re: Iceland

Reykjavik

Let’s start with a view on the Reykjavik’s center from the Hallgrimskirkja tower.

Hallgrimskirkja

HALLGRIMSKIRKJA is a lutheran church in Reykjavik. When I was here for the first time I just came in, but didn’t pay much attention to the place. This time it was different! We decided to go to the organ concert! Just look at this massive pipe organ! It looks incredible and sounds even better! If you have a few days to spare in Reykjavik, then it’s a must-do.

Shipwrecks

Close to the Reykjavik harbour there is a ship graveyard. Ah! Somewhere between all these shipwrecks there’s also a (kids) playground.

Grotta lighthouse

Going further, at the north-westernmost point of Reykjavik, just a few minutes drive away from the harbour, there’s a lighthouse. Nice place to watch sunset (and see hundreds of birds hunting / fishing). Just watch out tides flooding the causeway!

Reykjavik s graveyard

Curious thing - it’s the largest “park” around. If you’re in Reykjavik and want to walk among trees, you should go to the graveyard.

Golden Circle

Every guidebook will tell you that Golden Circle is a “must see” for everyone who’s here for the first time, especially if you don’t have much time to spend here. I think a bit different - visit Geysir and don’t waste too much time for other things around here. There’s way more to see in the interior!

Wild horses

Imagine this: you’re driving a car and you see many horses running in your direction, what do you do? (well, I stop the car and start taking pictures :-) ). It’s not something that happens here on daily basis, but it happens, and you should be ready for it.

Hveravellir

When I was here few years ago I promised myself I’ll come back here, and I did! One of my favorite places around here. Not so many people, “natural hot tub”, nice view. What else do you need?

F-roads

Another Iceland-thing. If you look at the Iceland’s map you’ll see the road 1, so called “ring road” that goes around the island, and many “F” roads that goes through. Before you take the F road make sure you have enough fuel to get to the next gas station. It can go up to a few hundreds kilometers driving in the difficult terrain before you find one. Map of gas stations is really handy here!

Fording rivers

Also make sure if your car can make it through this particular F-road. If you’re in a modified 4x4 Land Cruiser equipped with a snorkel then you should be good pretty much everywhere. If you’re driving SUV car, then be careful!

Husavik

Small but cute fisher town Husavik. You can take a whale-watching cruise here or just hang around, eat fish from todays’ catch and spend the rest of the day in of the pubs or restaurants around here.

Jardbodin vid Myvatn

About an hour south from Husavik, close to the Myvatn lake there’s another place with strong geo-thermal activity. It’s not as remote as the Hveravellir is. In fact, the ring road is passing by. So, instead of small hot tube there’s a huge SPA complex, similar to the famous “Blue Lagoon”.

Öskjuvatn

Deepest lake on Iceland located in the Askja caledera, next to the Viti lake. When we came here there was nobody around for quite a while. We sat down and listened to this soothing silence. To be honest, I have no idea when was the last time I felt like this.

Holuhraun

This was a fairly new place on our map. It was created after the Bardarbunga erruption in September 2014. This lava field was still warm the year after eruption. The river that is going underneath was cooling it down. Should I say that it quickly became a new spot for taking a relaxing warm baths?

Seydisfjordur

On our way back from the Askja region we went to the Egilsstadir. From there we took the scenic route 93 and went up through the Fjardarheidi pass to get to the Seydisfjordur. Seydisfjordur is a small port town surrounded by mountains. The port here is one of the most important port in the eastern part of the island. Ferries from Denmark and Faroe Island arrives here.

Apart from that, the city is a perfect place to spend a peaceful time away from the crowd (except for days when ferries arrive :-) ) with an amazing views everywhere around.

Black sand beach

If you go by the ring road, stop at the Vik and spend some time here. There are numbers of things to see around. Black sand beach is just one of them. Basalt columns, lot of puffins flying around, “troll rocks” and as usual, unique landscape.

Colors of the sky

Clouds reflecting the blue ice of Vatnajokull was definitely the most stunning view I saw during my trip. But I can’t forget these red clouds and sunny nights.

And obviously sheeps…

I had to mention them. In fact, they are the most common animals here. I heard so many things how awesome icelandic sheeps are. Over the years the sheeps evolved and adapted their wool for cold, rainy weather. Their wool is warm and higly waterproof. You can look for a fashion “lopi” (icelandic sheep’s wool) clothes.