me since I’ve seen it, done it and I don’t mind if it’s quiet. I bussed down to the harbour and walked back through the little neighbourhoods, just to get a taste of something new. (I also had my pastries to keep me going, yum lol). Also found a few new statues which is always fun :) Flight to Oslo was uneventful - airport was a little more chaotic than usual, but nothing compared to Toronto. Got some more skyr, had my tuna sandwich (always forget they put egg in their tuna sandwiches here which is fine… just a weird surprise) and people watched for a bit. ... read more
Sunflower?
Love ewe <3
More art

Europe » Iceland » Northwest » Hvammstangi July 14th 2022

Today we have to get up early. As usual it’s the one day I am not already awake. We need to be in the mountains for our ice cave tour at 9.30am. Google says one hour, the tour company say two…so we allow two and a half, thinking it will probably take one and a half plus an hour for our breakfast in the van. It’s dry when we leave camp at 7am but we can see dark clouds over the mountains. We are suitably clad (at least we hope we are) in thermals which include two wicking t shirts, full thermals, cords, thin fleece, thick fleece and full waterproofs. Plus woolley hats and gloves! We arrive at Husafell Outdoor Adventure Centre at 8.30am. Time for a brew and breakfast. Just after 9am and others start ... read more
Ice tunnel
Ice chapel
Ice walls

Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Reykjavík July 14th 2022

It is so good to be back out in the world..! I'm going to get all feels about that at some point on this trip, but right now I'm too tired. Covid got me at the start of July and I was very nervous about how I'd feel and of course that I'd test negative before leaving (which I did, right down to the wire!) Pearson lived up to the current horror stories - it was indeed a gong show, particularly the security line and then just about every Air Canada flight seemed to be delayed - thankfully Icelandair did well, we only left about 15-20min delayed. I also did surprisingly well with the lights and pressure change - that was the last big thing to try post-concussion, success..!! Flight was uneventful. I paid for extra ... read more
Sun playing in the clouds
Side of Town Hall
Tjornin

Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Akranes July 13th 2022

We had planned a trip into Reykjavik today but we are both tired and the sun is shining. Although there’s still a bit of a cold wind we can wear our thin trousers for the first time this trip! We elect for a lie in followed by a full English breakfast. This is a nice campsite on the edge of a quiet seaside town so we decide we’ll stay a couple more nights. The camp warden is recommended a few places to visit…though when more details are required he doesn’t know as he’s never visited them! He is from Serbia and hoping to move his family out here for a better life. Trouble is, he has never been here in winter…so will they all adapt? He tells us life in Serbia is not good and he ... read more
In the sea
Hot tub
Infinity hot tub

Europe » Iceland » Northwest » Snæfellsnes July 12th 2022

Today we set off to explore the Snaefells Peninsular, starting with the first point of interest which is clearly visible from our campsite, the Kirkufell Mountain. The waterfall is also supposed to be of interest though it looks a bit pathetic to us as we pass by. We do not stop as Ian has spotted the evil pay cameras - at least they are not on the public highway today! We arrive in Olafsvik, the only other town with a supermarket. We need some bread. I’m not going to moan about UK food prices when I return home…£4.40 for a very small loaf of sliced bread…ouch! And now for something a little different…Helllisandur, a town that claims to have an astonishing art walk comprising over thirty painted murals from worldwide artists. It looks like the graffiti ... read more
Lava Field
School Crater Stairway
Test your wimpiness!

Europe » Iceland » Northwest » Snæfellsnes July 11th 2022

Today we have a very long drive. We can see where we are headed but there’s quite a bit of water between us and it! There is a car ferry - very expensive and as it turns out I can’t get tickets anyway…not because there is no space but because they need three days notice! I had a chat with a guy in the kitchen last night (if you can call three kettles on a 6 inch worktop and two cold water sinks a kitchen). He had just cycled the route that route and tells me it will be easy with good sealed road all the way. Are you sure, I ask? I was pretty sure there were a couple of gravel sections and one of them pretty steepish. Oh yes, there’s a bit of a ... read more
Tarmac ends!
Coming down the hairpins
Kirkufell Mountain




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