In the morning we had a comfortable breakfast and left around 10 am. We headed towards Akureyri, one of the largest "cities" in Iceland. We had a short detour to Sauðárkrókur, with some clay buildings and again marvelous views of mountains and the sea. But basically, we didn't spend too much time on walking around. Just a beach with ice floes leaving the bay was keeping us busy taking photos.
We arrived at Akureyri at 6.30 pm, bought some food and had a comfortable dinner in a restaurant.
2013.03.29 - Vestfirðir
At 8.30 we left the hostel, with the ambitious aim to drive a road trip to the western fjords (Vestfirðir). At 2 pm, we arrived in Isafiörður for a short visit, and continued the "shortest" way back to the hostel. The plan was to make a circle, going counterclockwise around the west fjords. Already on the way back, we faced a gravel road and took it, of course, what other choice did we have- it's the only way back. But then: snowy conditions on the road, and we were not able to continue. So, we had to go back. From 8.30 until 3.30 - 5 hours - and now back again. NB: Try to avoid traveling too ambitiously. On the way back, from 3.45 to 4.45, we took nevertheless the time to take a little walk onto the Sandafell. At 10.30 or so we finally arrived at the hostel. A loooong day in the car, with three times at the gas station, and lots of beautiful views of snow, fjords, abandoned farms and other nice objects to take photos of, of course. It was an adventurous day, maybe too many risks have been taken, but it was with the effort - Vestfirðir: check.
(Btw, no trace of the northern lights so far...)
One huge dinner and a very short and rather cool stay in the hot tub, then beeeeed, finally :)
2013.03.28 - Sæberg
I learned tonight that a sleeping bed is not necessarily what I thought would be a sleeping bag: I had a linen sleeping bag, and therefore said I have a sleeping bag, therefore we did not get a blanket (but we had enough to wear, so so problem).
We left Grundafjörður quite quickly, and headed towards Helgafell, a hill providing the fulfillment of three wishes, when climbed silently. In Stykkishólmur, I had already been in July and eaten my first nearly-alive mussels (and an urchin). Again, it was a very nice cosy village with a open and wonderful open-air swimming pool and hot tubs.
From there on, I had my biggest experience so far in terms of driving on gravel road - approx. 70-80 km towards east.
We arrived at the Sæberg Hostel at 8pm, near Reykir, next to the Hrútafjörður separating the east from Iceland from the Westfjords (our plan for tomorrow).
The hostel had a hot-tub, perfect.
We left Grundafjörður quite quickly, and headed towards Helgafell, a hill providing the fulfillment of three wishes, when climbed silently. In Stykkishólmur, I had already been in July and eaten my first nearly-alive mussels (and an urchin). Again, it was a very nice cosy village with a open and wonderful open-air swimming pool and hot tubs.
From there on, I had my biggest experience so far in terms of driving on gravel road - approx. 70-80 km towards east.
We arrived at the Sæberg Hostel at 8pm, near Reykir, next to the Hrútafjörður separating the east from Iceland from the Westfjords (our plan for tomorrow).
The hostel had a hot-tub, perfect.
2013.03.27 - Snæfellsnes/Grundarfjörður
So much better to sleep in a three bed room. We changed our booking for this following night from Sæberg to Grundarfjörður - to be able to go see Snæfellsnes.
We left Borganes and took a small bypass to Bifröst and its Hreðavatn, a frozen lake next to three craters.
Next, we drove back to Borganes and northwards. In Eldborg, we decided not to hike to the crater, but (of course!) we took loads of photos.
Now began our cruise through the magnificent landscape of Snæfellsnes, typical Iceland. We drove through lava landscapes and passed by mountain after mountain, and still: the weather probably is better as in Austria.
In Lýsuhóll, I have already been to the hot tub/ public pool, and we wanted to go again - but it was closed (off season?).
Búðir, once again offered an extinct crater. We started at 1.30 pm, crossed the volcano landscape, climbed the crater, found a cave, found a beach consisting of bright sand (normally it's dark/black one) and took some more photos. At 5 pm we came back to the car - enough walking for the day.
We had another short stop at the lighthouse in Lóndrangar and the church of Ingjaldshóll. Then we headed to our city of the night, Grundarfjörður. We wanted to go for a bath, but again, it was closed.
After a nice self made dinner, a shower (at least!) and writing of this, I was happy to go to bed.
We left Borganes and took a small bypass to Bifröst and its Hreðavatn, a frozen lake next to three craters.
Next, we drove back to Borganes and northwards. In Eldborg, we decided not to hike to the crater, but (of course!) we took loads of photos.
Now began our cruise through the magnificent landscape of Snæfellsnes, typical Iceland. We drove through lava landscapes and passed by mountain after mountain, and still: the weather probably is better as in Austria.
In Lýsuhóll, I have already been to the hot tub/ public pool, and we wanted to go again - but it was closed (off season?).
Búðir, once again offered an extinct crater. We started at 1.30 pm, crossed the volcano landscape, climbed the crater, found a cave, found a beach consisting of bright sand (normally it's dark/black one) and took some more photos. At 5 pm we came back to the car - enough walking for the day.
We had another short stop at the lighthouse in Lóndrangar and the church of Ingjaldshóll. Then we headed to our city of the night, Grundarfjörður. We wanted to go for a bath, but again, it was closed.
After a nice self made dinner, a shower (at least!) and writing of this, I was happy to go to bed.
2013.03.26 - Borganes
Apparently, I forgot what it's like to sleep in dormitories, or maybe it was just because I was just so exhausted from the day before; I couldn't really sleep well. However, after a short walk we had breakfast at the hostel and continued to visit Reykjavík. We had a look at the steel-sculpture near the sea, the nice church, also from above onto the city. We also started something which I hope will be repeated everyday here in Iceland: going to the swimming pools, enjoying the hot geothermal water.
Around 3 pm, we left the big city and headed north, having first glimpses of the real icelandic landscape. Instead of the tunnel towards Borganes we decided to take the bypass via the fjord (90km/1,5h) to see landscape and Gylmurfoss, the largest waterfall of the country, 198m high. But we could not get there as the bridge appeared to be demolished. Not this time then.
The weather began to change, it became colder, 4 centigrades - still warmer than in Austria, and it began to snow and rain for a bit, again no good luck for Aurora Borealis.
Youth hostel in Borganes, in a comfy three bed room.
Around 3 pm, we left the big city and headed north, having first glimpses of the real icelandic landscape. Instead of the tunnel towards Borganes we decided to take the bypass via the fjord (90km/1,5h) to see landscape and Gylmurfoss, the largest waterfall of the country, 198m high. But we could not get there as the bridge appeared to be demolished. Not this time then.
The weather began to change, it became colder, 4 centigrades - still warmer than in Austria, and it began to snow and rain for a bit, again no good luck for Aurora Borealis.
Youth hostel in Borganes, in a comfy three bed room.
2013.03.25 - Reykjavik
Alarm on 3.45 am. With two fellow friends of mine to the airport. Despite the winter and snow that was all around us, again, the plane left quite on time (after the plane had been washed with a salmon-coloured anti-freeze-mixture). We arrived in Copenhagen, waiting for our next plane for Iceland. It was nice, warm and less wintery than in Vienna. Then, we took the discount airline to Keflavik/Iceland; WOW-Air ("we kindly ask to not fasten your seatbelt until the seatbelt-signal is turned on", "please stow unattended luggage and persons in the luggage above your seats or below the seat in front of you").
In Iceland we had to find out that we had to call our car rental office - they would have been supposed to pick us up, but didn't. The dark side of choosing the cheapest car rental firm. We got a ten-year-ish year old Toyota Yaris, but it works, so far. We drove to Reykjavik, and visited the main spots of the city (and took heaps of pictures). We enjoyed the sunset from Perlan (the Pearl) and gladly drove back to our hostel (downtown youth hostel), enjoying a tea and going to beeeeed.
In Iceland we had to find out that we had to call our car rental office - they would have been supposed to pick us up, but didn't. The dark side of choosing the cheapest car rental firm. We got a ten-year-ish year old Toyota Yaris, but it works, so far. We drove to Reykjavik, and visited the main spots of the city (and took heaps of pictures). We enjoyed the sunset from Perlan (the Pearl) and gladly drove back to our hostel (downtown youth hostel), enjoying a tea and going to beeeeed.
2013.03.06 - Frankfurt Airport
As we almost did not find a taxi to the airport (it's cheap in Portugal), we arrived "just" 45 min before the boarding time. Enough time to post the election letter (elections in Vienna - why should you post it from Vienna if you can do it from Lisbon?) and postcards. The flight from Lisbon to Frankfurt was amazing, given sunshine and the view of the clouds and the sea.
We decided not to get stressed by the possibility of missing the second flight because of attending a guided tour through the airport area. Thus, we took this tour and were shown around in a bus. Loooots of planes everywhere, at peak times every 30 sec a machine is landing or taking off. 75t fish per day, 75.000 employees on the airport. With respect to passenger transport, the third largest airport in the world. - and then, off to Vienna. Home!
We decided not to get stressed by the possibility of missing the second flight because of attending a guided tour through the airport area. Thus, we took this tour and were shown around in a bus. Loooots of planes everywhere, at peak times every 30 sec a machine is landing or taking off. 75t fish per day, 75.000 employees on the airport. With respect to passenger transport, the third largest airport in the world. - and then, off to Vienna. Home!
2013.03.05 - Lissabon
My iPhone kindly deleted this message, thank you very much.
It dealt with:
- april-like weather
- walking in the nice streets of Alfama
- cimetero dos pazeres
- tram no. 28 driving us through narrow streets
- a yummy vegetarian good-bye dinner to our friend and to Lisbon.
It dealt with:
- april-like weather
- walking in the nice streets of Alfama
- cimetero dos pazeres
- tram no. 28 driving us through narrow streets
- a yummy vegetarian good-bye dinner to our friend and to Lisbon.
2013.03.04 - Belem
After a very refreshing morning, despite the rain, we left to Belem, an area not affected by the earthquake. The presidential palace, a monastery, a monument honoring Portuguese seamen and of course the 'Pastéis de Belém', a sweet well-known sweet.
It was surprisingly cold but a nice hot chocolate and a omelette helped us to survive. Though, the wet trousers made us go home again to change trousers. NB: always bring your waterproof trousers with you. Always.
A bit of sending funny post cards and playing games, and that's it..
It was surprisingly cold but a nice hot chocolate and a omelette helped us to survive. Though, the wet trousers made us go home again to change trousers. NB: always bring your waterproof trousers with you. Always.
A bit of sending funny post cards and playing games, and that's it..
2013.03.03 - Atlantic Ocean
We went to a free classical concert nearby (in Lisbon all museums and other facilities are for free on sundays until 2pm) - piano and saxophone making music about the spring.
Then we took the train to Cascais - to the sea! We enjoyed the sun (so warm!), bathed our feet and flew a kite. Beach, sun, sand, wonderful!
Then we returned back to Lisbon and enjoyed the evening in the city.
Then we took the train to Cascais - to the sea! We enjoyed the sun (so warm!), bathed our feet and flew a kite. Beach, sun, sand, wonderful!
Then we returned back to Lisbon and enjoyed the evening in the city.
2013.03.02 - Sintra
We picked up a really nice girl from Russia and the four of us took the train to Sintra, a village 40 min northwest of Lisbon, where were constructed a castle (19th century) and fortress/walls (8th century). It was called the Neuschwanstein of Portugal, and that's right, as it is really beautiful altogether. We had a fun day making way too many pictures.
In the evening, we had a relaxing comfortable time. Necessary after much walking.
In the evening, we had a relaxing comfortable time. Necessary after much walking.
2013.03.01 - Lisbon1
At 10.00, we took the bus and metro to our friend. We had breakfast and got rid of our luggage, and continued to see the city. First we walked from the place called Restauratores to the Plassa Rossio, so basically the city center. From the Castelo de S. Jorge we had a wonderful view of the city, especially through the periscope with a 2m canvas (very nice invention!). Afterwards we walked around for a bit more and then headed home to prepare dinner and having a cosy evening.
2013.02.28 - Alcochete
After a very necessary sleep, we first had a small walk around the lovely neighborhood of Alchochete, where we were sleeping. Sun! Warmth! Wonderful river! Flowers! Really nice...
Our host drove us to a place near the world exhibition, there we met our friend who's here for a semester, and also another friend of ours who is visiting her as well but is leaving tomorrow.
We had lunch in the sun with unfamiliar food traditions, eg fried banana or warm pineapple with cinnamon - in line with the main dish. And heaps of meat. The four of us were walking around the whole afternoon near the 'place of nations' around the World Exposition area. There were musical and other toys to play with, eg a interestingly sounding milled stone. Afterwards we prepared a cosy dinner in our friend's apartment. Inside the flat, not surprisingly, it was really cold. Everything here is rather cold for us who are used to insulated and warm rooms. At 11pm, we took the bus home to our second and last night at our host's place. The bus driver didn't even charge us and really helped us. The Portuguese seem to be very friendly! and patient: there were queuing up while waiting for the train!
Our host drove us to a place near the world exhibition, there we met our friend who's here for a semester, and also another friend of ours who is visiting her as well but is leaving tomorrow.
We had lunch in the sun with unfamiliar food traditions, eg fried banana or warm pineapple with cinnamon - in line with the main dish. And heaps of meat. The four of us were walking around the whole afternoon near the 'place of nations' around the World Exposition area. There were musical and other toys to play with, eg a interestingly sounding milled stone. Afterwards we prepared a cosy dinner in our friend's apartment. Inside the flat, not surprisingly, it was really cold. Everything here is rather cold for us who are used to insulated and warm rooms. At 11pm, we took the bus home to our second and last night at our host's place. The bus driver didn't even charge us and really helped us. The Portuguese seem to be very friendly! and patient: there were queuing up while waiting for the train!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)