Wallamble

Ultimately our trip map looked something like…we covered 18 hours over 8 days with a gazillion stops along the way!

• We were *blown* away (in all senses of the word) by Iceland. The wind was ferocious – even on the first day of summer. The sights were incredible.
• Excellent coffee & gourmet food. We were wondering how the quality of the fruit & veggies was so good…but then we saw greenhouses everywhere.
• Icelandic Breakfast – cold meats, cheese, bread, juice and coffee is a standardized 8-10am. Not earlier, not later – this country has its routine and natural rhythm.
  Icelandic lunch – really?
  Icelandic dinner – yummy lamb soups & stews, fresh fish & seafood, veggies, salad FOR MUM. Pizza for the other three!
• So incredibly diverse landscape – from rich soil, to moon rocks, to bubbling mud pits, to glaciers, to craters, to fjords – all linked by volcanic activity. A quarter of the country is covered by volcanoes.
• Whilst the flights were amazing value 🙂
  the accommodation and food is expensive 😦
  There are lots of amazing free activities though 😦
  All in all it works out! Free parking too 🙂
• The Icelandic people whilst on the cool side, LOVE children and animals! Not necessarily in that order…
• Once you get out of Reykjavic (population 270k of Iceland’s 325k) the countryside is sparse. Even on the shoulder of the high season, we found it difficult to find restaurant/café/supermarket options – particularly around lunchtime. Even a lot of the bigger hotels weren’t open. Just beause a website or guidebook says their open – call ahead! We should have bought more than chips, gummy lollies and choc chip cookies as snacks…because snacks can become lunch in need 😦 or 🙂 ???
• Tough, tough countryside; amazingly beautiful and untouched.

• I keep getting asked “should you really take kids to Iceland?” – which I answer wholeheartedly – YES! There are so many short walks, so much diversity to keep them interested, once outdoors they can climb rocks/volcanoes/etc and make as much noise as they’d like. It is safe. They believe in Trolls + Elves and have little fairy houses in their front yards. Perfect for kids-of-all-ages and their imaginations!

• Mum’s monster pack – of everything but the kitchen sink – was actually called for! We took all things from snow boots to swimmers. We took twice as much stuff as we took to Panama last year! That’s even factoring the fins and snorkels etc that we took to Panama…luckily though as it was unseasonably cold. Check out the snow boots alone in the bottom of our biggest bag – good thing we had a car!

Our last day 😦

Still having not adjusted to the time zone, we got up just in time for an 8am breakfast (traditional Icelandic – cold meats, cheese, skyr, bread, juice & coffee). This morning we dined with a gorgeous view of the beautiful Skogafoss falls.

Then we were off to make the most of our last day.

First stop was a closer look at Skogafoss…

It had snowed again overnight, and so the road looked very different from when we passed this way for dinner last night.

Past the sheep, horses, cows and cute farm houses…

Then Seljandsfoss…you can walk behind these falls but given how windy it was – this was a surefire way to get absolutely saturated and so we marveled at their beauty instead.

Next on to the Kerid Crater – which had red moss covered inner walls and a pretty green lake in the middle. It was super windy up the top!

Then to the Geothermal Energy Exhibition at the Okusyn power plant at Hellisheidi. Which had huge toys to look at and an interesting earthquake simulator mapped to historic quakes.

Past the town of Elves and onto roads where tractors are no longer allowed…

Farewell to the end of town signs (for those who couldn’t otherwise work it out) and cute animal warning signs…

The on to our final destination in Iceland. We had saved the best to last – a big soak at the magical Blue Lagoon baths. Finally after failed attempts along the way, we met up with our friends who were also travelling Iceland over Spring break. It was a chance to unwind and catch up 🙂

Ahhhh! A touch of relaxation before we climbed aboard our evening flight home! We had a great trip!

The day was off to a good start with an Icelandic farmers breakfast which included hot chocolate and chocolate cake for breakfast. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Last night we stayed on a working horse farm. So after breakfast they very kindly took us around their stable of pure breed Icelandic horses. It was interesting to see their very rare blue eyed horses and their rare stallion whose coat changes colour four times a year between red-pinto-white. We got to feed and pet them.

Then we bypassed the chickens in our excitement to see their new baby lambs….awwwwww how cute!

Then we were off along the south coast heading west.

Along this drive we could see the glacial fingers off from the main glacier…

First stop was Jolksarlon Glacier Lagoon to see the icebergs that had broken off from the tongue of the glacier and of course the seals.

Then the beach opposite to see the ice that had washed up on the black sand beach.
(unfortunately I’d had some funky setting on my camera and so most of these creative pictures didn’t work out 😦  )

Then an impromptu stop at Fjallsarlon.

Then a quick hike at Svinafellsjokull.
(look at the ash on the icebergs from nearby volcanoes. The cracks are huge too – you sure wouldn’t be walking on these!)

Again it was meant to be lunch at Skaftafell National Park but the “open every day” café – was not open. So after more car snacks there was a hike to Svartifoss…

Lunch in Kirkjubaerarklaustur (for the most tender lamb sandwich ever!) Yes the pizza tour continues…

A little wander around Vik most notably the black sand beach and its elusive puffins (we saw loads and loads and loads of birds – but no solid proof that any of them were puffins!).

Photo 1 below – Strangely there were surfers at the beach…yes there was a decent swell – but brrrrrrrr!
Photo 2 below – along there coast there are sadly but not surprisingly many monuments for ships wrecked on the rocks / cliffs / beaches.

A little stop for the views at Dyrholaey…
(The last photo here shows a house built into the cliff…we totally understand why given the cold and the wind)

On our way back to our hotel we saw a Troll house! or was it? So like any sane family – this called for a climb and then crazy E+L rolled down the hill in the fluffy grass.

To our hotel to check in and for some down time 🙂
(aka shower + wifi time!)

Our last dinner in Iceland at Gamla Fosjid, where they were kind enough to show us the hours-old baby calf.

Home via Rutshellir cave…

…and a quick look as we drove past the turf houses of Skogar Museum.

A very full amazing day!

After an Icelandic breakfast (disappointingly not the best in Iceland as the trustworthy internet recommendations promised!) we were off!
We were a little sad to be leaving one of the most stunning places we’d ever seen – but there were new adventures to be had!

In the morning we drove along the coast seeing some more absolutely stunning coastline and beautiful fjords – which were simply exquisite!

A true highlight were the herds of reindeer we saw on numerous occasions. We had hoped to see them in the north east and had prematurely given up the hope!
(one of the four in the car was truly excited at least! you can guess which one 🙂  )

Again we enjoyed the graffiti and the cute little villages we passed through 🙂

Again we searched for lunch…

In the afternoon, after dressing like arctic racing car drivers we took what we thought was going to be a jeep ride up onto Vatnajokull (see the massive green area on the map at the top of this post). So as it turns out it was a jeep ride up onto the glacier some 800m straight up a volcanic wall…

then a skidoo ride on the glacier…weeeeeeee!
(if I had of known that it was going to be on a skidoo – there is no way I would have booked it for 6 & 7 year olds. However having driven all the way up…!)

with a little time on the glacier to play!

Vatnajokull the glacier was truly truly amazing. This mammoth beast is still growing and is the largest ice-cap outside of the poles. Wearliy we headed to our accommodation for the night – which was on a local horse farm. After a quick break, we headed into Hofn for an early dinner to satisfy our starving tummies. Yes Eli and Lachie had pizza again…but mum ate a friend of Rudolph’s (shhhhh! don’t tell Santa!)

We had hoped to go for a swim in the local baths – but unfortunately today is a public holiday (happy first day of summer Iceland!) and so they had closed early. So instead we went for a little drive around the town of Hofn (pronounced heaben), before heading back to our farmstay 🙂 Good night 🙂

After a traditional Icelandic breakfast (clod meat, cheese, bread, kaffi, juice) in the gorgeous breakfast room by the lake…

…we were off.

A walk around the lava formations at Dimmuborgir.
(We even found some of the Yuletide lads gear hidden in the caves! this must be where they hang out)

A drive up to the Viti crater at Mt Krafla
(we thought this was going to be a 60 minute hike but surprisingly drove all the way up almost! It was super windy up there – can you spot the two tigers hidden either side of Nathan behind the rocks?)

The wind makes hard work for the little guy

At least the car is a warm and snug retreat – mum is glad she got the 4wd for space 🙂

The road up led us past the Mt Krafla geothermal power plant

A walk around the sulphur-smelling violently bubbling mud pits at Namajfall Hverir.

Lots of stunning scenes along the drive…

Then up to Dettifoss to see Europe’s largest waterfall. We had planned to park in the car park on the East side of the falls (right at the falls!) and have lunch at the café there. Well…it turned out that that road was closed and so we had to go to the west side for a 1 hour hike through the snow and rock-hopping to get to the falls! It was quite an unexpected adventure.

Yes the lack of railings made us VERY nervous too.

Unfortunately we couldn’t check out the neighbouring Asbyrgi “horseshoe” canyon…

Unfortunately there wasn’t a café at this side and so lunch became choc-chip cookies, chips and jube lollies….!

After a quick look for the Lake Monster in Lake Logurinn in the Lagarfljot valley in Eglisstadir…

We headed over the stunning mountain pass…

…to arrive at the stunning picturesque Seydisfjordur…

After checking in to our hotel late in the afternoon…

…we headed to the town’s only open restaurant for an early dinner. Mum had a simply magnificent caper and almond crusted fish and NE+L had the only remaining thing on the menu – yes you guessed it – pizza. Bianca was beginning to wander if NE+L are on the pizza tour of Iceland?

What an amazing day!

After a yummy breakky, the hostess kindly gave us some bread to feed the ducks at the creek behind the B&B 🙂

Then we were off!

The morning took us back to the Ring Road at Akureyri via the Godafoss waterfall

Around Akureyri (the second largest town in Iceland at 18,000 people)

A look at their church (who was designed by the same guy who made the Reykjavic church)

A trip to the shopping center for lunch

We had planned a 25 minute flight to Grimsey Island on the arctic circle (oh yes it did have to be done!)
This map doesn’t show the curvature of the earth correctly, but Grimsey Island is the northern most point of Iceland.

Unfortunately we never made it, as after sitting around in the airport all afternoon watching our flight get delayed and delayed and delayed – it was cancelled 😦

So we headed to Lake Myvatn for the night.

With a little stop on the way at Skutaustadir, for a walk around the cute pseudocraters by Lake Myvatyn.

We checked in to our cabin cute cabin by Lake Myvatn at Dimmuborgir 🙂

Who can resist a dip in their local thermal baths before bed? not us! well usually but we got there and it was super windy and cold and the staff asked us if we were really going to take the children in???  so we balked and went for pizza (at the only open restaurant in the area!) instead. Here are some photos of the baths and those that were braver than us!

So not the most successful of days – but fun and interesting none the less  🙂

Today we were up bright and early (if you go by the New York time zone)…

After a quick scout of the beach to make sure that there were no seals wanting to play, we jumped in the car and headed East.

Our plan was to head down our path for the day and stop as soon as we saw somewhere breakfast. Ideally this would be stop number one but as we are in the low season with the majority of options closed – we were flexible. Two hours later we still hadn’t found an open café/diner/supermarket/restaurant/anything! The emergency choc chip cookies that Nathan bought when we picked up petrol became breakfast. Or as Lachie exclaimed – Easter again!

Along the way we stopped at the Stephan G. Stephansson look out at Arnarstapi. Mum nearly got blown off the side into a ravine  trying to take photos so NE+L enjoyed the view from the car.

Our next stop was Glaumbaer to see the traditional turf houses.

Through the stunning Öxnadalur pass – 41km stunning scenic views of the rocky mountain ridge Hraundrangi, that is more than 1000 m high.

Then along the scenic fjord to the fishing port of Husavik.

Where we had a yummy lunch (and ice-cream!)

and then headed out on an full afternoon whale watching tour  on the Skjálfandafljót bay. We saw two humpback whales, 3 minke whales and lots of puffins. The highlight for the kids may have been the hot chocolate and traditional cinnamon rolls.

Afterwards we headed back to out room for a little down time before heading out for a very yummy dinner.

What an amazing day 🙂

Still on NY timezone, we had to drag ourselves up and down to breakfast. So unusual for us! Mmm….buffet breakfast!

Then we were off to do a little more sightseeing around Reykjavic. Mum’s beautifully planned walk lost to the blow-me-down wind and so we drove between sites. The highlights were:

Solfar (sun voyager) seaside sculpture

Harpa concert hall

Hallgrímskirkja church

Awesome city view from the top of the church’s tower

Perlan (a restaurant built on hot water towers)

Then we were off north-west:

To Nathan’s enjoyment we passed through an impressive tunnel that was 5.8kms, took two years to build and took an hour off the drive time 🙂

Borganes – Icelandic Viking settlement museum.

Reykholt – sorry we didn’t take any pictures of our own so follow the link 🙂

Lunch at Husafell – best pizza ever! (besides Nick’s pizza in Roseville or Roman Gourmet in Maplewood of course)

A walk around Hraunafoss and Barnafoll. Lachie nearly got blown over at one point by the wind, so mum & dad kept Eli & Lachie very close at hand much to their disappointment.

A walk up the Grabrok crater, with its stunning views of the lava fields and mountains.

Driving past moss covered lava fields, snow capped peaks and snow-melt rivers…

On to Blonduous…

for dinner and bed (check out the view from our window)

We had hoped to relax in the local thermal bathes that night but unfortunately they were closed for the day. Next time!

A super fun and interesting day!

• Iceland is awesomely clean, structured and organised
• Cute colourful houses and buildings.
• Lots of quirky sculptures and graffiti murals to make it feel cheery 🙂
• Clean simple Ikea-style lines & colours for internal decorations.
• Long long names for places.
• Colder than expected! and definitely windier!
• Super easy to drive around and well sign-posted – but then again we are still in the most populated part of the country. Fingers crossed it stays this way 🙂
• Beautiful beautiful scenery and we have only seen a corner of the country!

So we left JFK New York last night at 8:40pm, were to fly 5.5 hours and arrive at 6:15am. We were 40 minutes early…hmmm usually early would be a good thing but when you calculate how much sleep we got in there….the day was off to a *strong* start!

After the usual flurry of airport activities – immigration (took 2 minutes – impressive!), finding our bags, buying essentials (snacks + drinks), finding the hire car, getting local cash out and buying a local sim with a data plan for a cell phone – we were off!

The first stop was the impressive Gulfoss waterfall…

Luckily they had a yummy cafe their too so it was time for brunch – mmm local lamb soup for mum and sandwiches for NE+L. Lachie took a liking to the soft animal fur in the gift shop…

The next stop was Geysir – which it turns out was the original geyser after which all geysers are named. The active one we saw was called Strokkur which erupts every 4 – 8 minutes and can reach a height of 40 minutes. Eli & Lachie weren’t fond of the sulphur smell!

The next stop was Thingvellir National Park a historic rift valley where the North American and European plates “meet” but are drifting apart an inch a year. This is an important historical site where the first Icelandic Parliament met in 930AD.

Then to our hotel to shower and for a quick nap. We were a *little* tired after the previous night’s (lack) of sleep.

Then we were off to meet our friends at the Phallological museum but unfortunately we were there at 5pm and they were there at 4pm so we missed them 😦 We had a look around and saw that the sperm whale is the winner in the pack (larger than the blue whale’s member and longer than Nathan is tall!)

Next a little drive around town…

Fish and Chips dinner in the old port in Reykjavic Harbour, before heading home.

A great first day!