Iceland

This fall I took an incredible trip to Iceland with one of my BFFs, Tracy.

This was Trace's dream trip: Renting a camper van and driving the Ring Road, which encircles the country. We took two weeks and had a blast. We went in September, which was right after the heavy tourist season and just when I guess all the great birds leave the island, so that was a disappointment (for me). We did see some puffins, though! And SEALS.

Hiking the Hellnar-Arnastapi coastal trail on the Snaefellsnes Penninsula

Traditional Icelandic farm near Skogar, on the south end of the island.

Herring gulls and juvenile Black-headed gulls.

One of the many curious seals we saw on the Hvamminstrangi Penninsula!

Jokulsarlon glacier- amazing.

Grimsey Island, up on the Arctic Circle.

Trying to photograph puffins in a horrific Atlantic storm, lol...

Common Eider on the North Atlantic.

Charming back streets of Reykjavik, the capital city.

Making breakfast on a rainy morning :)

Hiking Grimsey Island in the North Atlantic.

Myvatn's moon-like geology...

Church in North Iceland...

Common Redshank searching for breakfast in West Iceland.

Glacier climbing in the south. Crampons and hiking axes... luckily we survived with no broken bones or accidentally chopped toes!

Alafoss wool & yarn factory, outside Reykjavik.

What I loved about the trip: We really got to see the whole country (well, except the Westfjords and Central Highlands areas) and experience so much. Since traveling still makes me a bit anxious, renting a camper and driving --stick!-- was a real confidence boost. It was great to spend this kind of time with one of my BFFs and see so much. Both of us agreed that the Northern areas that we explored- Grimsey Island, Hvamminstrangi Penninsula, and Trollaskagi Penninsula- were our favorites. The harbor towns, the ships, the birds, the seals....!

What I didn't like about the trip: I was stupid and under-dressed (50 degrees in Syracuse is a LOT warmer than 50 degrees in Iceland, can I just say that?!?!).  Iceland was EXPENSIVE- we averaged $17 for a gas station lunch of small drink, hot dog and fries- wow. Doing a roadtrip like this meant we just drove, and I found that I didn't really like moving so much, so fast. We never got to stop and really REALLY explore one area beyond a few hours... then, it was back on the road. And another big disappointment was not seeing more animals but I did get to see a young Guillemot, I think, and that's what I'd been pining to see the whole trip. So that was a super +! :)

Overall though, it was a great, fun experience I'll never forget!

Next year I get to pick the trip, and so we will be going to NAMIBIA, in south west Africa. This has always been my #3 country (after Poland and Panama, and I've seen both of them now) and Etosha National Park on my bucket list forever after seeing some photos of the water holes many, many years ago. Squee!

Onwards and upwards,
Jen