September 20 2016
Today Zach and I finally leave Reykjavik, our first stop on this crazy 6 months we planned. We have spent a week in the city, and now we have rented a car for 7 days. We plan to drive part of Highway 1, also known as the Ring Road. We will hit up the south region of Vík and Skógar before heading back west and north to check out the west region of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. We stay a night in Ólafsvik before
Things I've Learned in Iceland:
-If you plan to book Airbnb or hostels, do so ahead of time. Maybe a month? Especially in the summer months, roughly May-Septmeber, and winter time November-April. We thought we got here during the off season, but it still was very hard to find places to book cheaply.
- If you are traveling 7 to 8 hours by plane, give yourself two days to crash and recover from jet lag. Really. Don't try and do anything besides walk around a bit, or visit a public pool. THESE ARE AWESOME. For 900 ISK (about $8) you can sit in hot pools and go swimming until 10 pm. Outside. There is a great one next to the HI Reykjavik Hostel.
- Also Reykjavik is awesome if you have money to spend, but if you are trying to save get out of the city and to the country. Zach and I spent a week, but really could have done what we wanted in 4 to 5.
-Coffee is expensive, at least double the price from Seattle for smaller sizes. Make sure to ask about free refills, since they likely will allow you but won't post that info. We found this out after about 5 days into our time in Reykjavik. Also, if you are a big tea (te) or coffee (kaffi) drinker, and if you have access to a fridge and hot water, please consider instant coffee. It will save you soooo much.
- On the topic of food and affordability check out the grocery stores Kronan and Bonus. I like to think of Kronan as a QFC and Bonus as a Safeway. There are 10/11 groceries everywhere, and they are open 24/7, but they are much more expensive.
- Still on the topic of food, get a translator on your phone if you can. Lamb meat and horse meat are everywhere. I accidentally ended up eating horse sausage our first night after buying groceries.
- If you do eat meat, try the hotdogs at most any stand with everything on them. It's a delicious! A taste I really have had for a hotdog anywhere else.
- The Icelandic people are very kind and most know a good deal of English. But it is, I think, appreciated when you try and learn some of the language. I really only know and use three words.
Takk- thanks
Yá- pronounced yow, meaning yes
Neí- pronounced nay, meaning no
I tried with these:
Góthan dag- good day, with a soft g on dag
Velkomith- welcome
Afsakith mig- excuse me
I am sure there is more, but those are the important things I wished past Ashlen knew. Thanks for sticking with me to the end!
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| This cool thing is a automated toilet! WC stands for water closet, I think |
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| The outdoor swimming pool! We went twice in the evening. Be warned, in Iceland it is expected to shower naked before entering the pool. |
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| Famous Iceland hotdog, onions and fry bits not shown |
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