Have you been to Iceland?

[AprilBaby]

I'm sitting here now waiting for a flight back to Chicago and I have to say this place is awesome!!!! We did the golden circle tour yesterday and if you love photography this is heaven! Iceland air has reasonable flights and we have a fantastic hotel. The only down is food is $$$. Hubby wanted a Dove ice cream bar last night and it was $14. He passed. We just got off a two week transatlantic cruise that went from Florida to Ponta Delgaga, Azores, to Portland and Dover England, Amsterdam and finally Copenhagen. I don't want to go home!

 

[Polished]

Glad you enjoyed Iceland. My mother came from there. We visited last year. Caught up with relatives and the spectacular scenery. Bought Icelandic jumpers for all and sundry. Also bought some modern silver jewelry, including a silver reindeer bracelet for my daughter's 21st that we celebrated up there with her. The symbolism was that the reindeer left tracks the same way that her life had left tracks and that there would be new tracks as she goes forward. She loved it. Yes food and accommodation was expensive.

 

[Arcadian]

We went to Iceland in 2007, it was a blast. Of course we went in the winter, who doesn't right? LOL When we were there the sun came up about noon, went down about 4. but it was a lot of fun and being able to see the northern lights was very cool. We were there for 7 days.

 

[december-fire]

I haven't been there, but it sounds wonderful! If you'd like to share photos, that would be great!

So glad you had a fantastic time.

 

[AprilBaby]

A few photos

 

[minousbijoux]

I loved it when I was there. The scenery is spectacular, the people are so outgoing and kind and the women are so empowered!

 

[AprilBaby]

It's strangely like going to the moon.

 

[AprilBaby]

I'm posting from over Greenland. Ah the age of technology!

 

[chemgirl]

We love Iceland! Have visited over Christmas and New Years a few times. Their holiday traditions are so much fun!

I have to say it was significantly cheaper and less busy the first time around. Still possible to find cheaper (ish) food. We also make a point of staying somewhere that includes breakfast and then eating as much as we possibly can. Alcohol is a purchase at the airport before you go in to town thing.

So glad you enjoyed yourself. It is such an amazing place.

 

[chemgirl]

A little different in the winter

 

[AprilBaby]

Winter looks stunning! That water looks so inviting I want to hop right on!

 

[whitewave]

I never thought of it until this thread. It tickes all my boxes though... safe, northern lights, excellent scenery...

I admit I am now super interested, thanks!

Some friends of ours recently went to Denmark for fun. My daughter has had a Finnish pen pal for many many years, so we are interested in going to Finland: 1st world country, they speak English, great terrain, safe, etc.

 

[kenny]

I live in Iceland for a year and a half in the 70s while on active duty in the US military.

The aurora borealis was magical.
The winter was very long and very dark.
They dried fish outdoor on racks in the sun, the smell was horrific.

The hot dogs, made from lamb, were fantastic as was the unbelievably rich vanilla ice cream.

I had a sheepskin shearling coat custom made for me.
Now I live in sunny California, so a few years back I gave it to a dear friend who lived in Canada, who could use it.

I remember sampling leather choices at the fancy tailor in Reykjavík.
IIRC, the most expensive leather was made from unborn lambs.
It was the most soft and luxurious material I've ever touched, even richer than real mink.
When I found out they had to kill the pregnant sheep and her unborn lambs, it I lost interest.
I doubt they still do that today.

 

[ihy138]

Never been, but a friend went a couple of years ago and I put it on my list immediately after I saw her photos. Looks absolutely incredibly.

As an aside, how did you like Ponta Delgada? That's where my family is from so I visited a couple of years ago. How long did it take you to cruis from Florida??? I hate flying so I'm fascinated by this idea of a transatlantic cruise.

 

[AprilBaby]

Ponta Delgada was 6 days out from port canaveral. The sea was gorgeous and the weather perfect. Everyone used the pools and we left May 12. PG was gorgeous! I could see wanting to live there. Not large, but not so small you felt confined. Beautiful scenery. Itinerary: port canaveral, 6 sea days, Ponta Delgada, sea day, Portland, Dover, Amsterdam, sea day, Copenhagen. We lost an hour two straight days, day off, two straight days, day off, two straight days, day off, one day. Great way to see the world. Third year in a row for us with different cities. The ship needs to go to Europe for the summer so it crosses in May and October back to Florida.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Wow, AprilBaby, that looks like a great trip!

I have a friend who just took his wife and two teenaged kids over spring break (a deal popped up on Travel Zoo one night and he booked it on a lark) and said that it was one of the best family vacations they'd ever had.

As for the $14 ice cream bar... I'm with your hubbs -- the frugality in me wouldn't have let me do it either!

 

[Missy]

Just spectacular. We haven't visited Iceland yet but it's on our short list of places to visit. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us. Love the photos.

 

[ame]

My MIL is taking one of my nephews this summer, and I am dying to hear about it. I have heard that the hotdogs were great but you lose me at lamb. I HATE lamb, it is just gross to me. Meh.

It looks just gorgeous though.

FOURTEENDOLLARS. Well that's one way to keep me off carbs.

 

[Arcadian]

@ame. the hotdogs are really good. I like lamb though so....
but the food is just good period. here's something of a cool fact; One of the bodegas has caviar cheese in a tube and we got several. it was cheap as chips but so fantastic. we got lots for our golden circle tour. we've always been meaning to go back Me, I want to visit in winter. I actually liked it ( We both get SA but he has it in the worst possible way so it was very hard for him) I totally recommend winter as it can be a cheaper alternative than summer. I LOVED the hot house bananas.

 

[737liz]

Iceland was one of my favourite holidays! I was tàken to iceland as a surprise in september 10 years ago. And by surprise i mean he told me to pack but wouldn't tell me where. So I assumed the local beach and ended up packing entirely inappropriately for the weather. It was during the economic crisis so our exchange rate was better than usual- but all the banks has frozen the currency. It was an interesting time to be there.

The landscape is bleak yet beautiful. The waterfalls and geyser obviously were spectacular- but so was seeing the mid-atlantic ridge. It was really awe inspiring once your brain fully grasps what you are seeing. earth is not static, it is constantly working to reshape itself.

We did some pretty serious caving (jumpsuits,hardhats with lights, and ropes). I managed to be probably the only person ever to fall off one of their horses (icelandic horses are about the size of a shetland pony). It was a proud moment. Seeing their power station was also surprisingly fun; they get it all from renewables. Oh, and I also ate puffin! It was a sad meal.

About the lamb leather- that's a practice industrywide unfortunately.

 

[ame]

@ame. the hotdogs are really good. I like lamb though so....
but the food is just good period. here's something of a cool fact; One of the bodegas has caviar cheese in a tube and we got several. it was cheap as chips but so fantastic. we got lots for our golden circle tour. we've always been meaning to go back Me, I want to visit in winter. I actually liked it ( We both get SA but he has it in the worst possible way so it was very hard for him) I totally recommend winter as it can be a cheaper alternative than summer. I LOVED the hot house bananas.

What is a hot house banana?

I hate caviar too. lol Its not even just the fishy taste, it's the texture too. I was that trashy hillbilly that threw the half eaten hors d'oevre back on the tray. haha

 

[blackprophet]

I never thought of it until this thread. It tickes all my boxes though... safe, northern lights, excellent scenery...

I admit I am now super interested, thanks!

Some friends of ours recently went to Denmark for fun. My daughter has had a Finnish pen pal for many many years, so we are interested in going to Finland: 1st world country, they speak English, great terrain, safe, etc.

Be warned, I didn't find that many people spoke english when I was in Helsinki about 10 years ago. (just hit me that 2007 was 10 years ago, sheesh!)

For everyone else: IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO ICELAND, BUY A TICKET AND GO.

Seriously it was that amazing. It is the one place I tell everyone and anyone to go to (other than Grenada of course, but I'm biased there lol). Its truly is like being on another planet.

Don't miss a hot spring experience.