Last summer I finally travelled abroad for the first time in my life. I've choosen Iceland, because I was dreaming about it over 5 years. Of course I have learned before a lot about other great countries through Internet, but Iceland attracted me the most. When I have watched it alive, I made the right choice indeed – this is the best country ever. This post explain why I am right.
18 days in Iceland, overall I moved about 1500 kilometers, over 1000 photos taken.
After arrival my first stop in Reykjavík.
I called it 'Happy City'. Everything here is encouraged by optimism.
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| Business center |
I walked around and inside well know cathedral – Hallgrímskirkja. I wasn't on the top of this, but I will visit it next year necessarily.
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| Hallgrímskirkja. Highest building of Iceland |
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| Mystery interior of Hallgrímskirkja |
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Some photos of Reykjavík taken on my iPad:
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| Reykjavik Camping site |
Every well-respecting icelandic family has a car. But that does not make the city uncomfortable for pedestrians. Walking areas are quite broad, almost all of them are equipped with bicycle lanes. Every third passerby - foreign tourist. All feel free, safe and comfortable here.
Here in Iceland I had first experience with hitchhiking. Suðurlandsvegur – the most popular way among tourists and locals. In summer you will have no serious troubles with catching a car, from 3 mins to 4 hours of waiting throughout the country.
My next stops for next car in Hveragerði and Selfoss.
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| Living house in Selfoss |
Seljalandsfoss waterfall. My first famous destination place in Iceland.
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Waterfall is about 60 meters height, flows from Seljalandsá river
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Near the foot of Gljúfrafoss is situated good camping site, where I spent one night.
Next day my travel continued and I catched a ride to fantastic Skógafoss waterfall. Every time there are a lot of photographers around it.
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After I went to Dyrhólaey, situated on south coast from black sand and bluff cliffs.
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My next camping in Vík.
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This is very small province with population about 300 inhabitans.
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Next day I went to Kirkjubæjarklaustur, very popular among locals and tourists province. Many people from Reykjavík have weekend huts by a nearby river.
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Breathtaking view of valley from the top of rock with flowing Systrafoss.
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| Nice church in province |
Next destination - Skaftafell National Park. But on the way there I had some stops in interesting places. Every 5 km weather was changing: wind changed from calm to hurricane, hot sun changed the pouring rain. Next two photos were taken from one point and at the same time, but captured opposite sides of the world.
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Skaftafell National Park, Svartifoss waterfall, with very specific pattern of basalt:
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| Jökulsárlón (glacier lagoon) |
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| Camping site and farm on the Jökulsá á Brú river |
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Mývatn. Biggest lake in Iceland. Here I was staying 2 days and have walked a lot around. First some neighbouhoods: Hverir steam valley near Námafjall, and Hverfjall volcano:
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| Red hills are Námaskarð geothermal fields |
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| Boiling mud pools, everywhere is smelling of rotten eggs, humidity of almost 100%. Unforgettable experience... |
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| Mývatn Nature Baths |
My camping site was on the coast of Mývatn, so I could shoot every stunning landscape over there.
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| Reykjahlíð provinse on the lake coast. It was very cold night. |
Next night I hicked the top of Hverfjall volcano. There was no more people around me, so I felt myself like I really got unity with the forces of nature. Breathtaking and mysterious landscapes settled in my mind forever. Unfortunately sky was not clear as I expected, and sometimes was spotting light rain. But bad weather did not prevent me take some spectacular photos.
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| Lake Mývatn in the early moring |
Next 2 days I spent in Akureyri, the second most populous city after capital. I loved it more, than Reykjavík, maybe because Akureyri is easier to navigate, smaller and overall it looks much more hospitable and calm.
I am sincerely grateful to my friend Finnbogi who helped me to get acquainted with so beautiful city and had shown me amazing sunset over Eyjafjörður.
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Next day I travelled over 300 km and had a stop in Borgarnes town, there are living about 1000 people. I didn't like this province, there are no interesting streets and overall it looks like boring village. But landscapes around there were as always breathtaking. I have seen low tide for the first time:
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I have explored some amazing spots in Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Stykkishólmur, greatest city I have seen in Iceland, really, maybe even more nice than Akureyri.
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After I skirted along the coast of the peninsula to Arnarstapi camping site. On the way there I visited some great sightseeing places. (first 2 photos from my iPad)
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I had very exciting excursion to Vatnshellir cave, near Snæfellsjökull, I recommend everyone to visit it.
Most stunning village landscapes I have seen in Arnarstapi. Being here, I realized how much inhabitans of province (not only this) can appreciate nature. People live here in real harmony with it. Everyone cares about the safety of precious nature reserves and national parks. All living here feel the happiest in the world. In fact, just look what they see around every day!
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My last day I spent in Reykjavík. I was walking around the city all day and already felt myself like at home. Travel experience definitely exceeded all expectations.
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On the way to Reykjavík from Snæfellsnes
More photos from Iceland you can find on my Flickr page
To summarize, I want to sincerely thank all those who helped me throughout the trip.
Below is only tenth of all the people I had in mind.
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Thank you!
