#because i played like 5 minutes of harpae's area last night and I was like “WAIT. Wait. I'm not imagining this right” | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

xamduarte · 6 years

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I love to travel, and until now I always had created my own adventures which require a lot of work before traveling. I enjoy putting the puzzle together. Experience had thought me, that even though my husband and me enjoy our freedom when traveling, also is exhausting at the end of every day. For once I wanted to experience traveling without any effort from my part. So here is our experience in Iceland and Ireland. Two magnificent destinations with two different approaches on our vacation.

Iceland

We started our adventure getting earlier to the airport at Reykjavik, than our Gate One tour group. Gate One called me the previous week to advise me that our tour guide was going to be at the airport around 7 a.m. , our flight landed close to 5 a. m. . We found a very up beat coffee shop ready to serve to all those passengers, including us, getting off the plane at that lovely time in the morning.

Around 7 in the morning, we looked for our tour guide and we encounter few Gate One tour guides with their sign up waiting for their guests. We went one by one until one of them found our name in her list. She gather the rest of the group and soon enough we were in a very comfortable coach bus on our way for breakfast at Harpa Concert Hall and a full day itinerary. There was no time to rest, but while the driver was driving and our eyes close involuntary. I think that was one of the greatest things of not been in charge, I didn’t have to worry where to go, they just took us.

After breakfast we tour a little bit Reykjavik

After touring a little around the city they drove us to the hotel at Hella that was out of the city, basically in the middle of nowhere. Finally we were able to rest and later we met for dinner with our tour guide and the rest of our group. Our room was very simple and rustic, but very comfy and warm. I loved the super hot water!

The next day our adventure started with included breakfast at the hotel. Our bus was waiting for us perfectly on time. Jorge and me were one of the first ones and we got the front seats. We loved it because we were able to see everything like in 3-D. We toured along the South Shore. The scenery was fill with spacious white valleys and mountainous horizons. On our way we saw one of the most famous volcanos Hekla, the country most famous volcano and Eyjafjallajokull volcano. We stoped at two different waterfalls, they were both beautiful. It was a great experience but because we were on a schedule we didn’t have much time to stay in each. Also we have to consider been on time at the bus because we were not the only ones in the group. Its incredible how organize the tour guide have to be for not to loose any one. Not everyone follow instructions.

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We visited that same day a museum of how life was for Icelanders on old times, we had a lovely lunch in another hotel, we visited the Volcano Visitor Centre and had dinner at our hotel. We did so much in one day that it seems unreal. I know now for experience that the only way of doing so much in one day is having a strict schedule and of course been guided by someone that knows the area and that speak the language. Our tour guide and bus driver were a great team. While we were driving to different places, me and Jorge took naps, posted pictures on social media or simply relax until we arrived at our new destination.

The next day we packed all our belongings because we were going to change hotels at the end of our day. We started visiting the geysers area, with the famous Strokkur Geysir that erupt every few minutes spewing hot water into the air.

We continue with our schedule visiting the Golden Waterfall at Gulfoss, what an impressive waterfall. Was completely different of the ones we visited before.

We then had lunch at the family-run Fridheimar Greenhouse, where they grow delicious pesticide-free tomatoes and cucumbers with the aid of the geothermal heat. I have to highlight again and again, we where able to accomplish so much in one day and learn so many things because of Gate 1 arrangements.

The lunch was lovely, great tomato soup and tons of home-made bread.

Our last visit of the day was at Pingvellir National Park, where there is a canyon that runs through the park that have the dividing fault line between two of the earth’s tectonic plates (Mid-Atlantic Ridge). We hiked there like for an hour. Nature is amazing! The beauty of this place is hard to describe, is kind of exotic and peaceful at the same time.

Even we had such an active day we were looking forward for night time to continue our quest of finding the Northen Lights. It was raining and very cloudy but our tour guide knew exactly where to take us so we could have the incredible experience. And so we did.

It was my first time photographing long exposure. It took me a while to play with the settings of my camera until I got it. The Northern Lights are breath taking and worth to wait in the middle of the cold night to see them.

Next day was our last day adventuring in Iceland with our Gate 1 tour group. We went to the the famous geothermal pools in Iceland, Blue Lagoon. This was an amazing experience that probably was going to be difficult for us to schedule without the help of Gate 1. Once again we enjoyed the privilege of seeing a great wonder without no effort. Apparently the lines to enter to the Blue Lagoon are eternal, unless you are in a tour group or if you schedule with a lot of anticipation. Nevertheless we enter effortless, we were able to melt away in the frost like color and warm water for hours.

The next day we flew to Dublin, Ireland. That adventure we did it on our own and I can tell you that it went very different that the one in Iceland. It was super fun but we had to do everything. I decided to make the Ireland story in a different post because I don’t want to make this post any longer than it is.

So, until then, 🙂

Xamlinnette

Tour group versus traveling your own adventure I love to travel, and until now I always had created my own adventures which require a lot of work before traveling.

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daysoutwithbex · 7 years

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Reykjavík

Another holiday, another city. My 45th city in little over two years. To think I had never set foot out of Britain for my previous 22 years, I don’t think that that is bad going really! When I started my travels just over two years ago, I was told that I would get the travelling bug, but I never believed it. Now, holidays are all I can think of an plan one for every spare minute I have.

A week in Iceland was never on the cards either, but I’m always up for a new adventure and was set to go!

Nine months ago, we made a rash decision to go on holiday. I don’t need much convincing. A few seconds later we decided on Iceland. The next day, we booked flights and plans snowballed from then!

We had planned and booked plenty of tours to keep us occupied and I was dead set on staying in the microwave pods, which I have taken great pleasure in telling everyone about, for the few days available in February.

I’m not an early riser, so a 1am wake up call meant that I really wanted to go to this place. A clear drive to Manchester and mostly uneventful and easy park and ride find, we were eating breakfast and checked in at the airport by 5am.

One speedy flight later, we arrived to some snow. The best weather imaginable. The bus transfer was nice and simple, thank goodness, and we got to check in to the hostel and look at the most amazing pods. I have never been so excited to see a bunk bed. The coolest, ice cube, microwave looking pods ever. And so comfy. I want one for my house!

After dropping our bags off very quickly and picking up a city map, we went on the hunt for some food. Obviously. We found a little cafe that was serving lava bread and hot chocolates, so it was a clear winner. That, and the fact that we had not eaten since 5 that morning.

After a nice sit down, we went for a wander round town, found the Harpa music hall, Viking Boat Statue and visited the Hallgrimskirkja church. The music hall is spectacular and with so many windows angled reflects the sun, snow and sea beautifully. Due to the festival of lights taking place on the weekend also, at night, it displayed lovely bright colours as opposed to it’s normal white lights only.

We took a wander up to the top of the Hallgrimskirkja (obviously, because of my panoramic obsession!) and the views were stunning. It was a lovely clear day, which meant we were able to see for miles. The colourful houses stood out nicely.

So after 20 hours awake, we decided that it was probably best to get some sleep as there was an early morning start and a late night on Thursday as well.

Blue Lagoon day.

I never thought I would go to the Blue Lagoon. It had never been anywhere I had thought of visiting, but it seemed like a must seeing as we were in Iceland. It is incredible. It’s huge, amazingly warm, and easy to forget that the air above your shoulders is freezing.

Seeing as we were celebrating important birthdays (an excuse for many of my purchases this holiday!), we decided on having smoothies from the ice bar. They were divine! All the food is incredible, albeit pricey. We made packed lunches for our day trips, and had a nice walk around the Lagoon paths.

THERE WAS SNOW! And some property snow with some depth and it made a crunchy sound. It also gave me a valid reason to wear my snow boots, which I was wearing regardless, but this was proper justification! My day was made by 11 am. But for a change, my day would only continue to improve. With spending a few hours in the Blue Lagoon and drinking the tastiest smoothies ever, I was sent an email to say that my flat purchase which has been ongoing for over six months, is finally coming to an end, and all fingers crossed, should be getting the keys on Friday. Yay! (Cross your fingers for me too!)

We then got to dress up all glitzy for a concert at Harpa. Our seats were in the skies, but smack in the middle so we saw everything with a birds eye view! Before then though, we obviously needed to eat so went to Cafe Babalu for some cheesecake and hot chocolate with cream. My go to meal.

It was also pot luck that we happened to see some Northern Lights. It wasn’t on the tour as that was unfortunately cancelled the nights that we had planned, but a chance look up let us see some flickers for a couple of minutes. They are as beautiful as people say. It is still a shame that we didn’t see them ‘properly’.

It was a day in the city on Friday as we had the Northern Lights tour planned for the evening which was subsequently cancelled. We took a walk to Perlan. i was fascinated with the building as it had a revolving restaurant and panoramic view of the city. It turned out the restaurant had closed last week, but the cafe (which didn’t revlove) was still open, so we had a hot chocolate and coffee with a beautiful view instead. It was windy and freezing on the roof, but well worth it. Who goes to Iceland expecting topical temperatures anyway?!

We continued the walk down to Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach, which was no more geothermal than Bala Lake. There was a strip of water before hte beach which was warm and full of people but the beach had snow on it and anyone who entered the sea water very swiftly turned around and ran back out.

There were some nice sun loungers with a pretty spectacular view which we placed ourselves on for our cheese sandwich picnic and biscuits before heading back into the city and to the National Museum for a look around.

Due to the Lights tour being cancelled, we headed back to the hostel, grabbed a meal from the shop and sat in the lounge area, where the guy on the reception desk read our minds and put Friends on. We didn’t even have to ask! Another sign that this hostel was an excellent find. We also played (not very successfully) numerous rounds of Heads Up!

On our last full day, we had decided last minute to do the Golden Circle Tour, and I am so glad that we did. It is the most beautiful tour ever and we were reliably informed by the Tourist Information lady that this was the best tour to take as they offer Icelandic food samples, they stop off at a bakery, and there are a couple of extra stops along the way too. We were sold!

The Icelandic food on offer is minimal, but tasty. The smoked lamb tasted like bacon, but it was better than nothing. And it was free.The bakery had Nutella donuts, so all was well in the world!

The Gullfoss waterfall is nothing short of spectacular. Surrounded by the snow, it was even prettier. Our next stop was they Geysirs and geothermal area. This was surreal! It took us a while to get a decent amount of water to spout from the ground, but it was amazing when it did. But it stank of rotten eggs. It took a few minutes of waiting for the Geysirs to erupt also. This was entertaining in itself.

The last stop took us to Thingvellir National Park which was beautiful with some snow.

This brought us to the last few hours in this beautiful city. Due to the lights tour being cancelled again, we decided to treat ourselves and have a meal out. I finally got to eat an Icelandic Lamb meal, and we found a waffle stall by the Hallgrimskirkja. This waffle stall makes the tastiest waffle I have ever tasted. It bumps Leeds waffles from the top of my list and brings to an end my long search for the best waffle! We then went back to the hostel and ate the remaining large amounts of cake and biscuits we had left. A sugar rush before sleeping, exactly what we needed!

And then the holiday was over. Next new city...Zurich!

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