Kilometers driven: starting with mileage 216.415 km: 3.540
Color of the car: gold.
Gas used: gas for 407 Euro and 20 Cents.
Number of free seats in our car, with all our luggage: a little bit less than 0.
Streets used: mostly ring street, quite some gravel roads (but 'minor stratches' are ok according to our rental company)
Weather: mostly either sunny or snowy. Twice in two weeks, we had rain.
Number of 32 GB SD-cards filled up: 3
Number of photos and videos: 3375
Showing posts with label Iceland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iceland. Show all posts
2013.04.06 - Copenhagen
....Around 1 am, when the movie was finished, we found a cosy bar and I had a Pepsi at almost the price of a double so big beer. After that, we continued to the airport and the drop-off of the car. At 7 am we left Iceland. Next stop: Copenhagen. We found the Dan Hostel quite quickly, had a short rest, and two of us had a walk while the third one was taking a bit more rest (which, retrospectively, would also have made some sense for me). In the evening, we had a mexican buffet as dinner and I was happy to get to bed.
2013.04.05 - Golden Circle
We wanted to be prepared for the following night, so we decided to sleep until 9 am. We left for the golden circle. First we saw a crater called Kerið, but we were already used to craters. Then we went to see the Geysir called Geysir and its more active neighbor. Then we saw the Gullfoss waterfall. Then we drove to Þingvellir. This already took the biggest part of the day. After a local traditional dinner (KFC) we bought some snacks for the flight and headed to the Blue Lagoon near Keflavík. When it closed at 8.45 pm, we drove back to Reykavík and decided spontaneously to go to the movies - we had to pull an all-nighter as we had to drop off our car at 5 am and didn't have a hostel. So we went to see a film which turned out to be the danish version of 'The Hunt' ('Jagden') with icelandic subtitles.
2013.04.04 - Selfoss
After a good breakfast at the very nice hostel of Vík, we had a look into the wool shop (I bought a pair of socks) and headed westwards. We saw the waterfalls Skogarfoss and Glúfurárfoss. In Landeyahöfn we spontaneously tried to catch a ferry to the Vestmammaeyar, but there was no ferry at a good time. So we walked around and had fun in the beach in the west of the ferry. We headed back to the watefalls to finally also find the Seljalandsfoss, which was a bit hidden behind the other ones.
We continued to Selfoss, as we had to check in. One of us wanted to drive back to take photos of the falls, the others went to the swimming pool nearby - so many people! - we really are back in populated area.
Shortly after midnight, we saw a very small northern light, so barely worth mentioning. (Nevertheless..-it's a northern light!)
We continued to Selfoss, as we had to check in. One of us wanted to drive back to take photos of the falls, the others went to the swimming pool nearby - so many people! - we really are back in populated area.
Shortly after midnight, we saw a very small northern light, so barely worth mentioning. (Nevertheless..-it's a northern light!)
2013.04.03 - Vík
As we had breakfast, we were the only ones in the hostel. We left around 10 and drove back, eastwards to the Skaftafell, where we walked to the Svartifoss, the waterfall surrounded by basaltic rocks. A hint, that a so-called 'diamond cave' should be visited, turned out to be wrong as it is the wrong season and the diamond cave nonexisting. But it would have been nice to be in a cave surrounded by ice and lit by the sun from above. Another time.
We headed back westwards, passed the Fagrifoss and other small (not so famous) waterfalls.
We checked in in Vík, and drove to the area around the Reynisfjall and to Dyrhólaey, the bays and beaches east of Vík. Lots of photos were taken.
Good night!
We headed back westwards, passed the Fagrifoss and other small (not so famous) waterfalls.
We checked in in Vík, and drove to the area around the Reynisfjall and to Dyrhólaey, the bays and beaches east of Vík. Lots of photos were taken.
Good night!
2013.04.02 - Hvoll
The hostel would probably have been a good place to search for the northern lights, but I preferred to go to bed (traveling is tiring ;)). Today was my turn to drive, and it was quite something, from Berunes to Hvoll, around maybe 400 km?
For me, somewhere north of Berunes was the border between the reeally vast north-eastern part of Iceland with much snow and the rather more populated, springlike southern part, way less snow, I missed the snow and emptiness already... Jökulsárlón was the first big stop, a sea with ice floes from the Vatnajökull.
In the youth hostel Hvoll, we were the only guests apart from bridge building workers; apparently there are just two teams who are able to build bridges in the whole country - one for the west and north, one for the east and south of Iceland.
No northern lights either, today. But the ones we saw were quite weak, so maybe if the estimated intensity would go up from 2 to something more, maybe we could have a second glimpse, before we leave the country...
2013.04.01 - Berunes
I started my day with another 20 min in the hut tub, at 8.30 we had the included breakfast. I really can recommend this Guest House in Laugur. We drove to Mývatn, no wind, blue water, warm and nice. In Dimmuborgir we found a lava field, but one that was once active and thus had other, bigger structures. We continued, saw some horses on the way, to a couple of grottos (called Grjótagja) which again was great: some meters down over rocks, into approx. 40-45(?) centigrades warm and steaming water. Discovering the hidden caves and caverns, trying not to hurt or scratch myself on a sharp rock coming out of the dark.
The geothermal area Námafjall Hverir consisted of bubbling and piping pits and basins (comparable to the Wonderland in Wai-o-Tapu, but a bit less colorful).
The next goal was the Dettifoss, one of the largest waterfalls in the country. But the road leading there is not a main road and not very maintained in winter, thus probably much snow. We were quite sure we couldn't make it ourselves, but we tried the first few meters. Hitchhiking was out of question? In this season of the year with really not so many tourists - Who would have three spare seats in a big 4x4 car? - the next car passing by did! - right as we began to drive back. So, thanks to two friendly english people, we came to Dettifoss! So much snow on the way (40 min for 25 km), so much wonderful snow. Such a nice waterfall!
We continued on the road nr. 1 south-eastwards through marvelous landscape (who would have guessed that!). We were quite late, so we didn't quite see the last part of the landscape, and also we didn't have the time to see Seyðisfjördur which had been recommended to us by a lot of people - next time.
Berunes, again a youth hostel, was situated a few hundred meters next to the road nr. 1, so easy to find.
The geothermal area Námafjall Hverir consisted of bubbling and piping pits and basins (comparable to the Wonderland in Wai-o-Tapu, but a bit less colorful).
The next goal was the Dettifoss, one of the largest waterfalls in the country. But the road leading there is not a main road and not very maintained in winter, thus probably much snow. We were quite sure we couldn't make it ourselves, but we tried the first few meters. Hitchhiking was out of question? In this season of the year with really not so many tourists - Who would have three spare seats in a big 4x4 car? - the next car passing by did! - right as we began to drive back. So, thanks to two friendly english people, we came to Dettifoss! So much snow on the way (40 min for 25 km), so much wonderful snow. Such a nice waterfall!
We continued on the road nr. 1 south-eastwards through marvelous landscape (who would have guessed that!). We were quite late, so we didn't quite see the last part of the landscape, and also we didn't have the time to see Seyðisfjördur which had been recommended to us by a lot of people - next time.
Berunes, again a youth hostel, was situated a few hundred meters next to the road nr. 1, so easy to find.
2013.03.31 - Mývatn/Laugur
Again wonderfully relaxing sleep, and off to the 1 ring street. Goðafoss, right next to the ring street, proved to be a gorgeous waterfall to take photos of. So much snow everywhere, almost no clouds and around 0 centrigrades - awesome day, awesome Easter Sunday.
Next stop was Hverfjall, a 1 km big crate next to a smaller one, 2500 years old. We climbed up, and I left the prescribed trail to walk to the bottom of the crate. Next to the crate was all kind of wonderful landscape, frozen lakes (Mývatn), lava fields of different types, and cloud-white mountains in different shapes, almost no clouds. Iceland at its best.
We headed down to drive back the snowy gravel road which has lead us from the ring street to the bottom of the crate. After a few meters, we got stuck. Right in the fairway, axis buried in snow. So we called 112, for the first time in my life. After not even 20 minutes, a quad driver came to help us, additionally two drivers in a large heavy car. The quad guy managed to move the car backwards, with the three of us pushing back, and afterwards drive through the most difficult passage, this time not in the fairway. We took back the car, and we convoyed back to the ring street. So much help for no money or not even them staying to let us thank them. Honestly, I am impressed by the willingness to help by the Icelandic people.
We had planed before the trip to stay the night in Ytra Lon, a rather remote place to get to, far in the north-east. Due to the snowy conditions, we didn't want to risk it and changed our place for the night for a guest house west of Mývatn, quite close to the Guðafoss, in Laugur. This also had the advantage that we could see Mývatn which we would have missed otherwise.
The rest of the day until 2am is summed up quite easily in three expressions:
Hot tub
Aurora Borealis
Awesome
Next stop was Hverfjall, a 1 km big crate next to a smaller one, 2500 years old. We climbed up, and I left the prescribed trail to walk to the bottom of the crate. Next to the crate was all kind of wonderful landscape, frozen lakes (Mývatn), lava fields of different types, and cloud-white mountains in different shapes, almost no clouds. Iceland at its best.
We headed down to drive back the snowy gravel road which has lead us from the ring street to the bottom of the crate. After a few meters, we got stuck. Right in the fairway, axis buried in snow. So we called 112, for the first time in my life. After not even 20 minutes, a quad driver came to help us, additionally two drivers in a large heavy car. The quad guy managed to move the car backwards, with the three of us pushing back, and afterwards drive through the most difficult passage, this time not in the fairway. We took back the car, and we convoyed back to the ring street. So much help for no money or not even them staying to let us thank them. Honestly, I am impressed by the willingness to help by the Icelandic people.
We had planed before the trip to stay the night in Ytra Lon, a rather remote place to get to, far in the north-east. Due to the snowy conditions, we didn't want to risk it and changed our place for the night for a guest house west of Mývatn, quite close to the Guðafoss, in Laugur. This also had the advantage that we could see Mývatn which we would have missed otherwise.
The rest of the day until 2am is summed up quite easily in three expressions:
Hot tub
Aurora Borealis
Awesome
2013.03.30 - Akureyri
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.
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.
2012.08.06 - Ende
Um 1.25 in der Früh ging der Flieger nach Berlin. In Berlin wurde erstens der Anschlussflug nach Wien verspätet abgefertigt, und trotzdem, zweitens, unser Gepäck nicht in den Flieger hineingestellt. Mal schauen, wann das Gepäck nach Hause kommt - eine gute Sache hat das Ganze, wir mussten unser Gepäck nicht nach Hause tragen :)
Nach Hause...
Zuhause.
Willkommen Zuhause, nach fast sechs Monaten wieder Zuhause.
Vorbei ist's mit der Reiseberichterstattung, zumindest bis 5. bis 13. November - da geht's nach Tallinn, Helsinki und Turku!!
2012.08.05 - Blaue Lagune
Nach einer gemütlichen Nacht im sehr netten Hostel in Vík liefen wir noch auf den Hügeln um Vík herum herum - dass es schön war ist wahrscheinlich schon recht klar... Dann fuhren wir über eine 4-5 km lange Schotterstraße zum Mýrdalsjökull, dem Gletscher der uA den gefürchteten Katla (Vulkan) beherbergt. Gleich westlich von diesem Gletscher liegt der Medienstar Eyjafjellajökull. Gehen auf dem schwarz bedeckten Gletscher - die Asche von "Neunzehnhundertirgendwas", pro Sommermonat schrumpft der Gletscher um einen Meter.
Weiter, zurück ganz nach Westen zur blauen Lagune. Langes Baden, aber ich empfand das Wasser im Vergleich zu anderen Thermalbädern nicht ganz so angenehm.. noch dazu waren viele viele Leute/Touristen da.
Weiter zum Flughafen an einem abschließenden schönen Sonnenuntergang vorbei.
2012.08.04 - Vík
Aufbruch gen Osten auf der Ringstraße. Wasserfall Urriðafoss. noch ein (höherer, aber weniger massiver) Wasserfall namens Seljalandsfoss (und Gljúfrafoss). Der nächste Wasserfall: Skógarfoss - oberhalb schöner Spaziergang mit Idee von der immensen Weite des Landes. Weiter nach Vík mit seinem schönen Strand. Und ja, hier ist wirklich alles schön anscheinend, in diesem Land.
2012.08.03 - Selfoss
Weiter nach Westen gegen den Uhrzeigersinn um den Snæfellsjökull herum, vorbei an unzähligen wunderschönen Lavafeldern, Wasserfällen, schönen Küsten, Seehunde, und für nächstes Mal, denn hierher komm ich nochmal!, die Höhle Vatsnhellir. Unglaublich weites und schönes Land.
Zwischenstopp und Suppe in Borganes, bei einem mindestens genau so gutem Landnahmemuseum wie in Perlan in Reykjavík.
Unterkunft in Selfoss.
2012.08.02 - Grundarfjörður
Auto ausgeliehen und nach Norden, diesmal durfte ich auch mal fahren, weiter nach Stykkishólmur und Ausflug aufs Meer zu 2900 Inseln und Puffins, eine Mischung aus Pinguin und Kolibri - Schwarzweiß mit kurzen schnellen Flügeln.
Das erste Mal (Jakobs-)Muscheln ausgenommen und gegessen. Überwindung. Noch mehr Überwindung: einen unbekannten Teil von einem Seeigel zu essen.
Zurück zum Festland, Spaziergang. Weiter nach Grundarfjörður: Blaues Meer, Gletscheraussicht, Thermalbad, kleines buntes Dorf, entzückend!
2012.08.01 - Landmannalaugur
Harpafoss ist ein schöner Wasserfall, der vorzüglich bei diesem heißen wolkenlosen Tag die Füße zu kühlen vermag. Vorbei an Heklar, dem potentiell als nächsten hochgehenden Vulkan.
Landmannalaugar stellte eindeutig den Höhepunkt des Tages: imposante bunt bewachsene Berge rundherum, Lava- und Obsidianformationen, und in den Tälern mäandrierende Bächlein, manche heiß und in einem badewannentiefen Becken sich mit kühlem Wasser vermischend - toll, toll, toll!! Nur ein bisschen viele Leute, aber das war ein sehr kleiner Wehmutstropfen.
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