Iceland
Why do we consider Iceland the cold Bermuda? Iceland is a Nordic island country far up in the northern Atlantic Ocean, situated between Greenland, Ireland and United Kingdom. Iceland’s summers reach anywhere between 51-60 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also a country that is by its lonesome. Iceland is a country that those on the east coast do not think of. Hence why I call it the Cold Bermuda. You can check out our post on the Island of Bermuda here.
Iceland is the size of the state of Ohio at 39,768 square miles.
Getting to Iceland. What's there?
How far is Iceland from NYC or Boston? How about a little over 5 hours? It’s about 4 hours coming back. We flew on Icelandair and I must say it was a pretty good airline. The staff was nice, the food and snacks were good and the pilots know what they’re doing. I know what you’re thinking? What’s in Iceland? Why should I even waste time going out there? Well, if you’re looking for amazing scenery, kind natives and exclusive experiences, Iceland has plenty to offer.
We landed in the south west at Keflavik Airport. It was morning and we knew it would be one of the most exhausting days we’ll have. Iceland is 4 hours ahead. This means we were already behind to knock out as many locations as we could that first day. First things first… RENT AN SUV. You definitely need an SUV for your travels. It’s not like they have cabbies all over the place. Not to mention the up and down weather and the terrain. You can drive through Iceland and get snow for 2 minutes, sun for the next 5 and rain for the next 3 minutes. It is quite the experience with that alone. On to the next.
Our spot in Iceland
We stayed in the town of Eyrarbakki. It is located at the southern coast line of the Atlantic. Vesturgata (Cabin) is a delightful ground floor studio property by the beach. Ideal for couples visiting this lovely area of South Iceland, the major tourist attractions of Iceland. Only 40 min drive to the Volcano Geldingardalir, 45 min to the Golden Circle. Horse rental is set in the village. Local supermarkets and shops in Selfoss are a 15 minute drive. There’s a swimming pool in Stokkseyri within a 5 minute drive. The southern coast is the best spot because there are many places to visit. It is close to the main market area with a Supermarket. You will definitely need a supermarket because the restaurants are super expensive. That is one of the cons of Iceland. A meal at a commercial restaurant like KFC can cost over $15 per person. We ate at a restaurant near about 15 min away from the Airbnb and it cost around $150. We didn’t have an extravagant meal either. Typical of a New Yorker in the city that would normally cost $75.
Day 1: Onto the sightseeing:
PINGVELLIR ( Thingvellir National Park )
We decided to wing it after leaving the airport and decided to drive up north. Thingvellir National Park looked like an ideal location to see the raw beauty of Iceland and it did not disappoint. This is a very small church. Not many seats. This is area is where the Althing Parliamentary general assembly met between 930 and 1798. This church currently on the site dates back to 1859 and is called Þingvallakirkja. On the side of the church lies 30 graves.
Our drive there was as expected. Nothing in site. Long roads. Beautiful scenery. We decided to go on a small hike, but we were just too tired for that. I managed to take these shots before heading back in the SUV and driving towards the south coast where our Airbnb was. We found a tiny yet quaint spot yards from the water in Eyrarbakki.
Velkomin ad Geysi / Strokkur – Geiser
Seljalandsfoss
Remember, we had just landed in the early morning. After leaving Thingvellir, we wanted to see how far we could go before calling it a day and checking into our Airbnb. Off we go!!! Our first stop after Thingvellir was Seljalandsfoss. On our drive we saw a beautiful waterfall. We had no idea it was there. We got kinda lucky. Iceland is all about these serendipitous finds. In Iceland you definitely need to make sure you wear something warm and waterproof. You never know when you’ll need it.
Reynisfiara Beach : Black Sand Beach
We decided to trek over to the black sanded beach before heading to the plane crash. Time was of the essence and we needed to make sure we had the time to go to both spots before dark. There was high tide during our visit. If we visited a day later, we would have been able to walk on the beach.
Sólheimasandur : Plane Wreck
One of the main reasons I (Gil) wanted to go to Iceland was because of this plane wreck.We knew it would be a mission to get to the site, because there are no cars allowed to drive out there. Only specific certified vehicles. It was about an hour walk both ways. It was already getting dark, but we said screw it. We needed to see this crash before dark and I wasn’t about to go to the Airbnb. The walk back at night was definitely scary. We were thinking all sorts of creatures were going to chase us. Here’s the story.
In 1973 a United States Navy DC plane ran out of fuel and crashed on the black beach at Sólheimasandur, in the South Coast of Iceland. Fortunately, everyone in that plane survived. Later it turned out that the pilot had simply switched over to the wrong fuel tank. The remains are still on the sand very close to the sea. Go here to find the tour to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck. We didn’t get ATV’s when we visited. We walked it to the plane crash. It was about an hour each way.
The scenery of this white abandoned DC on the totally black Sand is quite cool and surreal and the landscape around is pretty amazing too. The sight is actually like from a science fiction movie and is, of course, a photographer’s paradise in every way. Here are some original shots by me (Gil).
Day 2: Just relaxing
We decided to take it easy our 2nd day after an exhausting first day of sight seeing. We opted to go into Selfoss and check out the stores and supermarket. Definitely much cheeper than the restaurant we ate at our first night. Where ever we travel we love to look for different foods. KFC was the only commercial chain we ate at. We also found paprika Lays and sour cream Doritos. Never have I ever. We were soooo tempted. Our Airbnb host had several bikes to use, so we decided to tour the town.
Day 3: Feeling Blue... Lagoon
We arrived at the Blue Lagoon mid afternoon. Besides the obvious Aurora, the Blue Lagoon is top 3 biggest reason for visiting Iceland. When I mention the Blue Lagoon, everyone wonders if it’s really hot. The answer to that is YES. The lagoon is actually geothermal spa. The temperature can reach about 97-104 degrees Fahrenheit (37-40 Celsius). It is advised that you do not wear contacts. If you wear glasses, the lagoon can damage them. Keep in mind that the Blue Lagoon isn’t exactly natural, but it is surely an experience you should try. We were very fortunate this day. We’ll explain.
Our luxurious stay
We went to Iceland for an authentic experience, and on this day, we surely got a bonus. We stayed at the Blue Lagoon: Retreat Hotel. Cost per night: $1200 USD. I know what you’re thinking. NO WAY would I spend that much on a hotel room!!! Just FYI we didn’t.
When I initially looked into staying at a hotel near, or at the Blue Lagoon, I decided to book a room for 1 night at the Silica Hotel. Silica wasn’t my first choice. Based on the price of the Retreat, I had to scale down. So I opted for Silica, which was half of the Retreat. Even though The Silica isn’t attached to the Blue Lagoon like Ther Retreat, it was next to it and still nice. So here’s where it got interesting.
When we arrived at The Silica to check in, I was just eager and happy to check into the Silica Hotel. The nightly charge was around $500, but I was ready to take in the experience and at a lower cost. I walked to the front desk. The rep was really nice. I gave her my name and she informed me that I was selected for a free upgrade to The Retreat. Yes, the $1,200 a night hotel. We were given the Moss Junior Suite. So we got back in the car and drove right next door to the Retreat. When we arrived we were greeted by a rep who had us sit on a plush couch and brought us wine. He sat with us and gave us a break down the amenities of the hotel and what the Lagoon has to offer.The moment we walked into the Moss Junior Suite I was amazed. The room was high tech. Everything controlled with a tablet. The view was something you would never see, unless of course you’re in Iceland. The shower was amazing. Definitely want that design for my shower. Everything about this hotel was incredible. From the sauna to the direct connection to the Blue Lagoon, this was a real treat. Is this particular hotel worth the price? Only if you have the spare change.
Day 4: Reykavik
Our last dy was pretty relaxed. After leaving the Blue Lagoon, we headed up north to Reykjavik. We wanted to check out the major city. Unfortunately there wasn’t much happening during this day, as it was a weekday. We were able to see how the city shakes and moves. In Reykjavik there are more pubs and restaurants. We weren’t trying to spend a crazy amount at a restaurant, so we opted for a pizza spot for our last dinner. All in all, Iceland is a country that offers more than what people believe. It is truly an amazing experience when you see the natural marvels of Iceland. We were unable to see the Aurora during our trip, but we’ll surely go back. This is a trip that should be on your bucket list.
