I started a parallel blog on wordpress - you can read about my trips here: http://scottstrips.wordpress.com/
I’m still trying to work out which is best of the two platforms, I’ll be cross-posting for a while, to see if I can make up my mind…
Keep on moving :)
Friday, 13 December 2013
Monday, 11 November 2013
ICELAND - day 22
05.09.13
Iceland, and Reykjavik in particular, is extremely pedestrian and cycling friendly, with a large network of paths and lanes that allow you to reach virtually anywhere. The people are welcoming and friendly, always ready to be of help or to have a chat. Surely we’ll have to come back for some serious hiking. Although I wouldn’t live here – too rainy – it’s a great place to wander around.
NOTE ON KEFLAVIK AIRPORT – worst airport to sleep so far: metal chairs with armrests for each seat, not noisy but far too bright. Totally uncomfortable.
Airports should have hostel-like accomodation for overnight passengers, or even just a section with long chairs, even for a price, so people waiting for early morning flights could get a few hours sleep.
NOTE TO SELF – bad choice of clothing… I concentrated on weight alone, but I should have also considered location and situation – days in town and driving around, instead I only brought hiking clothes (and heavy hiking boots)…
KM DRIVEN: 2,404
Iceland, and Reykjavik in particular, is extremely pedestrian and cycling friendly, with a large network of paths and lanes that allow you to reach virtually anywhere. The people are welcoming and friendly, always ready to be of help or to have a chat. Surely we’ll have to come back for some serious hiking. Although I wouldn’t live here – too rainy – it’s a great place to wander around.
NOTE ON KEFLAVIK AIRPORT – worst airport to sleep so far: metal chairs with armrests for each seat, not noisy but far too bright. Totally uncomfortable.
Airports should have hostel-like accomodation for overnight passengers, or even just a section with long chairs, even for a price, so people waiting for early morning flights could get a few hours sleep.
NOTE TO SELF – bad choice of clothing… I concentrated on weight alone, but I should have also considered location and situation – days in town and driving around, instead I only brought hiking clothes (and heavy hiking boots)…
KM DRIVEN: 2,404
ICELAND - day 20
03.09.13
We’re on the last day of our stay, so we spent it shopping to take home a few things for our friends and relatives. We checked the “largest shopping centre in Iceland” only to find it exactly the same as any other, so we headed into town and got a few bits and pieces, including some stuff for ourselves, hoping that winter will be winter and we can actually use them!
We’re on the last day of our stay, so we spent it shopping to take home a few things for our friends and relatives. We checked the “largest shopping centre in Iceland” only to find it exactly the same as any other, so we headed into town and got a few bits and pieces, including some stuff for ourselves, hoping that winter will be winter and we can actually use them!
ICELAND - day 19
02.09.13
Back to Reykjavik, not without a dose of pelting rain and fierce winds! We kept on our tour of the Reykjanes peninsula, after visiting the Geological and Saltfish Museum in Grindavik. Rosie managed also to taste the fermented shark, an Icelandic speciality (apparently). Me, I stayed put with a slice of chocolate cake and a latte.
We then moved on along the coast between rain-sun-cloud-sun-rain-cloud-sun…
and we reached some wild seashore, a geothermal pool and station, and the Bridge Over Two Continents, on the fissure where the two earth plates meet (and separate by 1 cm every year).
We then turned back to the capital and unloaded the van at our friend’s house, then we took back the van to Kuku Campers.
It’s been a very pleasant holiday, full of things seen (and still to be seen) – surely we have to come back as this country’s really inspiring. After a shower, we had dinner at the house and tomorrow we’re planning some shopping. I’m looking forward to a warm, soft sleep…
Back to Reykjavik, not without a dose of pelting rain and fierce winds! We kept on our tour of the Reykjanes peninsula, after visiting the Geological and Saltfish Museum in Grindavik. Rosie managed also to taste the fermented shark, an Icelandic speciality (apparently). Me, I stayed put with a slice of chocolate cake and a latte.
We then moved on along the coast between rain-sun-cloud-sun-rain-cloud-sun…
and we reached some wild seashore, a geothermal pool and station, and the Bridge Over Two Continents, on the fissure where the two earth plates meet (and separate by 1 cm every year).
We then turned back to the capital and unloaded the van at our friend’s house, then we took back the van to Kuku Campers.
It’s been a very pleasant holiday, full of things seen (and still to be seen) – surely we have to come back as this country’s really inspiring. After a shower, we had dinner at the house and tomorrow we’re planning some shopping. I’m looking forward to a warm, soft sleep…
ICELAND - day 18
01.09.13
Overall, a very wet day. We started in the morning with a short tour of the village we spent the night in, Reykholt – very nice and tiny. Then we moved down the road to see a geothermal pool nearby.
Going back towards Reykjavik we stopped for a short hike up to the highest waterfall in Iceland: Grymul.
The hike wasn’t very long but it was quite steep in treacherous terrain, but the view from there was well worth it. Just as we took a few pictures of this cascading marvel, it started to rain, and together with the fiercely wind, it sent us back on out tracks. The hike also involved the crossing of a river via a log and wire… we both decides to cross it sitting and moving along the log – hilarious (especially for my bum…).
By the time we were back to the van, we were totally drenched, so we treated ouselves with a cup-a-soup and a hot meal of sausage and mash!
After warming up somewhat and a change of trousers, we went on towards Reykjavik and the Reykjanes Peninsula, where we managed to see another geothermal pool – just.
We then decided to call it a day, and we’re stopping in Grindavik for the night. Tomorrow is our last day with the van, so, we have a Geological Museum planned here, and then, depending on the weather, we’ll decide how to go on to be in Reykjavik by 6:00 pm, to give the van back.
Overall, a very wet day. We started in the morning with a short tour of the village we spent the night in, Reykholt – very nice and tiny. Then we moved down the road to see a geothermal pool nearby.
Going back towards Reykjavik we stopped for a short hike up to the highest waterfall in Iceland: Grymul.
The hike wasn’t very long but it was quite steep in treacherous terrain, but the view from there was well worth it. Just as we took a few pictures of this cascading marvel, it started to rain, and together with the fiercely wind, it sent us back on out tracks. The hike also involved the crossing of a river via a log and wire… we both decides to cross it sitting and moving along the log – hilarious (especially for my bum…).
By the time we were back to the van, we were totally drenched, so we treated ouselves with a cup-a-soup and a hot meal of sausage and mash!
After warming up somewhat and a change of trousers, we went on towards Reykjavik and the Reykjanes Peninsula, where we managed to see another geothermal pool – just.
We then decided to call it a day, and we’re stopping in Grindavik for the night. Tomorrow is our last day with the van, so, we have a Geological Museum planned here, and then, depending on the weather, we’ll decide how to go on to be in Reykjavik by 6:00 pm, to give the van back.
ICELAND - day 17
31.08.13
So we reached the end of August. And we have 2 days left with our campervan adventure. We’ve seen lots and lots of interesting and beautiful things – we’ve been very satisfied with our holiday, and the campervan proved just about right for us, so much so we’re planning on buying one of our own.
Today we started off with a visit to the excellent Textile Museum in Akureiri – it was really interesting and the lady there was extremely helpful with her explanations.
We then moved on further West on road no. 1 (the ring road) and went to the Seals Museum in Svalbarði, followed by a drive along the fjord to see some live seals, lazing around on the rocks in the bay.
Driving along we climbed to the top of a small volcano in Viðei, where we also went and see a lava cave, a mile long. We didn’t go inside the cave, as we didn’t have the right equipment, but I’m sure it would have been great.
To end the day, we went and see a couple of waterfalls in Hravnafoss and Barnafoss. Barnafoss had water coming out from the rocks in the mountain, going from underground directly to the river. Seeing all these things makes you want to grab a whole lot of books and start reading and studying all these natural phenomena and a whole bunch of history, then, once you get home, you get stuck on facebook and that’s it…
So we reached the end of August. And we have 2 days left with our campervan adventure. We’ve seen lots and lots of interesting and beautiful things – we’ve been very satisfied with our holiday, and the campervan proved just about right for us, so much so we’re planning on buying one of our own.
Today we started off with a visit to the excellent Textile Museum in Akureiri – it was really interesting and the lady there was extremely helpful with her explanations.
We then moved on further West on road no. 1 (the ring road) and went to the Seals Museum in Svalbarði, followed by a drive along the fjord to see some live seals, lazing around on the rocks in the bay.
Driving along we climbed to the top of a small volcano in Viðei, where we also went and see a lava cave, a mile long. We didn’t go inside the cave, as we didn’t have the right equipment, but I’m sure it would have been great.
To end the day, we went and see a couple of waterfalls in Hravnafoss and Barnafoss. Barnafoss had water coming out from the rocks in the mountain, going from underground directly to the river. Seeing all these things makes you want to grab a whole lot of books and start reading and studying all these natural phenomena and a whole bunch of history, then, once you get home, you get stuck on facebook and that’s it…
ICELAND - day 16
30.08.13
Not too bad a day overall, weather-wise – it was nice this morning, while we visited the Akureyri Museum, the Industrial Museum and the Aviation Museum.
We enjoyed all three, but maybe, the Industrial museum a little less, as the explanatory captions in English were few and far between…
We also had a walk through the town centre, taking advantage of the pale sun. We had confirmation from the info centre that the weather alert fot the highlands (and road no. 35) was confirmed, so we had to settle with route no. 1, continuing our counter-clockwise tour.
We stopped in Viðmyri to take a look at the “oldest and prittiest” (it was) turf church, then we headed to Blonduos, where we’re stopping for the night at a No. 1 petrol station.
The temperature is rather cold, and we had a little sleet mixed with rain earlier on. I’ll soon cuddle up in my sleeping bag…
Not too bad a day overall, weather-wise – it was nice this morning, while we visited the Akureyri Museum, the Industrial Museum and the Aviation Museum.
We enjoyed all three, but maybe, the Industrial museum a little less, as the explanatory captions in English were few and far between…
We also had a walk through the town centre, taking advantage of the pale sun. We had confirmation from the info centre that the weather alert fot the highlands (and road no. 35) was confirmed, so we had to settle with route no. 1, continuing our counter-clockwise tour.
We stopped in Viðmyri to take a look at the “oldest and prittiest” (it was) turf church, then we headed to Blonduos, where we’re stopping for the night at a No. 1 petrol station.
The temperature is rather cold, and we had a little sleet mixed with rain earlier on. I’ll soon cuddle up in my sleeping bag…
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