Blogs from Iceland, Europe - page 139

The day starts with a typical continental breakfast giving us a fresh and energizing start. We picked up our 7-person car hired from Atak (which would accompany us for the coming 6 days) and left the capital (don't worry, we would be back in 6 days). Like many other countries with cross-country highways, finding our way on monotonous roads can be very difficult. Luckily, we rent a GPS device which guides you point-to-point, loud and clear. You would be impressed by its accuracy and easy-to-use. Before our first stop Geysir, we went passed the former parliament of Iceland which is also the same location where the Eurasia plate and North American plate is both found. Then we continued on to Geysir (間竭泉), which are the natural fountains caused by super-heating of underground water. Occasionally, hot water ... read more

Hraftinnusker to Álftavatn Day 2 may have been the hardest day. We had to cross a series of ice-filled crevices, but the ice was melting in many places. Then we had to climb a steep mountainside, then descend the other side on a trail of loose rocks to the valley below. Still, we were a good ways from our hut (and in fact had to hike past what looked like a nice hut, and go another couple of miles to get to our hut, including our first stream crossing. It was a long day, but at least at the end we had an entire room of the hut to ourselves. ... read more

Landmannalaugar to Hraftinnusker We woke early in the morning to catch the bus from Reykjavik to Landmannalaugar, the starting point of our hike. It was a four hour bus ride and we arrived around lunch time. We had a nice lunch at Landmannalaugar, and of course I managed to cut my thumb slicing cheese. Already injured! But it wasn't too bad, so I slapped a band-aid on it and our group of 13 set out on our four day trek. The first day of the hike has the most elevation gain at something like 500 meters. But what they don't tell you is that is the net elevation gain from the start of the day to the end, and the day itself is up, down, up, down, up, down. We climbed far more than 500 ... read more

Whale Watching and Countryside Driving It turns out that Iceland has a lot in common with New Zealand and Australia. All three of these countries have a love affair with and an identity which is derived from Europe. All of them have unique wildlife that is difficult or impossible to see in other parts of the world. Last but certainly not least is the fact that all three are more important for their nature/countryside than for their cities. In Europe, for the most part, you come to experience the culture and history which emanate from their historic cities, be them big like Rome or Paris or small like Fussen or Grazalema. Iceland has little to no existing long term historical buildings. Due to volcanic activity and harsh weather, buildings just don’t last here. Thus when ... read more

I have a crush. I was struggling with myself the whole last day, trying to find a loophole, any excuse to stay. Secretly hoping the flight would be overbooked, there would be a terrible storm, they'd detain me. Anything. I stood in line for an hour and a half, surreptitiously glancing at the Icelandair ticket office, knowing that even if I did walk over there, even if I could cancel the ticket, they'd put the refund back on the creditcard, instead of my pocket, which is where I needed it to be if I were to have any chance of actually surviving. I have a crush on Amsterdam. It sounds silly, but it's the same feeling. A slight giddyness everytime somone mentions it. Daydreaming endlessly. Staring at the pictures I took, even if they're blurry and ... read more