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.
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.
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