Iceland: a frozen land with a very hot heart

Beautiful land rich in natural beauty, the Northern Lights is an incredible show

 

Curti - Rome - London - Keflavik

Today we wake up early, at 4, after preparing the last things we are already 'in the car, arrive at Rome Ciampino airport is very easy, just take the GRA and' one of the first releases. At the airport trying to find a place in the free parking ... we are very fortunate. The flight Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) party until 10:00 (cost 50 euros per person a / r). Pending Manu prepares sandwiches with nutella ... you seen the cost of living in Iceland, we have preferred to take stock. In about three hours landed in London STN fortunately the low cost that will lead us in Iceland (Iceland Express, www.icelandexpress.com 220 euros per person a / r) directly from this airport. At 19:40 our flight leaves at once of Keflavik, Iceland international airport ... even in this case the time of flight and 'about 3 hours. The international airport and 'very small in all wood (IKEA style) .. at this point there are two alternatives: 1) take the flybus that aspetetta out at the international airport, all flights arriving and take 1h to get to Reykjavik 2) stay in the town of Keflavik. We chose the second option since it was now 12:00 PM and we were very tired. With a taxi spending 3500 ISK (71 ISK = 1 euro!) We arrive at our hostel .. FIT the hostel where we experience the famous sleeping bag accommodation ... or a cot to rest his sleeping bag (+ convenient than imagine that).

Keflavik - Rekjavik

After a good breakfast, go to the bus stop near our hostel (timetable available at www.bsi.is) and for only 1200 ISK Rekjavik to us after about 50 min in a landscape of solidified lava rock covered with moss. The bus we bsi releases the terminal where you can 'facilitate a national take a bus to the next accommodation (all are drawn from every roof but are written in Icelandic, the terminal has bsi also in English). Each ticket costs 220 ISK or 9 tickets cost ISK 1500, the transfer works well '; take a bus releasing a ticket (and' scomodissimo, big as a point of Granarolo) then if you go on another bus, you do make a transfer ticket from the driver of the duration of 45 min (after 18:00 in the frequency and 'small size, but the transfer ticket worth +). Our accommodation for tonight and 'Domus guesthouse (special price ISK 1900) .. very nice. This month, the sun rises and sets at 10 to 17. Let's eat to the Kebab house where we take a kebab and fish and chips for only 20 euros!. Our tour begins in the city, visit the Domkirkja located near the lake Tjorn (partially frozen), then enter the center of Radhus exposure. Dal Lake is beginning to see the splendid church of Hallegrimskirkja with its high bell tower. From the lake you can climb this small hill to the church in the square and 'can admire the statue of Erikson, the first European to explore the Vinland (present-day Canada). On the promenade you can admire a curious vessel carina very stylized.

Reykjavik - Akureyri - Reykjahlid (Myvtan)

Unfortunately on Sunday the only bus that brings home to the airport (no. 15) begins at 10 races, but we have the plane at 9 (!!!). We do a beautiful walk up to the airport, is very nice little remains closed till 8 and then just start flights airiceland (www.airiceland.is, the company of the domestic flights are not very efficient supplements apply only for flights round and offers web can cost as the bus). The flight lasts 45 minutes, flying over the vast expanses of ice, came to the city of Akureyri lies on a beautiful fjord, the wind begins asoffiare all'impazzata, the pilot defe interesting to make a maneuver to reach the small strip on the water. Arrived at the airport in theory we should wait for the bus bsi beginning at 16:00 (also from there .. 'on the website this information) but we are fortunate because with us there are two Japanese tourists who have taken tur the day for the lake Myvtan (with return to Akureyri always organized by bsi) call for a pass. The driver / guide will make pay 2200 ISK (the same figure without extra charge for the tour) but in addition to transport we can stop (something impossible with public bus) to places of interest. In fact we see the beautiful waterfalls of Godafoss, the pseudocrateri a Skutustadir and the crater Hverfell. Often the road is frozen, in fact thanks to the driver's skill can reach characteristic Dimmuborgir site where you can admire the pinnacles formed from solidified lava. Finally we arrive at the destination we are going to sleep by Elda (which according to the guide should be closed) contact via the internet. The town of Reykjahlid and 'very small with only 400 inhabitants. Even here the road and 'frozen, we are the only tourists and we have a bungalow all for us. The only place to go shopping and 'the little market near the station of it, fortunately with the kitchen in' common 'we can prepare good meals. Unfortunately, the sky and 'cover, it seems Lake Myvtan and' the best place to see the Northern Lights. After the huge disappointment of the trip to Alaska where we could not see anything because of bad weather, I hope rifarmi with this holiday. The best conditions for seeing the aurora are: 1) dark (winter) 2) sky devoid of clouds, 3) from 10 am to 12 PM (but seems strange and 'so'). At 9:30 scrutinized the sky from the window of the bungalow that '... on the lake at a certain bunt ... you start to see flashes of light that turn on and off, we have not even time to dress and go out that soon disappear, the clouds are a major problem today ... we were lucky.

Reykjahlid

This morning we wake up concalma seen the night of yesterday. Here in Iceland, both for heating and for hot water use water from the underground (also used to produce energy). The advantages are obvious, but the disadvantages are that the water soon becomes warm to 100 ° C and smells of burnt sulfur. I take this opportunity to visit the town we visit the church (!!!) spared by the lava flow of 1727 (acora are visible blocks of solidified lava). On the afternoon to relax and spend a plan for future trips, meanwhile, look to the sky today perhaps andra 'better, there were few clouds. We decide to go to bed early so as to stay awake at night, but the expectation that there is' sleep. Like a Swiss watch to 9:30 and the phenomenon begins at 10 the show finally begins. Heaven and 'mackerel, there are no clouds, we see these bright streaks in the sky pale green in color, on the move because they strich move fast enough to form waves, looking for that show .. amazing. If you carefully set are formed by many small veins that vibrate ... never forget 'never looks like ... all the places so far in this world and this' the most incredible in' every so often we see of the stars falling. Unfortunately, and 'unnecessary restart with the camera does not see anything, not even with a good reflex with 800 ASA film and exposure 30 sec (perhaps to be bulb) obtained satisfactory results. Perhaps more so 'the ephemeral beauty of this phenomenon remain' forever in our hearts.

Reykjahlid - Akureyri

Inebriated and satisfied by the night we wake up as soon as the pre late. Today the bus to pass out at the Akureyri Reykjahlid near the church. Obviously the hotel and 'closed (given the season) are waiting out in the cold, but shortly after leaving the keeper dall'abergo and tells us to wait inside (thank goodness). Puntuale bus pass for 2200 ISK in 1h us to Akureyri. Arrived at Akureyri bus will download the information center, enter and ask how to get to our accommodation for the night, the HI Hostel Akureyri. The form tells us that the bus that has just accompanied passera 'of them' and us' a tear (and go). The hostello and 'exceptional all wood .. fantastic. Having laid our stuff we decide to walk to the second city 'Icelandic (20,000 people !!!). We see the Akureyrarkirkja and walk to the square of Radhustarg. The view of the fjord and 'spectacular.

Akureyri - Reykjavik - Blue lagoon - Selfoss

Morning tasting for the first time the fantastic Icelandic yogurt (Skyr) exceptionally creamy and Velut. On the way to the airport one stops and offers us a lift (working at the control tower). 12:00 depart at 12:55 p.m. and we are in Reykjavik, we take our car all'Avis (a golf course) and away in the direction of Keflavik. Midway will make a detour Krisuvik eg where in a few minutes we arrive at Blue Lagoon. Landscape and 'spectacular kilometers and kilometers of solidified lava covered with moss. Once in blue lagoon, parked the car, released the 1400 ISK for entry in return receive a wristband with a microchip for electronic management of the cabinets (not just immediate). We are robbing us we put the costume (!!!! is just the costume) and after the shower we dive into the pool deck. From the indoor pool there 'a small door, the open and you are in the lagoon, with the shoulders and the body at 40 ° C and the head at 4 ° C! feeling that !!!!. Obviously this is not 'a swimming pool, the fund is not' tiled but there are rocks. The height is not 'never exceeds the meter (except in places difficult to access) and in some areas, especially near the rocks, water and' hot !!!!. In a corner and 'can take the mud silicious zone spreads over the face exfoliating effect. After the nice relaxing bath we put ourselves in the car going in the wrong direction Grindavík ... unfortunately the road from here rejoins in Selfoss and 'dirt ... then we must go back to Reykjavik and Selfoss to turn. I must say that the road and 'peaceful, except some' (!!!) traffic near the capital. The only sore point at a certain point you cross a step with the snow and the darkness is not 'just nice. Once in Selfoss, some do call for sistamazione night ... sara 'Gistihusid Solbakjki (2000 ISK).

Selfoss - Gulfoss - Kirkjubaejarklaustur

To go to Geysir and Gulfoss, we must go back a little 'back on the ringroad (No. 1) to the junction for Geysir. Contrary to what the guide says, the road and 'that which reaches Laugavatn and then goes on to Gulfoss (65 km one way). First stage and 'Geysir hosting the homonymous gayzeer now off. One is active and 'Strokkur which erupts every 15-20 minutes by double jet that can' reach the 30 meters (!!!). Here is' a cold really impressive, quickly put us in the car and continue up to Gulfoss. From car parking a short walk brings us to one spiazzale where you can admire this beautiful waterfall 32 m high (+ than those of Niagara, in my opinion). In reality 'is a series of cascades that converge towards a gorge, then a small trail (frozen) leads to the ravine near the waterfall ... brilliant. After this we head towards meraviglia Vik through a strange landscape, came to Vik book (the only) open to installation Kirkjubæjarklaustur (kirkj) ovveroefri-Vik. After about 1h we Kirkj (170 inhabitants), and go in our ccomodation a small wooden cottage with a bathroom and kitchen ..... and go eat pasta tonight!. Even tonight puntuale the Aurora is, here is no artificial light and 'easy to see. Heaven and 'removal by clouds and full of stars, timely look at 10 today and Aurora ..' intense ... almost puts fear. Although the wind and 'off-hours remain strong (and finest) to see the Aurora which covers the entire sky ... what luck this and' the third time that we see.

Kirkjubaejarklaustur - Jokulsarlon - Reykjavik

Today wake up early (7:30) we do many km. Quickly exceed the 62 km that separate us from Skaftafell through a lunar landscape, filled with solidified lava covered with moss .. apart from the mythical sandur ... or chopped debris released from the third glacier, the Vatnajokul, the world (after those in Greenland and Antarctica) .. just a little 'wind to raise a fuss. Skaftafell e 'il posto piu' next to the glacier from here (as opposed to how it appears on the lonely) in only 50 km you reach a Jokulsarlon in this lake at the foot of the glacier (conveniently located on the ringroad) you can see majestic icebergs released from glacier that float freely in the ocean. Let us return back to Nupsstadur where we enter into a farm (it seems there is none), here is a beautiful little church covered with earth ... exceptional. Reykjavik next stage, after 490 kilometers, today we go to sleep at Gusthous Duna (2100 ISK, not exceptional and uncomfortable located).