riakaruda

Travelling and eating my way around the world

Tag Archives: Iceland

Iceland Pics

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This gallery contains 39 photos


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♫ This is the day that never ends ♫

I mentioned that I was giggling to myself as I breezed past all the people waiting in line to check in.

Yeah. That was destined to end – unlike my trip home.

2:45 pm local time: arrived at Keflavik Airport.

I needed to eat because I refused to buy the overpriced food at the Blue Lagoon (keeping in mind that Iceland, in general, is very expensive, so I wasn’t about to add to that!). I went for the biggest bang for my buck, which sadly was….  Burger King. I got a few snacks for the road air, then waited for boarding.

The flight from Keflavik to Toronto was just over 6 hours. On my other two Icelandair flights, I had already watched everything I had really wanted to watch, so I was stuck with my second choices. I opted for two movies, to try and kill time. I pulled out my sock knitting, only to find that I hadn’t saved the pattern in an internet-not-needed format, so I just kept watching a few more TV shows.

5:50 pm local time: arrived in Toronto

For my trip home, I had to change airlines. I had no idea how long it would take to get through customs in Toronto, or if there would be any unforeseen circumstances, so I gave myself a buffer in between flights – 2.5 hrs. Thanks to the efficiency of Icelandair’s pilot, we arrived 30 min early. Time til flight: now 3 hrs. The Canadian Border guards were also super-efficient (and friendly! I was told “Welcome home” with a genuine smile!) so now I had 2.75 hours to kill. Luckily for me, my gate was near a Timmie’s. Due to the time difference and the direction I was travelling, it was still broad daylight out.

Enroute, I had changed my phone and watch times to Toronto’s local time. This is how I deal with jetlag. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it gets you turned around within a day or two. But that first day is hell. And I was in the middle of it. Drinking my cup of caffeine and eating a sugar-packed Canadian Maple helped to keep me alert (-ish). I checked on my ride home from Vancouver airport, but it wasn’t looking good. My back-up driver was also a little iffy, but luckily, just at that moment, another friend came on to skype and asked if I had a way home. SCORE! With plans firmed up just 20 min before hopping on board, I boarded the plane. I had been trying to download Season 3 of the IT Crowd to watch on the plane, but the free wifi was too slow (go figure – I guess you get what you pay for). Luckily, the plane had several Canadian TV channels to watch, so I filled my remaining 5 hrs of flight with TV. I managed to “sleep” a broken 2hrs (maybe?). The tiny woman next to me kept waking me up, as she managed to take up her space and part of mine while “getting comfortable.” It’s like she was able to self-inflate herself or something. It would’ve been a cool trick to see if it hadn’t been keeping me from much-needed sleep!

When I finally landed in Vancouver, I actually felt sick from being so tired. I quickly made my way through the familiar airport towards the baggage pickup in an attempt to beat the crowd. Ha. And then proceeded to wait another 25 min for my bag to show up. I thought I was going to topple over from exhaustion. FINALLY about midnight local time, backpacked front and back, I made my way to Tim’s van waiting outside. I know that we talked on the way home, about my trip and his trip, but it’s somewhat of a sleep-deprived blur. At my place, I thanked Tim for the ride (I think? I hope?), found my keys and arrived home.

At that point, I did the math on how long I’d been awake – 24.5hrs. Minus the quasi-sleep I had gotten on the plane. I somehow manage to get changed into pajamas before falling into my own bed and going to sleep.  Only five days until I have to return to work, and only 3 days until my big birthday (and the reason for my trip!)


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Once upon a time…

…I was on vacation. Or was that a dream? Although it’s only been 9 days since being back, it seems like much longer. Pretty sure the five straight days of work didn’t help. At the risk of sounding spoiled, here’s a tip: if you don’t work for a full month, trying to make it through five days (even five shorter-than-most-people-work work days) seems like forever. BUT, if I want to travel again (and I do!), it’s off to work I go (hi ho, hi ho!).
So.
Back to the distant past, when I was finishing up my trip.
May 1, 2013
I arrived at the Blue Lagoon (aka. Heaven!), got my fluffy robe, showered up (you must wash before and after) and headed out into the -1C weather. A little chilly for bikini-wearing, you say? That’s why I quickly made my way into the 38 C milky blue water!

it. was. glorious.

Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon

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relaxing in the cave

relaxing in the cave

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The water is milky blue thanks to the silica that is in it. The silica is also really good for your skin.

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getting my silica on…

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notice the lovely skin….

 

With the lost-card trauma melted away in the hot waters, I hopped on the bus and headed to the airport. Once there, I dropped my bags off, laughing to myself as I looked at all the people who were checking in manually (I checked in online a day earlier). Time to go home. I’d have been more sad if I hadn’t been so relaxed 😉


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Is this it?

Sun, Apr 28
I had a leisurely start this morning, seeing as it was Sunday and more than the half the town wouldn’t open til 10 or 11am, and the other half wouldn’t open at all til Mon. Seeing as this was my first real day in Reykjavik, I stopped at the information office down the street. The girl that helped me was not as good as the other one there (I overheard her talking to other people) but I thought it’d be rude to switch, so I just struck out on my own.
Not much was open, save the coffee shops and souvenir places. The weather was cloudy, very windy and cold, and I was not loving Reykjavik very much at all. Because I’ve been backpacking, I had decided that I could just layer when I got to Iceland, instead of bringing heavy clothes just for this stop. I was beginning to regret thus decision, and debated buying warmer clothing.
I walked up to Hallgrimskirkja, the iconic church on the hill in Reykjavik, and paid to go to the top of the tower. It had great views of the city and I cheered up for the moment (plus it was warmer inside).
Next up was Kaffi Loki, a cafe across from the church that had been recommended to me by several people. I had planned on getting the Traditional Plate, but it was a cold plate, and I needed something to warm me up so I went for the meat soup lunch. Delicious! I really love the rue bread here, especially when topped with sliced smoked lamb – YUM! I followed it up with coffee (they really know how to do coffee here!) and some rye bread ice cream with rhubarb sauce – DOUBLE YUM!
With a full tummy, I walked back over to the church to catch their afternoon English service. The church is more liturgical than mine (meaning more set structure) but it’s nice to see different cultures, both countries or churches.
After the service, I went to the museum across the street, on the recommendation of a fellow hosteler. It was small but very interesting. The medium was mostly plaster, and I was amazed at what the artist was able to accomplish with it. There was also a garden gallery with bronze statues which were equally as impressive. But cold, because it was outside.
Following the museum, I just roamed the streets of Reykjavik, to see what there was to see. I picked up a few groceries / snacks, then stopped to try Reykjavik’s famous hotdogs. I’m not usually a fan of hotdogs, but Baejarins Beztu Pylsur has got it down! For only 380 krona, you can be just as famous as Bill Clinton (pic to prove it on their cart) and enjoy a delicious dog with raw onions, crunchy onions, Dijon mustard and some type of gourmet ketchup (I didn’t know such a thing was even available!). AND everywhere in Iceland, they take visa! Even for a 380 krona ($3.25) hotdog!

I headed back to the hostel, and had a long hot shower because I was SO COLD! In my defense, I didn´t really pack well for this leg of the trip, hoping that creative layering would do the trick. Apparently, it doesn´t.  I did my obligatory blogging, then went to bed, the sole sleeper in a dorm for 10. Hoping that tomorrow I would actually like Reykjavik.


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Journey to the Centre of the Earth*

Apr 27
Set my alarm early because we were being picked up at 7:30 for our day trip out to Snaefellsnes Peninsula. I ran into a bit of a snag when I tried to board the bus but the guide didn’t have my name on the list. After about 10 min inside at the office, I got things straightened out, and boarded the coach. Ann and I settled in for a long day of bussing. Luckily, we had a great guide who was very knowledgeable. However, paired with the sad weather (overcast, foggy at times) the theme of the day was “normally we would see , but not today.” By the third time this happened, Ann and I would start to laugh, knowing the “but” was just around the corner.
“Normally we would see 15-20 seals sunning themselves…”
“Usually you can see the glacier from this vantage point…”
“Typically there are many different birds on this cliff…”
Despite this trend, it was still a very cool day trip. I DID get to see some unique rock formations, lava fields and Icelandic countryside (of which they have much). We visited the fishing town of Arnarstapi, which had stunning views despite the weather. They had gorgeous bird cliffs, and I saw the very exotic Icelandic seagull. (“usually we see several species of Icelandic birds, but today…”) and yet, the town was beautifully pristine and well worth it. The cafe (which I’m sure only opened for us, as NO ONE else was around) served great coffee and dessert pancakes, and I’m assuming delicious meat soup, from the smell, although I was still full from all the food I’d eaten en route. Despite having a captive audience, they were very reasonably priced (unheard of here in Iceland)  and even gave refills on coffee and meat soup!
One good (?) thing about Icelandic weather: if you don’t like the current weather, just wait 5 min (local saying). And it’s SO true! For example, the sun was shining as we pulled over for a shirt photo stop, and headed up the hill. A short 5 min later, we were pelted with wet hail which seemed to come out of nowhere. I took some quick photos and headed back to the bus, fairly wet by the time I got back. Ten minutes later, sun!
After Arnarstapi, we drove by Hellnar, another small fishing village, not yet open for the season. We stopped for some picture-taking of lava fields (very cool!) and Icelandic horses. They are smaller but sturdier than regular horses, and their breed is fiercely protected by the law. They have 5 gaits to the usual 3 (?) and they are a very pure breed. Icelandic law prohibits any outside horses to enter the country, and Icelandic horses that leave the country for whatever reason may never enter again! Lord of the Rings is heavily influenced by Icelandic culture and landscape, and plans had been made to film here, but due to the strict horse laws, they relocated filming to New Zealand. Supposedly the horse-to-hobbit ratio would’ve been off had they used the smaller Icelandic horses 😉
We also saw Snaefellsjokull volcano, which has a glacier at its peak (which if course we couldn’t see… re: clouds and theme of the day, hahaha!). We passed the community that makes the Icelandic specialty of putrified shark, known as Hákarl (no, that’s not a typo) and which I’m still debating about trying. Simply for the bragging rights. I doubt that it’ll be my new favourite food. I expect it will be right up there with Japanese natto.  Blech.
We returned to the hostel about 7:30, both quite tired from the long day. Despite the theme of the day, we were both very satisfied with our day. We sat in the lounge until a respectable time, then headed up to the room. Ann packed up, as she flew out early the next morning. We said our goodbyes and went to sleep.

* this mountain was the setting for the famous novel by this name


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Seriously??

Apr 25-26
It turns out that Icelanders have a sense of humour. April 25 is a national holiday, being the first day of summer in Iceland (hahshaha!)
To celebrate, we all got a free ice cream bar in flight 🙂 apparently, nobody told the weather though, as it was a balmy 3 C when we touched down. Glad I wore my shorts!
Despite the celebration, I added the length to my shorts to make pants (they’re zip-offs) and paid for & hopped on the bus into town.
At the hostel, I got to my room and met Ann, my roommate. My only roommate. In a room for 10. Nice! I sat down on my bed, and realised how tired I was. But going to bed at 6:30pm local time would mess me up, so I unpacked, skyped, hung out in the lounge, and surfed the Internet until it was 10:30, which I figured was a respectable time to hit the sack.
The next morning I woke up (without an alarm) at 6:30. I tried to convince myself to sleep longer, but my body wasn’t having it. So I got up and headed downstairs for breakfast by 7:15. Stuff is expensive here, but the breakfast was well worth the 1250 krona! It was by far the best hostel breakfast I’ve had 🙂 Ann joined me, then a few other people. We get to talking, and this girl asks me what my plans are for the day. I respond with, “nothing.” “Want to go on a day trip to the (insert many places I didn’t yet know about)? I have a ticket and I’m not gonna use it.”
Me: “what?”  (I haven’t yet finished my coffee)
Girl: repeats it again. I’m still in the dark.
She must be able to tell for the blank look on my face and gives me a bit more detail in slower sentences.
Turns out I arrived in town in time for Eve Fanfest 2013. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, right? Yeah. Me neither.
I’ve since found out its an online sci-fi reality game, like a second life. Anyway, the gamers have come from all over the world for this fanfest. And some of them have convinced their partners to come along. Since most of the players are guys, and their wives / girlfriends don’t play, they need something to do while the gamers are, well, gaming. So the  event organisers devised a plan: Sisters of Eve. Those women who have joined but need something to do.  This girl, Alexandra, was one if the few girl gamers (only 5%) but decided to go to the conference instead of this trip.
“I’m even willing for you to have it for free so it will be used.”
Caffeine and information finally sinking in, I agree to whatever this day trip included.
“Oh yeah, it leaves in half an hour from Harpa, about 5min from here.”
I run upstairs to get my stuff for the day (what do I even need???), and run off to join the SOE.
Once in one of the super jeeps, I find out I everything that we are doing that day (and that I should’ve brought my bathing suit!).
This is what we visited / saw:
* the oldest parliamentary in the world, in Þingvellir National Park (Þ sounds like “th”)
* Geysir (geezer) which is a geyser and the namesake of all others after it
* free fabulous buffet for lunch – including delicious fresh fish
*  off-roading** with our super jeeps to get to some glacier fields
* Gullfoss, a famous waterfall
* Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal spa
Basically it was a $200 tour! The whole day I was in disbelief, and kept thinking someone was going to tell me I didn’t belong there, but no!
I had left at 9 am, and returned at 7 pm. Exhausted but happy, I hung out in the lounge while waiting for my laundry to finish. I booked another day trip for the next day, to travel along with my roomie, Ann.
All in all, a great day!

** our driver was crazy, probably as a result of driving the same route every day. Whenever he got bored, he would just drive off the road. Because he could. We drove up the side of the crater, through waist-deep snow, and AROUND a bridge (yeah, why use a bridge when you don´t have to). It was the high-light of my trip!


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Au revoir

Apr 25th was my last day in Paris, and when I woke up, I realised the major flaw / overlook on my plans: I had forgotten about Versailles! Don’t ask me how, I chalk it up to travellers memory*. I had about a 10 min frenzy of trying to fit it in before flying out in the afternoon until I sadly realised it would be a tight squeeze (read: impossible) so I decided it was for “next time” and headed out for Sacre Coeur after bidding farewell to my hostess.
I had be warned about all the stairs leading up to Sacre Coeur Basilica, but I have it no thought until that morning when I remembered I’d be doing them with my full backpack on. Oh well, gotta walk off those crepes 😉
I decided to count the steps, because I’m a masochist like that. So, 330 steps later, I arrived at the front door. I walked in single file along with the plethora of other visitors. At the end, I snapped my “no pictures allowed” picture, then headed back out and around to enter the crypt and dome portion (which cost €8). The crypt was not nearly as scary as the name would suggest. It resembled the upstairs, without the lights on.
Beginning to wonder if I’d be taken for €8, I headed towards the dome (tower) and noticed the sign indicating it was 300 stairs to the top. What they neglected to mention was that the stairwell is not for the claustrophobic. Or, say, people carrying a big backpack.
Three hundred spiral steps later, I reached the top, glowing** like a neon light and a little dizzy. And that’s when I realised that I had gotten a steal of a deal with €8 and 630 stairs – the view was AMAZING! It was a clear day, and I could see to the Eiffel Tower. I walked around for a bit, taking pictures from every angle, before starting my descent. The views were so beautiful, Ilost track of time and had to pick up the pace to get to the airport. All told, I climbed and descended 1260 stairs with a 12 kg backpack and 3 kg front pack.
On the train heading to CDG, I realised I didn’t know my terminal (and there are three). I figured I had better odds with the Terminal 1 & 3station and luckily it paid off. I found my check-in and got in the REALLY long line. I tried to do web check-in but it wouldn’t allow me, so I waited in line. And waited. And waited. And panicked, as I mentally did the math on the time remaining versus the tasks remaining (security, find gate, food, bathroom run, change to warmer clothes, etc). And waited. (panic)
Time I arrived in line: 12:35
Time I arrived at the counter: 1:30
Time plane was scheduled to leave: 2:15
Time of boarding listed on info screen: 1:50
Rumoured time to get through security: 40min (panic)
When I got to the counter, I was informed that my 12 kg bag was considered “oversized” due to the straps! Meaning, I had to take it to another area to drop off before heading to security (more panic). To add to the fun, their computer system had decided to revolt after the long line and wouldn’t print my boarding pass (yup, you guessed it: panic). After waiting the longest 10 min of my life, (time: 1:45) I got my boarding pass and full-tilt RAN to drop off my “oversized” backpack, (time: 1:48) then on to find security and my gate! Got to security, (time: 1:53) gulped down half a litre of water in under 2 min and went through the security drill (which luckily I have down to a science now!)
Time: 1:57
I rush out of security, ready to run for my gate, when I look up….. And see my gate RIGHT THERE. It was then I realised that the security drill had gone abnormally fast. No wonder: it was just for that small wing! My plane was still not boarding, so I:
– bought some pastries for the plane
– bought an orange juice at another shop
– did a bathroom run
– refilled my water bottle
… and then I sat down and waited for boarding. Which happened at 2:05
(we didn’t leave on time…)
The flight itself was pleasantly uneventful as I headed for my final destination: Reykjavik, Iceland. In my shorts.
* since every day is a holiday, you quickly lose track of which day it is, how much time you have, sometimes which country you are in, and which tourist attractions you still need to do.
** Horses sweat, men perspire, women glow.