Icelandic Adventure

With Scandinavian sensibilities, sense of style, and amazing geologic formations, Iceland is a compelling destination filled with naturally dramatic scenery

Between its Scandinavian sensibilities and amazing geologic formations, Iceland had been on Sandra's radar for more than twenty years. It took a conference to prompt us to take the plunge.

One strange thing about this land of fire and ice: trees are rare. Mosses blanket lava fields that stretch off into the distance. We arrived at the end of the summer rush, weather slipping into fall bluster.

Several days in the northernmost part of the country, with Akureyri as a base camp, enabled us to see the billowing smoke and glowing red of Bárðarbunga, an active volcano in the distance. The Northern Lights appeared for us, too.

Night and day views of Bárðarbunga erupting

A faint dance of Northern Lights in the sky. Better to see in person.

During our conference, wandering the capital city, Reykjavík, was a delight on foot.

The biggest surprise of the journey was that we were able to grab a direct flight from our home near Orlando via Icelandair, at an airport only ten minutes from home by taxi.

Itinerary

Akureyri

For several days, Sandra was busy with board meetings at our base at Icelandair Hotel Akureyri, so John had free time to explore the town.

Meeting a member of the Motorcycle Museum of Iceland provided an in, and he took a couple of tours offered by the tourism bureau to visit outlying communities and even got to ride an Icelandic horse.

After the meetings wrapped, our group went on a guided tour to see ancient volcanic features like Dimmuborgir, a maze of hardened lava, and the Námafjall Geothermal Area, with its furiously bubbling mud pots and fumaroles.

A day trip to Siglufjordur introduced John to the one-way highway tunnels of Iceland (they'd never work in the USA) and to the Herring Era Museum in a fishing village on the north coast. Also the famed lamb hot dogs of Iceland and the Arctic Circle!

Reykjavík

Our conference introduced us to several in-town locations and a few guided trips not far from the city.

Our stay at the Hotel Natura (with a room overlooking the runways at Reykjavík airport) proved to be especially pleasant for Sandra. She was limited in her walking with knee surgery scheduled after our return for a torn meniscus that happened we left so she had to bow out of some planned hikes. An upgrade to an accessible room was a godsend.

After a soak in hot water in the hotel's basement spa and a visit to the Blue Lagoon, she was rejuvenated enough to explore Reykjavík on foot.

After the conference ended, we joined guided tours to explore more, including the Blue Lagoon and the geologic wonders of the Golden Circle. Waterfalls, geysers, and the continental rift valley were all a part of the fun.