My mom and I have both had Iceland on our bucket lists so this year, we decided to finally check it off! Since we were gone for 10 days, the trip will be divided into 4 posts (plus a bonus on “How to Pack for 10 days in Iceland”).
Day 0: flight from Memphis to Newark; Newark to Keflavík
This day was mostly spent flying (other than working half a day). After work, we headed to the airport. Nothing too exciting other than going to Iceland!
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| tired, but excited! |
The layover in Newark was about 5 hours and the flight to Keflavík was 5 hours (and there was a 5 hour time change) so it was a LOONNG day!
Day 1: Iceland; “Happy Campers”; Þingvellir National Park
We arrived in Iceland at 8:20am, went through Customs, and went to the waiting area to wait for the “Happy Shuttle” to Happy Campers. We picked up our camper,
got a quick, but thorough, run-through with Flosi (who was great!), typed our first destination into Google Maps, and headed toward the nearest Bonus (which is the best grocery store in Iceland). After deciding on and purchasing what groceries we needed, we headed toward Þingvellir (pronounced “Thingvellir”) National Park. [quick history: the Alþing general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798. For more on Þingvellir, click here.]
Our campsite for the night was Mosskogar campsite. It had a hot shower and a covered kitchen area that protected from the elements.
Day 2: Seljalandsfoss; Eyjafjallajökull; Skógafoss; Mýrdalsjökull
The next morning, we prepared and ate breakfast (oatmeal) in the “kitchen” and then headed out to Seljalandsfoss. This waterfall is fed by the melting glacial ice of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier.
Once we left Seljalandsfoss, we continued to head east (southeast) toward Skógafoss. On the way, along the “Ring Road”, or Road 1, there is the “bra fence”. According to FunIsland, this was started several years ago by some locals who were having a party and stole some bras from a local lady. (IMO: Although it was started by mischievious acts, it is quite amusing to see.) I did not leave a bra but if I had researched and planned a little more (to know that it still exits), I would have taken an old bra and left it😉
I mentioned Eyjafjallajökull earlier. Some people may remember this name because it (the volcano under the glacier) erupted in 2010 and the ash from the eruption halted air traffic in Northwest Europe for 6 days! (We did not get to explore Eyjafjallajökull but if I ever get the chance to visit Iceland again, this will be on the list.)
The next stop was Skógafoss. This waterfall is 82 feet wide and 197 feet tall. The day we were there, there was a rainbow! The black sand seems to accentuate the waterfall. It was especially beautiful when we were there.
There are 527 steps to an observation platform above the waterfall. The view from the top makes all 527 steps totally worth it! (There is also a path/trail if your heart so desires and time allows a longer hike).
Once we left there, it was mostly driving…and driving…and more driving. But the views along the way were AMAZING!! On our way to Vík, our stop for the night, we passed Mýrdalsjökull, which looks like it is going to “flow” onto the road.
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| coming into Vík |
This campsite is really close to the ocean and this particular night, it. was. windy!! I thought our camper van was going to blow over (NO JOKE!). The wind was rocking the campervan so I didn’t sleep well at all that night! There were other camper vans (the campsite was pretty full by nighttime) that had rooftop tents and I just knew they were in trouble. In that kind of wind, I just knew those tents would act like sails!
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| example of a roof top tent (source) |
Thankfully, no one blowed away and we all made it through the night.
—Come back next Tuesday for Iceland: part 2 (days 3-5)–
