Part 2
Iceland the beginning of.
Okay, this is going to be my introduction to Iceland – and whilst I had intended to write anecdotally and not clog up everyone’s devices with spectacular , technically perfect, pictorial content , most of the time the pictures do tell the story.
Ever since the infamous volcanic eruptions in 2010, the world started looking a little closer at Iceland . I enjoy exploring parts of the world where Mother Nature reigns supreme – the element of the unknown which starts as the aircraft (or train) comes to a halt . A brand-new country – new language, new traditions, new everything. Here I am – in Iceland !
The dreaded luggage was there to greet me and a nice, handsome Icelandic person helped me haul it off the carousel. I found my way to the Flybus, for which I had a ticket, and it was to be 45 minutes to the city centre. Another bus was still required to get to the hotel.
The boss of the Flybus was a troll like creature with more metal on her face than flesh . “What hotel?” I scrabble for the itinerary . “The Foss Hotel.” I reply. She looked at me like I had two heads “Which one?” Another examination of the itinerary reveals that is the FossHotel Raudara.
This bus journey was to be followed by a smaller bus where I elected to stand and corral my suitcase. Everybody’s else’s was rolling around like out of control billiard balls. I knew I had to get off at stop 13 but had no idea of the signage. My stop was the end of the line as it happened but still a 200 metre walk and the driver took pity on me and dropped me much closer to my FosshotelI .
It had been a long day of travel – train, plane and buses and I was well and truly ready for a sundowner as I staggered through the doors of the hotel with 10 minutes before the meeting was due to start .
On hand at reception tour guide/bus driver/tour leader, Heidrun, who seemed amicable and friendly. I must have looked like something the cat dragged in by that point of the day.
My first and continuing priority was to ditch the suitcase. I asked Heidrun if we were travelling on the one bus and if so could I please leave my case on the bus, to which she said, “Absolutely.” That was great. With the meeting about to start , I hauled the clobber into the elevator before racing down to join the rest of the group . Heidrun is delivering the basic background briefing on what to do and not do in Iceland. Then there’s the part where we all say who we are etc and why we have chosen Intrepid and Iceland .
We had:
– Ken and Laurie from the States, friends or cousins I think
– Emmanuel, who’s from Basel in Switzerland, born in France
– Shane from British Columbia, who’s got the loudest laugh of anybody I’ve ever heard
– Trina, who’s also Canadian
– Kirstie, who is from the Falkland Islands but lives and works in the UK.
– Miki from Japan
– Jade from the Gold Coast
– me
Two Australians and we live about an hour from one another.
The meeting concluded and we all traipsed off for dinner where the first of the many hip pocket raids take place. Like Norway, Iceland has its own currency. It’s disgustingly expensive, the Icelandic krona.
We’re all running around converting frantically into US dollars, Australian dollars, or euro -regardless it is very expensive. I think I had some €2,000 in my Wise travel bank when I started this trip. A few days in Iceland will knock that around, at least €100 a day, and that’s not spending money on anything frivolous really. Norway was expensive, I think Iceland is just as bad.
We were ready for an 8:00 start the following day, day two technically although it was really day one for us. The majority of the time to be spent in the precinct of the Golden Circle. I confess that I really didn’t have that much time to study carefully the background or the itinerary itself. The names of the places are impossible to pronounce and one of the great things about a group tour is having a leader. Heidrun is very knowledgeable having worked in the travel industry, pretty much all her life.
So the impossible to pronounce highlights of the day ahead include
Strokkur Geysir
Gullfoss Waterfall
Thingvellir National Park
And these were to be followed by a dip in The Secret Lagoon.
At the risk of boring anyone who takes the time to read this , I think it best to flip to the photos from what was a pretty much picture perfect day !
