Iceland

Iceland, oh Iceland.

I went to Iceland alone for about 11 days. The country quickly stole my heart. I still think about it's dramatic landscapes, insane weather, and the memories that I created within my rental car. I long to go back to the country that I fell in love with in 2018.

I landed after my 16 day stay on Oahu, Hawaii, and on the way to meet a friend in Europe. (YES, packing for the summer 2018 was EXTREMELY difficult.)

As I approached the the island of fire and ice, I looked out the window to see a strange land. It was June 14th, 2018. I was 29 years old and glancing out onto a desert of sorts. Now, I know deserts. I am from a desert, but this one was different. Different, seemingly burnt, dark brown and black crusted hills with specks of grass lingering. Small towns. Angry, blue oceans surrounding the land. My feelings were mixed, as they always are when I am traveling alone to a new place. I was filled with excitement, thrills, chills, amazement, wonderful. My thoughts quickly bounced from "Wow, I am so lucky.", "I can't believe I am here." and "Fuck.".

The land seemed unforgiving.

Now, I am really bad about keeping daily notes, so bare with me.

I rented a car in Reykjavik and decided to head counter clockwise around the country.

First stop was to the Golden Ring. I decided to just drive and stop and nap when ever I felt like it. I was there during the time of endless summer. Daylight all day, everyday. I first attraction I drove to was Gullfoss. I walked out and the weather was unforgiving, cold, and wet. I immediately felt as thought I was on the set of a Game of Thrones set.

Gullfoss

After feeling like a puny morsel of a being beholding one of the largest waterfalls I had ever seen, I hiked around took some pictures, and ran back to the shelter that was my car. I knew I needed more layers to preserve the desert rat in me.

I kept right on the Golden Circle and made my way to Þingvellir. Another larger than life creation. I have seen many gorges and valleys in my day, but this was different. Perhaps the gloom of the hanging clouds brought a certain level of medieval romanticism to the location. I quickly decided to continue through the circle without stopping. The hoards of tour buses were on the loom.

I decided to get food and devise a plan. I decided to have a sleeping schedule opposite to those other tourists. I was going to sleep during the "Day" and hike/sight see during the "evening/night"

***** CHEAP FOOD (well cheap-ish everything is expensive in Iceland***** Load up at BONUS. Can't miss it. Yellow sign with pink pig.

Traveling south, I became hungry, which is pretty much all the time. I stopped that this black beach. Absolutely lovely. I spent some time admiring the dark ocean and sand. I had never before in my 29 years of life seen sand so dark in nature. I wanted to take my shoes off and feel the sand between my toes, but did not in fear of frostbite. I know, I am ridiculous. Ha.

Sandwiiiich

After my long walk I continued south to find a spot for a quick nap. My eyes quickly became filled with disbelief and sheer glee at the sight of all these waterfalls. I quickly feel in love with the surroundings. I decided that I would pitch my tent close to a waterfall and "sleep". I found Seljalandsfoss. I purchased a night in Hamragardar Campground, beautiful, close to the waterfalls. for the remainder of that day I hiked around took far too many pictures and slept.

Sleep, Ha sleep. Again, I was not 100% prepared for the "cold". I decided to move my tent and campsite into my little car. And for the rest of the trip I switched from having my tent outside to back in my car. I literally built my tent in my car.

The next few days flew by. I recommend renting a car almost everywhere one travels. I love the ability to just get up and drive anywhere at any time and to be able to stop and see what ever and whenever. I make my way around Ring Road, which goes all around the country. The Ring Road is roughly 800-ish miles. My favorite is the east side of the country. Most people just do the south but the beauty that is in the east and north is unspeakable. I literally was in "AWE" with every curve I drove.

Now I am a horrible planner and I have an even worst memory. So the rest of my trip was pretty laid back, sleeping during the day and hiking and driving at "night", which means that i really didn't meet too many people outside of the city of Reykjavik.

Some of my favorite places in island

Skógafoss is another waterfall, Iceland has a shit ton of waterfalls. I went around midnight and it was one of the cloudier days, but it was still pretty cool. I was one of the 5 people there so pictures were so awesome to take.

Jökulsárlón is a lake, or should I say lagoon? Lagoon sounds a little more majestic. So Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach are another must do. I went on a little boat tour in the "Lagoon" and learned about the icebergs, glacier, and how the icebergs make their way to the ocean and end up on the black sand beach on the other side of the road. The ice looked like huge clear cut diamonds scattered across a black satin cloth.

Krafla: The FIRE in the land of fire and ice. This place literally looked as if it belonged on Mars. So different and almost misplaced. I hiked around and had lunch there. Such a cool contrast in colors and scenery. It is really close to a blue lagoon type thing. Very blue, very lagoon-y, but not as packed at the blue lagoon in the south. I loved it.

Hverfjall: Volcano I climbed and the horses in the parking lot. The hike was short but the incline was NO JOKE.

Svartifoss: This waterfall has become my favorite. I decided to enter the national park around 5 p.m. to eat and take a nap. When I woke up the sky was beautiful and it was about 1 a.m. What did I decided to do? Hike. Duh! The hike was pretty chill, I ran across some folks, not many. I forget how long the hike was but it was beautiful, especially with the midnight sun to accompany me.

Dynjandi: The west fjords was one of the only things I regret not planning out. The roads were not entirely paved and it was the most remote I had seen in all of Iceland. It was a huge part of the trip that I wished I had thought of prior to just going. It is NOT on the Ring Road rout 1 loop, but if you have time, you should consider it. I camped out in random places and hiked around but I found another, wait for it, WATERFALL! All in all, I thought I was going to run out of gas and freeze to death but well worth it.

Overall, Iceland won me over. I don't know if it was the landscape, the hiking, the freedom, the time I spent alone and reflecting, or it was just all of it. My experience in Iceland was one that is just too amazing to describe. I could literally be here for hours describing everything I did and remember. From calling my dad, telling him that my car might blow away to the moment I saw real life puffins. Just an amazing experience. Iceland stole my heart and I loved it so much that I even got an Icelandic tattoo. Ha :]