Iceland. Sooo I booked tickets to Iceland. What on Earth am I going to do in Iceland?!
I bought tickets very spontaneously. So basically I have no idea what to do or where to go.
But then again, it’s Iceland. I can probably go anywhere and still feel amazed by the breathtaking scenery of one of the world’s most beautiful islands. I know it’s winter and relatively cold but I just won’t let the weather stop me. So Iceland! It’s going to be marvelous! I really want to go into the wild and so I’ll try my best to get to the rough nature of Iceland. Only the sky is limit when it comes to my travels…
Look how beautiful it is! It’s stunning. It’ll be like stepping into a fairy tale.
I could try to ride a horse? Or something. I love horses. I wish I knew how to ride one.
So what can I do in Iceland? I’ll fly to Reykjavik, so, obviously, I will stay there for few nights of my week-long journey. How and where? I have no idea. Couch surfing? Hostel? Who knows. But something cheap, for sure. Reykjavik and its colorful little houses, Christmas lights and little markets, friendly people and fireplaces. Warm atmosphere, northern lights. Trees and roads white of snow, air glimmering because of the falling snowflakes. Red noses and red cheeks, vapour coming from everyone’s mouth when they try to speak in the freezing weather.
After wondering around Reykjavik’s pubs and wee shops, I could imagine myself trying to hitchhike somewhere. Although I only have seven days and six nights, so might as well spend it wisely. I think I’ll just create a list that I really want to do and then just go with the flow, not really make any specific plans.
It’s Iceland. It’s kind of like Finland during winter. Everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter season days are way shorter than during the summer season. I remember those days when I went to school in the morning and it was pitch black, and then when I got off, it was pitch black again. So basically we couldn’t see the sunlight at all. It’s horrible. So depressing. So that’s where I come from and where I am traveling to. The shortest days might be only for about four hours long. But then again you’ll see the stars better and better chance to see the northern lights when it’s dark all the time (if the weather is good). I really thought that the temperature would colder than in Finland but it’s not! Not even close. It’s about zero degrees Celsius, maybe -2 to +2 degrees, when in Finland we would have over -20 C degrees. The reason for the relatively “warm” temperature is because of the gulf stream that brings warmer water up to Iceland from lower latitudes.
So, what should I do?
One day, maybe after some shopping at the Christmas markets, I would like to go to the world famous Blue Lagoon. In Icelandic Bláa lónið, the Blue Lagoon is artificial geothermal pool that gets its 38˚C warm water from the nearby Svartsengi thermal power station. “Svartsengi taps into steam vents fed by sea water seeping down into subterranean hot pots, and by the time it emerges at Blue Lagoon it has cooled to a comfortable 38˚C.” I’m super excited because they have a sauna there! I haven’t been to a sauna in ages. In Finland almost every household has its own sauna and before moving to Edinburgh I was used to go to the sauna for several times a week. Now it’s been almost seven months without it! Aaaa
After Blue Lagoon, I could try to go to see one of Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss or maybe some other massive waterfall, like Gullfoss. I could also go to see the Askja, a volcanic crater that has a geothermal lake víti that you can swim in (SAY WHAAT). Then there’s also of course the Geysir which is probably one of the most photographed nature’s phenomenon in the world. Then there’s also plenty of national parks to conquer and wildlife to experience… Oh boy, is a week enough after all?
Aurora Borealis, the northern lights would also be a pretty amazing thing to see in the wilderness of Iceland. Did you know that actually the name Aurora Borealis is named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and Borealis is from the Greek name for the north wind, Boreas. The best time to see them would be between September to April, so I guess my trip will have the “perfect timing” then. Lucky me!
On the road again, can’t wait to get on the road again… And there I will be. On the road, don’t know where I’m going but it’s definitely somewhere. In Iceland Reykjavik is a good start, then we’ll see where after that. Maybe a glazier walk?
“During the winter months, the glaciers get a bit sturdier, and groups of tourists are led across them. There’s no better way to see the glaciers than to walk on them. Release your Arctic explorer across the glaciers of Iceland.”
Glazier walk, selfies with the biggest waterfall I’ve ever seen, ice caving and glacier lagoons. Horse riding, hot toddies, hanging out in a local pub with vikings, old saga tales and warming your frozen fingers in front of the fireplace. I found a perfect site, https://www.extremeiceland.is/en/winter-tours where I can find almost any tours that they have in Iceland during the winter season. So maybe I’ll go on for a tour. 🙂
Until the next time! Hafa a ágætur dagur! 🙂
wild world - my route 