Iceland August 2010 - Day 5: Peninsula Skagi

Today we came along on direction Saudakrokur. The weather had made amends and on the coast blue sky and sunshine welcomed us. From Varmahlid it passed on the street No. 75 up the turf museum of Glaumbaer where we inserted the first short stop. Tha place with the turf huts, a recollection of the former way of the Icelandic dwellings, we could recommend very much. Then further we went in the nice small town  Saudakrokur. Here we inserted a stop in the blue house Olafshous that we  recommended very much. The prices are ok, supercomfortable equipment and nice sphere. No matter whether soup, salad buffet, burger, pizza or fish, for every taste and purse you find something
After this we drive in good mood along the  Skagafjördur. After we changed No. 745 on the street, a very long distance on a partial nevertheless very violent grit runway approached us. Here good driving talent is asked! Partially I have got not too a lot from the surroundings, because I was occupied to make way to the bad blow holes. A cross-country vehicle is an advantage here, but we have managed  it also with our Hyundai. However, it would be warned against adapting the speed to the blow holes.
Indeed, the wonderful look at the deep blue sea and the small rock island Drangey as well as trusting and cuddly horses and precipitous cliffs with black beach provided for a breathtaking picture. We made a lot of pictures and  stood often astonished and inspiring in the street edge. Only now and then some farms appear on this distance and I give the advice to make this distance in very good weather, because the view of the sea was the highlight.
Then in Skagaströnd we filled up our car again, before we bent inwards No. 744 direction Saudakrokur still before Blönduos again on the street.
Then at 22 o’clock in the evening we arrived our  summer cottage and allowed ourselves still tasty food. And then we saw something that the absolute highlight of the whole Iceland vacation explained: Polar lights.
I was on the way in the Hot Pot and wondering what this strange green lights in the sky are. And, finally, we all stood on the terrace and looked being astonished, fascinates and reverentially in the green shining sky. Nearly half an hour we were presented with very clear polar lights. And also after one hour one could see weak lights over and over again. I admit, I have never seen such a nice thing  and to admire this spectacle of nature at starry night and full moon in a warm Hotpot in complete silence is not almost to be topped. This was amazing.

Iceland August 2010 - Day 4: Myvatn

Although it was raining we decided to move to Myvatn after a good breakfeast this morning. Past Akureyri we drive to the Öxnadalsheidi passport up and reached, finally, the first runners of the nice, from old lava surrounded lake. First we made an excursion in the small and nice Birdmuseum that lies a little bit hidden on the left side of the lake  (street 848). Here you can admire a collection of the stuffed birds who are all to be found in Iceland (home and birds of passage). In English, German and French you can find infos to the board and if one presses the respective bird, a light blinks in the glass cabinet, so that one always exactly knows which bird is meant. The staff, a young Icelander, was very engaged and friendly and explained everything to us and gave us further information. Customer service is very important at this nice and little bird museum and you should take one hour for this nice place.
Then we went in spite of rain in a good mood further to Dimmuborgier, the sombre rocks. These cooled off lava formations are really impressive and are worth in nice weather anyway a wandering. However, there we had long-term rain, wind and 7 degrees, we decided on a short version and went on. In a nice pizza booth with very tasty pizza we strengthened ourselves and then went further to the Krafla.
Unfortunately, the way was not passable around the Krafla or was too slushy and dangerous. So also here the short version and again down to the Namafjall - yellow and knows gleaming sulphur area.
Here we were received like 2 years ago by a sulphur smell bad for me and while I kept closed the nose to me, Dieter was inspired by the bubbling and hissing solfatars and springs.
End of the day was a relaxing bath in the nice Myvatn bath. It’s like the small sister to the famous Blue lagoon near Keflavik.
Then at 22:30 o’clock we arrived again at Varmahlid and sank after a final relaxation bath in the Hot pot tiredly in the bed.
Today though the day had been spoilt by rain very much, nevertheless, has shown us that only the setting whole makes “unbearably” or “annoyingly”. Since we have seen a lot, had a lot of fun and mostly good mood. Quite faithful to the motto: There is no bad weather, only bad clothes and wrong setting.

Iceland August 2010 - Day 3: Varmahlid

The storm had increased steadily and over and over again showers were delivered. Because the last days were very stressful we decided to make a relaxing day. Only the small village Varmahlid we wanted to visit on this day.  Moreover, I and Steffen still went for a 6-km-long walk to the big horse cookers which we had discovered on a gigantic meadow before Varmahlid. At the beginning the horses were a litte bit mistrustful but after a brown mare with her foal started to come to us the others followed very fast. The brown mare liked to cuddle with us and her fool observed us with a curious and bright interes. There was a horse nanny also who paid attention to 4 foals.
And at the end the stallion of the cookers called in, a splendid black horse.
The meeting with these wonderful beings has pleased us again very much.
Otherwise we allowed ourselves on this day still a long stay in the HotPot and an amusing play evening.

Iceland August 2010 - Day 2: Husavik

Today we went to Husavik for whale watching with a sailing shipf of North Sailing. At first the mood was not so good in our group because we had not many sleep the night before and the weather wasn’t good, too. Tiredly we started for Husavik and to all evil the weather also did not join in. Rains and storm. Moreover, it was a little bit stressful because we arrived the parking lot only 10 minutes before boarding finished. So still fast tickets bought and up to the ship. Briefly after one had wrapped up us in warm overalls, we already were on the way.

I was a little bit nervous because the lady of the ticket center give me tablet against sea illness for all of us and I take one for secure. Well, as we drive from the harbour in the sea immediately the sea was very rough with high waves.
Thus, the first waves came and the poor man beside me has cogot from the 4-hour journey generally nothing more. He puke every ten minutes.
I have never experienced such waves and also not such a skew situation with a ship. Quite faithful to the film „The storm” with George Clooney we braced ourselves in these gigantic waves and bent not only once almost so strongly aside that I thought we tip over. But well, I imagined the Isis already know what they do and the Skipper was happy like anyhow.

And then after half an hour of gigantic waves he appeared. A minkewhale was there. We took up immediately the pursuit, still saw twice this whale before he moved away. The reason was obvious: 5 boats round us were sudden and everybody wanted to see the whale.

Then we drive to the little island near the coast where a lot of puffins - approx 8000 animals - nested.  We also saw immediately the sweet birds and for one moment I also forgot the swinging boat. Unfortunately the try to sail failed because of the rough sea and so we drove back to the harbour. After 4 hours on the rough sea I was glad to see the harbour again.

So small tip: At the middle / end of August in bad weather never book whale observation if one has a nervous stomach. It is not worthwhile really, the man beside me has got from this 4-hour journey generally nothing.
A visit in the whale museum rounded the day in Husavik and was  very nice and very informative. While I wrote these words  Dieter and Steffen discussed once more completely entrancedly this visit and the information which we have received there. Beside the history of whales, beaching  and whaling history the single best known whales with picture and many infos are also shown. A whole space is dedicated to the killer whales and also from Keiko, the whale from Free Willy, you finds very detailed infos. Nevertheless, whole skeletons of whales allow to become everybody very reverentially at the sight of this size. And, nevertheless, the pictures about the whaling and the tip to the environmental pollution have tuned me very furiously.
2 hours we stayed in this nice whale museum and a visit has really been worthwhile. You don’t should miss this visit, the whale museum is directly in the harbour.
Then at 17 o’clock we went about Akureyri back to Varmalid and allowed ourselves after tasty pizza still a being relaxing stay in the Hot pot.

Iceland August 2010 - Report Day 1: Arrival

In the morning we taken away after we had anything in the car and drive to Frankfurt.  Because we had booked Economy Comfort this flight, we used the Launge of the airport and of course we drank something. I choose a Prosecco of course
Faster then the other passanger we went into the airplane and were very amused about the comfort. Many space for all of us, a great service and lot’s of fun during the flight. So everybody of us enjoyed the flight in the first class very much and after a quiet flight we arrived Iceland at 3 p.m.
Weather: Fantastically. Felt 20 degrees and sunshine where the eye reaches. At the exit a very friendly Icelander from Procar waited and brought us to the office.
And there was very quickly clear: The car looked bigger on the Internet. Our luggage would never have purely fitted there. The nice Icelander also saw this probably and gave us the afterwards bigger class, without surcharge. We received a Hyundai I30 Combi version. Additionaly we get some insider tips of this friendly Icelander and a GPS free of charge. Wow, what service.

Laundry fetch in the motel next door at Viator was also no problem. While other waited certainly still for their rental car, we already went to Reykjavik. At first we bought food and other things for the house in the discounter Bonus. After this our car was really filled up.
The trip by the tunnel between Reykjavik and Akranes (Hvalfjördur) was adventurous. A tube which leads the cars in a strong gradient far under the sea. It seemed to be endless and I asked myself how wide we were now, actually, underground. Far and wide neither rescue bays nor state stripes by view.
I was glad to see the daylight again after 15 minutes.  But with this short journey we had saved 1 ½ hours, and because we still had a long distance before , this abbreviation belonged to a welcome matter.
Then the journey stretched longer from than expected. However, for the distance of 288 km we needed nearly 4 hours, twice short breaks  and then the fact that the streets in Iceland are not so good as in Germany. With maximum speed 90 km and occasionally more slowly you need your time for this distance.
At daylight we arrived without any problems our small and nice wooden summerhouse Varmi in Varmahlid. At the beginning it was a little bit tricky to know how to use the Hot Pot but the men get it after a half hour and so we had a relaxing bath in the Hot Pot.

Countdown for Iceland

Althoug we visited Iceland in March we travel again to this fantastic country. Beside the car we booked flight, summer house and hotel in Reykjavik and I would like to inform you a little bit about this trip.

When we’ll go away?

August, 19th till August, 27th

What we like to explore on this trip?

Because we had a summer cottage in the South in 2009 we would like to explore the North of Iceland, again in a summer cottage. The summer cottage is located next to Varmalid.

On our tour plan are the cities Akureyri and Husavik, the waterfalls Dettifoss and Godafoss, the lake Myvatn and we want to drive next to the fjords Skakafjördur and Eyjafjördur. And maybe we drive to the wonderful waterfall Dyjandi in the West of Iceland.

Which travel agency we have choosed?

We choosed not for any travel agency because it is main season in Iceland and the offers are all very expensive. So we decided to book all by ourself. Well, sure it was a little tricky to get 4 tickets on a flight with Icelandair. Because often there was no seats available or the seats were to expensive. But finally we have our tickets.

Flight: with Icelandair

Summer cottage: from Viator.is

Car: We’ll order this from Procar the next days

Hotel: Einholt Apartment in Reykjavik

Well, of course you need organisational talent to book a tour like this by yourself. But because I’m very good in this things, I’m sure that our trip well be successfull.

We have no internet connection in the summer cottage, so we’ll report about the days and show you a lot of pictures about our trip as soon as we’ll back.

Blue Lagoon - Iceland

The Blue Lagoon you should visit when you travel to Iceland. Its a natural lava pool with very hot water and a ideal place to stay for a while and have a great rest. So make sure that you stay there for a while because it’s very nice.

Lake Tjörnin - Reykjavik

The little lake Tjörnin lays in the center of Reykjavik, next to the famous shopping miles. This year in March we had seen a amazing natural spectacal. Hundreds of swan, goose and ducks stay on this place during the winter. So the tourists and the Icelandic people like it to feed this animals.

Svartifoss - waterfall in Iceland

This waterfall is one of the most beautifull in Iceland. The Svartifoss lays in the Skaftafell national park in the south of Iceland. You can hike from a parking area next to the ring road during wonderfull nature. The waterfall you can see from afar. It is framed from basalt stack.

Öxararfoss in Iceland

Here you can see some pictures from the beautifull waterfall Öxararfoss next to Thingvellir in Iceland

Thingvallavatn - Part 2

Additional pictures from the wonderful lake Thingvallavatn in Iceland

Thingvallavatn

This big lake lies in Southwest of Iceland next to Thingvellir. You have to drive only 30 minutes from Reykjavik to this wonderfull and amazing lake. If you have time you should make a stop on this place because it is one of the most beautifull area in Iceland.

Thingvellir - part 2

Thingvellir - part 1

Godafoss

The wonderfull waterfall Godafoss is due to the ring road directly. And there is the nice restaurant and hotel with a camping place Fossholl, too. So you should make a little stop on this nice and amazing place.

Sheeps in Iceland

The sheeps at Iceland are very nice and resemble goats. They can climb very good and you can find them on very high mountains. Often they are very curious and find it nice to sit on the edge of a road or in the middle of a road. So you have to be carefull when you drive with the car in Iceland.

Horses in Iceland - part 2

Part 2 of some very nice pictures from the wonderfull and fascinating Icelandic horses

Horses in Iceland - part 1

I have never seen so happy and impressive horses as the Icelandic horses. These small and amusing horses live almost wildly and, nevertheless, have such a strong trust in the people. Very often they come immediately curiously near or even have galloped if we held on the edge around them to stroke and to take photos. This trust of this wildly living horses touches me every time a new. I have never seen horses with such wakefull and at the same time friendly eyes. It is a pleasure over and over again to observe them and to stroke.

Námafjall

Námafjall is a area of solfatara in the north of Iceland, not far from the big lake Myvatn away. This ridge is covered by solfatara and bubbling mud pots. Here one can look once more of the strength of the island in the eye. The solfatara area  lies directly beside the ring road and is good for a short stop. Nevertheless, one should note that this area strongly smells of sulphur.

Myvatn

The beautifull lake Myvatn you can find in the North of Iceland. It’s one of the most popular areas in Iceland. From here you can make hiking tours or observe the birds. You should make a stop on the little sister of the Blue Lagoon, too. Because in Myvatn there is a little lagoon from which you can see the lake Myvatn.