New Year New Me New Location

When we got back to the Airbnb New Year's Day, we had discovered to Icelandic locals standing on the porch smoking cigarettes. They greeted us briefly, and then we decided we were going to retire to get in early start on the day. After talking to my travel companion, I decided that this would be foolish, considering that we may never get another chance to meet and party with Icelandic locals, let alone on the first day of the new year. So as I eavesdropped on the door that separated the guest house from the main house, I discovered that they were actually talking about us, saying that the only excitement we had left was to go back to boring old western Pennsylvania. I immediately messaged the caretaker on Facebook, and he came down and collected us. Stating that they were going to play Cards Against Humanity. I was upstairs and a heartbeat, dragging my friend not too far behind. And all of us did exactly that, drinking, playing games, sharing stories about America just after 8 a.m. in the morning.

Considering that we slept in way too late after that, it was going to get dark soon, and we didn't have much daylight to do much of anything. We decided that we would use this time to get a head start on the Golden Circle, first descending upon thing volvox in, the Scenic Lake and the center of the country. We paid the $8 parking fee at Þingvellir National Park, admired the frozen lake, the mountains around us, and the very beautiful and warm gift shop. The first stop on the Golden Circle, it was absolutely worth visiting, especially so close to dusk when the magic hour had occurred.

At the edge of the park.

And did I mention that Iceland is very fond of their elf history? Our next destination was hellisgerdi, the elf capital of Iceland. It was a small Park located and hafnarfjordur, 20 minutes will it Reykjavik. Although we didn't see any dwarves or elves, as Laura had dictated they're being, we did feel a strange presence. This Scenic Botanical Garden did not feel isolated at all. That being said, although I do not necessarily believe in elves, they're very well might have been a presence there that had seen us, even though we did not see them.

At this point in our journey, we decided to go back to the Airbnb, fixing up some food for the first time in our entire trip. As dinner was cooking, I felt the need to go out and get some fresh air. So, I went outside and went for an hour long walk along the beach. I laid on the side of a hill for a couple of minutes, gazing into the moon and stars as they gaze back upon me. I looked out at the city lights, the roving light of the lighthouse, the crashing waves along the beach front, and this is where it really hit me that I was actually in Iceland. My phone died, and I found nothing but bliss, knowing that I was the only one in that moment and the world who knew where I was. It was a very contemplative and reflective night, and one that I will never forget. This is the beginning of a new year, and the beginning of a potential new me, and it all started in a very new location.

The New Year… A La Reykjavik

After being acclimated to Iceland for a couple of days, we finally got to the part we're looking forward to. Although original plans to go to Vik fell through, we were going to explore acronis, the town we called him for the past couple of days. We started our day by going to a steampunk coffee shop down the street, taking pictures of the church and other local attractions nearby along the way. We sat and chatted with a local Icelandic and his friends for about an hour and a half, sipping are espresso drinks before heading to the old rusty boat followed by the lighthouse.

A local tourist attraction and not much else, the rusty boat is exactly what it sounds like... A rusty boat. There wasn't much to see, besides a dangerous climb through and active Shipyard to get to it, a ladder that we could climb to the top of an unsteady looking deck, and a couple of broken down ship parts that laid next to it. We took plenty of pictures along the way, stopping to admire the quaint but small houses of the town, the grocery store where we first encountered and Icelandic local that didn't speak English, and the Myriad of yogurts that lines the windows of people's houses.

We then descended upon the lighthouse, a beacon of light and hope for the next most populous town to Reykjavik. A lot of people and left memorials here if their loved ones. After admiring the towers, we went to find a path to ography all to go hiking, only to discover that it was locked. There was to be no hiking after the sun had set. Plus, it was a three-hour hike through the cold of winter anyhow. We swung by longest Saunder, The Rock Beach on acronis where a lot of Wildlife and humans alike congregate during the summer, and admired the beauty of the waves and the boardwalk, and then departed for a New Year's celebration and Reykjavik.

If you intend to eat any sort of food when you go to Reykjavik, account for your mail to cost at least 30 American dollars. We ate at an Indian restaurant called shoveler, eating the vegetarian and vegan options, the cheapest thing on the menu. Both of our bills still came out to about 38 American dollars. The next cheapest restaurant we found that was opened past 7 that do not require reservations had a couple of pasta dishes for about $25, although neither of us were in the mood for pasta. We met a couple from Washington DC, who would come to see the Northern Lights and the New Year in Reykjavik. After getting a bite to eat, we headed to Hogan's kurkure, the biggest church in Reykjavik, and also the site of the New Year's fireworks.

When Americans think of fireworks, they tend to think of people in fire or hazmat suits in a properly secured environment setting off tubes worth of otherwise illegal firework mortars. Throw this notion out the window when you go to celebrate New Years in Reykjavik. All saw kids ages 6 & 7 wearing nothing more than parkas with military flares setting off fireworks alongside equally ill-equipped atolls. The fireworks started around midnight the day before New Year's Eve, and continued well until 2 in the morning of New Year's Day, covering Reykjavik in a thick cloud of smog. We met several people who would come from far and wide simply to experience Icelandic New Year. When the Clock Struck 12, the church bells rang, it's Hirata fireworks lit up every corner of the sky, drones from every Media company around the world shot footage for the New Year celebration, and I tried to avoid getting hit by fireworks. Prize of floodlit night are, or happy New Year in Icelandic, rang out throughout the crowd.

When we got back to the Airbnb, our new host from America had just situated himself. He had come all the way from Kansas to experience Reykjavik for 3 months, and plus a prize, the other host had invited some old Icelandic friends over. We were going to go to bed, until I overheard them talking about us being lame and going back to Pennsylvania anyhow. After my eavesdropping, I decided that it was time to go up and check out the situation for myself. To be continued in the next post.

Hot Pots, Pools, and Springs

Iceland is a country that sits on two tectonic plates and is undeniably renowned for its geothermal sources of water and energy. For hundreds of years, the local folk have been using these pools as a recreational activity, as a laundry room, as a fresh supply of water, and as a way to rejuvenate and keep the body Young. The waters from the ground and Iceland are said to have magical properties, keeping all icelanders looking young and fresh. So needless to say, here's a bit of information on these wonderful little additions to Icelandic culture.

Because the waters are naturally pumps from the ground, and heated bye the lava underneath the surface, the water quality is very different from water quality in the states. It is pure, and contains a lot of minerals and Trace elements, and as such, is not treated with chlorine or other sanitizing chemicals that are used in other countries. In order to enter the geothermal pools, you are required to take a shower with soap and water before entering to clean yourself of any environmental impurities. You also need to shower in front of many other people of the same gender, and usually no shower curtains. Don't worry though, these individuals are in watching you shower. Instead, they're wondering if you are watching them shower. It is best to be tactful and Swift in your approach, and then to go about your day.

The two hot pots I visited were in Drangsnes and Reykjavik (Specifically Vestubærlaug). The hot pots in the North are scattered few and far between, and there is actually an app that you can use to find geothermal pools around the country. It is beneficial to get some background information on the pools before you go. For instance, the one that drums nests is paid for your donations, and has a single-stall bathroom that you can shower in. The ones in Reykjavik are Public Access pools and cost money. If you go to Blue Lagoon, you'll be paying around $70 American dollars for Access, but in Reykjavik, you'll be paying around $9 for access.

What makes these pools so wonderful is the fact that they are visited by tourists and locals alike, and year-round. There is nothing quite as rewarding as sitting in 38 to 40°C water, watching your skin turn into a prune, as the outside temperature it's so cold that it freezes the breath outside of your face. The only thing that sucks is when it's time to leave and you need to try and retain as much body warmth as possible as you sprint for the nearest bathroom to change at. 

Should you bring enough money to cover expenses, there are some wonderful Lagoon's and spas and hot pots scattered all around Iceland. Some are toe pools, others you can summarize your entire body in. By the way around, it's an unforgettable experience.

O Little Town of... Holmavik?

We even found a turfhus (turf house)!

The title of this post was actually chosen. On December 30th, five days after Christmas, we went to the Icelandic Museum of Witchcraft and sorcery, located in Iceland's answer to Bethlehem as far as ideal like Christmas time scenery goes. We didn't have much daylight to begin with, so we spend every bit of it that we could enjoy the mountain ranges and Frozen waterfalls on the way up to homovec. When we got there, we noticed that the town was very quaint and quiet, and only a few locals who dared Brave the cold we're out and about, and on their way to the nearest place to eat.

The Museum of Witchcraft and sorcery itself was very intriguing. It cost somewhere around $10 to enter, and upon entering, we were greeted by a very sweet lady of about 60 or so, and within 5 minutes of conversing with her, she became the fifth Icelandic person to talk about their displeasure in America's current president at the time, Donald Trump. In fact, it became a running Trend, and I believe that every Icelandic person I spoke to had a dispossession against Trump and Americans who supported him. Although crude to some of you, I found it hilarious.

In a museum itself, there were different insignias, carvings, decorations, books, tapestries, logs, and other Errata that were used by witches and sorcerers back in the 12th and 13th century of Icelandic history. Due to accusations of Witchcraft, 40 men and one woman lost their lives, including a lawyer, a bishop, a couple of farmers, and a few late people who are found to have received knowledge from the Devil Himself... Or so they said. It was definitely interesting to see how the trials and tribulations of ancient Iceland were similar to those in our own American version, the Boston and Salem witch trials. Although several decades apart, a lot of the same methods of dealing with the accused were very similar.

After driving to see the rest of the Town, including the clean and cute little Harbor, we drove through a fairly dangerous mountain pass up towards the fjords to see the sorcerer's Cottage. This was a cottage there was said to have been inhabited by a sorcerer who practiced magic and Arcane arts for most of his life. Although too dark to take a picture, and closed from touring until the beginning of summer, we still went to see this location to see what it was about. On our way back to the car, we were greeted by a barking dog who was lonely and desperate for company. We gave him a few pets, ignore the fact that he was trying to bite our tires, and drove onto the little town of drums Ness to get our first taste of Icelandic hot pots.



And Iceland, hot pots are legendary hot tubs that are known for their geothermal water that occurs naturally from the ground. We had to shower due to sanitation standards in Iceland, so we stripped, showered and a small little Hut across the street from the baths, and then prepare ourselves for a cold track across the way into a cult hot pool. It was here that we interacted with a man from the Czech Republic, who spoke very good Icelandic to and Icelandic local sitting in the next tub over. After talking to him for 2 years, he gave us Viking goalie r, Iceland signature beer. We got our first taste of Icelandic alcohol for free. While we sit on our beers, we looked out across the training waves, teeming dolphins, City Lights from Beauregard and the distance, and a beautiful sky full of stars. 2 hours later, we got out of the hot tubs, a perfect ending to a perfect day.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

On our second full day in Iceland, January 29th, we decided to visit Snaefelljokull penninsula. The mountain in the center of the peninsula was the same Mountain that Peter Holmes had written His Story “Journey to the Center of the Earth” about. Folklore has it that when the sun sets, it shines directly into the mouth of the mountain, and you enter at this point in time, you can walk directly to the Center of the Earth. I'm not sure if I'm quite superstitious enough to believe in the story of elves, trolls, and Middle Earth, but I do believe that Iceland has some. And then we Departed for the peninsula.

This finger like appendage of a peninsula actually has a lot to offer people. Even the scenic drive up has a few places worth stopping for pictures, which we took plenty of. The Frozen mountains and Contours of the countryside really make every couple feet worth stopping at. Halfway up, we were at a small stretch of a farming community. We stopped for our first gas fill-up, which ended up being the only gas station my card was actually accepted at over there, and I've been paid 100 Kronur to use the bathroom. One thing I didn't miss about Europe from my first visit is the tax on public bathrooms. Inside the rest house, I talked to a local who gave us a bit of information about the peninsula.

This peninsula was home to a mountain, a glacier, some of the gnarliest Ice Caves you can wander through, a black sand beach, two small little ocean towns, and a couple of other beautiful mountains. We were quickly running out of daylight, as the sun was going to set around 3:35 that day, so we had to maximize our time as much as we could. On the way to snaefellsjokull, we stopped at our first ice cave. Although it was impossible to get into it without getting your boots wet, it still made for an exciting hike and another fun location to say. As Laura had it, a half man and half troll person was exiled from grundarfjordur to this little cave after he started eating livestock. He lived out the rest of his days and his cave, and for many years, the local folk did not dare go towards it for fear of being eaten as well. Although I didn't see this troll person, I did see the moon starting to rise, as well as some beautiful Rock and Ice formations.

In the winter months, the road through the mountain itself is closed to all regular traffic. It's an impassable Road filled with rocks, snow, danger, and despair. We did however, take a couple of cool pictures before departing for our next location. We were thenceforth going to do you pull on Sunder, which is the black sand beach of the North. Since Iceland doesn't have a whole lot of actual sand beaches, there beaches made out of volcanic rock, Ash, and diamonds particles more than make up for it.

When we arrived at Diboll on Sunday, we quickly realized that the sun was setting faster than we would like and that we were running out of time. The black rocks of this beach indicated that there was volcanic activity at one point in time nearby, and because of the rampant tides on the volcanic island, it was also of particular mention that several ships crabs were found washed up on the shore. There were a couple of informational billboards describing the ships and what the sailors were do on the beach for fun, although mostly in Icelandic, and there were also clearly posted warning signs in English telling us not to stray too far to the ocean. Since the weather and Tide pattern can change in an instant For Better or Worse, it is advised you stay well away from the tides, lest you be swept into the very powerful undertale and brought far out to sea. There was a line of white rocks in the sand, and we decided that would be our Crossing line the nature had provided for us.

Me on my way to the mountains.

After this adventure, we drove up the coast line to get to kirkjufellfoss. This Scenic Mountain and waterfall combination is one of the trademarks of grand theft and the northern part of the peninsula. It was getting dark, so we need to low light exposure to have Any chance at snagging photos, so we had to manage this time carefully. We climb the waterfall and snagged a couple of photos, and then drove down into the town. On the descent from the mountain, because I had very poor traction and the icy trail, and I slipped and fell and put two large gashes in my right hand. It took approximately two weeks to heal and scab over. This was also the first time that I found communication breakdown in our journey. At the local convenience store , we encountered our first instance of communication breakdown. I was trying to communicate that I needed bandages, but the store clerk did not know the Icelandic word for bandages. She had to shout to her teenage co-workers at the back of the store, who were in the process of closing up shop, in order to translate to the Icelandic word, hanseplast. I bandaged up my still bleeding hand, and having seen as much as we could for one December day, we packed it in and headed back to our hostel.

At this part of the journey, I learned that it was absolutely crucial to prepare for the slipperiest possible weather on the roads and trails. Although the mesh crampons they sell add convenience stores for tourists are fairly expensive, they could end up being a real lifesaver and the Arctic environment. And all of your Journeys and Iceland, make sure that you have starting walking and hiking boots. And also, make sure you make time for yourselves to make dinner every night. The one fatal flaw of our trip is that we hardly had time to eat. Enjoy your Northern adventure, and next up, we will talk to you about the little Christmas Town Holmavik.