OF all the places that we went on our adventure, this place was the craziest. Maybe it was because we had been traveling for a while by then and I might have been a little loopy and hungry and full of traveling endorphins , but Iceland felt more like we had traveled to a different planet. Covered in snow and ice, gigantic , jagged mountains, and barely a tree to be seen. The sun was limited, rising around 1030am and setting around 330pm. The landscape has a very barren, almost aggressive feel, but at the same time, really pulled me in. We only got to spend 4 days there( and they were the coldest 4 days they have had all year) but what time we did spend only made us want to go back (int he summer) to explore even more.
Our bnb wasin Hafnarfjörður, a town outside of the big city. It isright next to a harbor with all the house build snuggled close on the hill in between rocks and boulders. The houses are so cute with a very danish feel, lots of clean edges, metal sidings, and fun colors. And the lights. Just about every house had some type of twinkly lights in there yard making the town light up like a fairy land at night. It was magical and beautiful and made me very happy.
We ended up taking a bus tour of the Golden Circle. I had never taken a bus tour before so I wasn't exactly sure of what to expect. And I am not going to lie, I am so glade we did it, the tour lady had lots of really interesting stories and facts about the country to tell us andwe wouldn't have been able to see any of what we saw if we didn't do it, but I am not a fan of the bus. Eight hours of cramped seats, cold and damp withridged time restricted... not my cup of tea, but whatever, it was still really cool. Oh and did I mention the elves and trolls yet? I had heard this before we went, but Icelanders believe in another dimension where mystical creatures live and that sometimes travel to this world. YES YES YES!!!! Isn't that just freaking fantastic! On the tour, our guide was telling us all about it (she even believed in them) and how these creatures live under and in all the big rocks and boulders and those rocks and boulders cannot be moved or else you will disturb them. And not joke, there is anationalpsychicthat talks to the creatures in the matters of the roadand new building construction (are we to close to you boldermr. elf?) They take care not to disturb their natural habitats. (When I heard this I was just so happy.) All I know is thatI need to start believing in elves.
And the people. To be honest we didn't have a lot of interactionwith local Icelanders. We stayed with the sweetest couple at theairbnb we rented, but they had only been in Iceland for a year. We did talked to people, but it seemed that everyone we talked to were traveling as well. The boys we were staying withm as wel as the tour guide had mentioned that the locals were not excatly the most friendly people. Not that they were mean or anything, just maybe a little standoffish. We kind of got that feel, but whenever we needed any help, the people we dealt with were very nice, but I kinda got what everyone was saying. It's not the most jolly la la la place for people.
Another strange part of being in Iceland was the food. Eating was difficult and very expensive. There was a restaurantin the town, but they mostly served meat ans seafood. There grocery store stocked very little in ways of fresh produce and what they did has was crazy freaking expensive ($6 for quart pund of carrots.. OUCH) Luckily I was able to score a bag of lentils, some apples, and a head of cabbage, so that's what I lived off for the time we were there. Next time we go, I am for sure going to be packing a checked bag full of carrots. yeah, that't what I will do.
So much, so much. I am sure I forgetting to tell you all about something I was going to tell you, but now I am just drifting in and out of all the pictures (I have so many more pictures) and am having a hard tie concentrating. So I will leave you with these to look. Andbefore I go, a little advice. Next time you find yourself going to Europe, take advantage of the Icelandic layover. The place is not the cheapest, but how can you pass up a free stop in a crazy cool country. (think about it..)
Have fun times today!
-C
