Last week I went on a small tour to the Reykjanes Peninsula, which is a peninsula just south of Reykjavik. The peninsula has been over the years very volcanic, and its basically covered in lava fields and volcanic mountains. This is where the Blue Lagoon is.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Friday, 24 June 2011
Taste the Saga
This was one of the most beautiful days we have had in Reykjavik. Michelle and I just sat in the grass for a while in the Parliament Square. We had a staff party at night to the Reykjavik Brewery with Iceland Excursions. It was a lot of fun!
Blue Ice Tour
On the 13th of June I had the opportunity to hike a glacier tongue! It was really cool! We drove down to the south coast and climbed up a glacier right by Eyafjallajokull.
Harpa
I realized I haven't blogged for a long time and so much has happened. These may be out of order, but Im going to try to fit them into the blog!
Harpa. I have been lucky enough to be here for the grand opening of Harpa, the new concert hall in Reykjavik. I was there on the opening day, and we had a fancy staff party there a week later. The opening day included many concerts and events to do in the building.
Harpa. I have been lucky enough to be here for the grand opening of Harpa, the new concert hall in Reykjavik. I was there on the opening day, and we had a fancy staff party there a week later. The opening day included many concerts and events to do in the building.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Trip to the Glacier Lagoon
Last week I went on a tour to the east coast of the island to visit the glacier lagoon. The lagoon is formed because the glacier (Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe) is quickly melting away. This formed a lagoon where chunks of the glacier float until they disappear into the sea.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Staff Parties!
Whale Watching Staff Party
Monday we went on a whale watching trip. It was a lot of fun! The weather was pretty bad, but our boat still tried to go out on the water. We got hit by three waves before they decided to turn us back. The first was enough to make people alert. The second was enough to make people hold on to their seats and the this was enough to tilt the boat sideways and to throw all of our cans and glasses across the room.
Monday we went on a whale watching trip. It was a lot of fun! The weather was pretty bad, but our boat still tried to go out on the water. We got hit by three waves before they decided to turn us back. The first was enough to make people alert. The second was enough to make people hold on to their seats and the this was enough to tilt the boat sideways and to throw all of our cans and glasses across the room.
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| Michelle and I on the boat |
Akureyri
Last weekend Michelle and I hitch hiked up to Akureyri. Michelle is the new volunteer who is helping out around the hostel, and she happens to be from Hamilton! We didnt have a place to stay because the hostel was booked for the weekend, so we decided going to Akureyri would be a good way to see some more of Iceland and have a place to stay.
Hitch hiking was easy. the first five cars took us small distances to get out of Reykjavik so we had a better chance of finding someone who was going up to Akureyri (its about 4 hours north of Reykjavik). It was a very windy day, but we were dropped off at some pretty cool places!
Hitch hiking was easy. the first five cars took us small distances to get out of Reykjavik so we had a better chance of finding someone who was going up to Akureyri (its about 4 hours north of Reykjavik). It was a very windy day, but we were dropped off at some pretty cool places!
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| Third place we were dropped off to Hitch Hike |
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Journey to the Hot River!
Since I have arrived in Iceland, my co workers have been talking about this 'hot river'. I've been bugging them to take me, and finally on Sunday Klara took me! We went with Zsofie, Katrin and Joss, three girls who I work with at the hostel. Essentially, the river is in a valley up in the mountains by the town with all the green houses. Its where a hot river and a cold stream meet to make a river that is the perfect temperature. Its almost as hot as a hot tub and just as relaxing with the current. The river itself is very shallow, so locals built damns with rocks to pool the water so its deep enough for a few people to relax in.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Golden Circle
Just the other day I did the most touristy tour you can do in Iceland: The Golden Circle. This tour is made for people who are only here for a few days but want to get a good picture of what Iceland is all about. The tour does cover quite a lot. It passes the giant crater, Gullfoss (golden falls), the geysers and the old parliament. Its a long day, but its worth doing at least once. I was really lucky and we had a wonderful sunny day! That hasn't been happening here very often!
Friday, 6 May 2011
South Coast to Vik
The trip down south was amazing. Unlike the north, the grass and moss had begun to turn green so it gave the pictures a nicer contrast. Again, the trip was mostly about the landscapes, so there isn't too much to say about it.
The day after Ben and I got back from the west we decided to take the car down south for a last adventure. Our friend Lea, who is a local and a tour guide, said she would take us around and give us a tour for free. It was perfect because we didn't have the restrictions that tours have.
This trip was a little more crowded. Ben met his sisters old roommate at the hostel so he tagged along, and a journalist from Belgium also came with us. We had to fit five people into a really small car and by the end of the trip it got to be a little much, but it was worth it!
The first town we passed through was pretty interesting. We stopped at a lookout before going down the mountain to the town. The town is right on the Eurasian and North American plates, so when you look down at the mountains, you can see steam coming out of the rocks. Lea said every time there is a minor (or major) earthquake the exits for steam move. The way she describes it is that Iceland is always alive.
The day after Ben and I got back from the west we decided to take the car down south for a last adventure. Our friend Lea, who is a local and a tour guide, said she would take us around and give us a tour for free. It was perfect because we didn't have the restrictions that tours have.
This trip was a little more crowded. Ben met his sisters old roommate at the hostel so he tagged along, and a journalist from Belgium also came with us. We had to fit five people into a really small car and by the end of the trip it got to be a little much, but it was worth it!
The first town we passed through was pretty interesting. We stopped at a lookout before going down the mountain to the town. The town is right on the Eurasian and North American plates, so when you look down at the mountains, you can see steam coming out of the rocks. Lea said every time there is a minor (or major) earthquake the exits for steam move. The way she describes it is that Iceland is always alive.
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| This steam is used in the city as an energy source to heat pools and the many greenhouses |
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Road Trip to the West Peninsula and the South Coast
Finally after many many days I am writing again in the blog. Much has happened and I have had little time to keep updated (even when I did have time I only wanted to rest).
Last week sometime I made it down to the Blue Lagoon. I have heard mixed reviews about the lagoon, but I loved it! I had to go by myself because all my friends were working, but it ended up being a really nice solo trip. The drive to the lagoon was very beautiful. You have to drive off the highway through black lava fields and mountains, and as the lagoon approaches on the horizon you can see a lot of steam rising from the water and the geothermal plant right beside. When you pull onto the street that takes you to the entrance, you can see traces of this beautiful sky-blue water that has pooled in the black rock. It creates a really nice contrast.
Last week sometime I made it down to the Blue Lagoon. I have heard mixed reviews about the lagoon, but I loved it! I had to go by myself because all my friends were working, but it ended up being a really nice solo trip. The drive to the lagoon was very beautiful. You have to drive off the highway through black lava fields and mountains, and as the lagoon approaches on the horizon you can see a lot of steam rising from the water and the geothermal plant right beside. When you pull onto the street that takes you to the entrance, you can see traces of this beautiful sky-blue water that has pooled in the black rock. It creates a really nice contrast.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Reykjavik Night Scene
Since I last wrote I have been going out almost every single night, and every night gets more and more interesting. The night scene here is absolutely insane, especially on the weekends.
A few nights ago I went to a mini concert at the bar down the street (Bakkus). The bands were so good! No wonder why Iceland has such a good reputation for its music!
The next night there was a really good show at Faktory, a bar/ club in the downtown area. The band is called Blood Group, and they are an electronic Icelandic band. They were a lot of fun and they had a really cool light show! I went out with a big group from the hostel, and we all had our own unique night. After the show we went to Barbara, the only gay bar/ gay 'district' in Reykjavik. We all had a great time, and gay or straight most of us agreed that was the highlight of the night. (the guys liked it because they didn't have to buy alcohol; Icelandic guys are very generous with buying beer).
One thing led to another and the next thing we realized is its after 5 am, I had to work at eight and it was as bright as it would be at 10 in the morning. Even though our group had split up, (one guy didn't find his way back to the hostel until 1030 in the morning after meeting strangers and crashing at their place), some of us made it back to the hostel.
Yesterday was our relaxed day. Anna and I went for a walk through the town and went for tea in a really cute tea shop underneath a building on the main street in Reykjavik
We then found a REALLY good noodle restaurant. For 500 ISK you can get a really decent sized bowl of delicious noodles!
Tuesday, I was supposed to go to a geothermal river out in the mountains, but the people who were going to take me ended up having to work. Its too bad because I really wanted to go. I will eventually though!
I'm just about to get ready for the Blue Lagoon! Pictures will be up later!
A few nights ago I went to a mini concert at the bar down the street (Bakkus). The bands were so good! No wonder why Iceland has such a good reputation for its music!
The next night there was a really good show at Faktory, a bar/ club in the downtown area. The band is called Blood Group, and they are an electronic Icelandic band. They were a lot of fun and they had a really cool light show! I went out with a big group from the hostel, and we all had our own unique night. After the show we went to Barbara, the only gay bar/ gay 'district' in Reykjavik. We all had a great time, and gay or straight most of us agreed that was the highlight of the night. (the guys liked it because they didn't have to buy alcohol; Icelandic guys are very generous with buying beer).
One thing led to another and the next thing we realized is its after 5 am, I had to work at eight and it was as bright as it would be at 10 in the morning. Even though our group had split up, (one guy didn't find his way back to the hostel until 1030 in the morning after meeting strangers and crashing at their place), some of us made it back to the hostel.
Yesterday was our relaxed day. Anna and I went for a walk through the town and went for tea in a really cute tea shop underneath a building on the main street in Reykjavik
We then found a REALLY good noodle restaurant. For 500 ISK you can get a really decent sized bowl of delicious noodles!
Tuesday, I was supposed to go to a geothermal river out in the mountains, but the people who were going to take me ended up having to work. Its too bad because I really wanted to go. I will eventually though!
I'm just about to get ready for the Blue Lagoon! Pictures will be up later!
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Fleas
I didn't have to work this morning until 10 instead of 8. Thomas said that because it was my first Friday in Reykjavik I needed to go out late and see the bar scene. So he told me to come in a little late. I didn't drink last night (I didn't want to spend the money) but I did go out!
Last night I walked (in the pouring rain) up to the City Hostel to hang out with Bo and Lisa. It took me about 45 minutes to get there (good Friday there were no buses running). We just hung out for a little bit and ordered pizza.
The sunset was beautiful. We didn't have the best view, but even still the colors were so nice. It was the first clear night since I arrived (unfortunately no Northern Lights).
The walk home was even nicer! (I didn't take any pictures though). The sunset above was around 10 pm. I walked home at 1130 and the sun was down but the horizon was a vibrant blue. The walk along the water is very beautiful!
I got in at about 1150, and surprisingly the French couple from the night before was still up playing cards with an American couple ( the French couple had to fly home this morning at 4). In Iceland, you can walk outside with open alcohol, and in our cafe you are allowed to as well. They had a 60 of Jack Daniels and they were playing cards, so I joined them for a little bit. When the French couple went to bed, the Americans and I walked downtown (at about 130am). Supposedly the Reykjavik weekend bar scene is crazy! People don't go out till about 1 am and the bars stay open till 5-7 am. I didn't drink because I didn't want to spend the money, but it was fun just walking around. The city really felt a lot bigger then it is! I met some cool people who want me to come to their show at a bar down the street within the next month. It was pretty cool.
This morning after work I walked down to the flea market. I got a few nice pictures of the harbour on the way:
Both of these pictures were taken about a 30 second walk away from my hostel.
The flea market is pretty awesome. Its about a minute away (as you can see I'm pretty central. Takes me about 3 minutes to get to the centre downtown square). I looked around for some sweaters. They were all so expensive! The most expensive I saw was 30,000 ISk (about 300$CND) and the cheapest was a used one at a second hand shop which was 9,000ISK (about 90$CND). So, for 14,400ISK....
TADA!
It was the first one I tried on and I loved it! I tried a darker one on but it wasn't as nice. The woman who sold it to me was really nice. She helped me try it on, and made sure it wasn't too small. It was expensive but worth it!
That is my day so far, but it is still early!
Last night I walked (in the pouring rain) up to the City Hostel to hang out with Bo and Lisa. It took me about 45 minutes to get there (good Friday there were no buses running). We just hung out for a little bit and ordered pizza.
The sunset was beautiful. We didn't have the best view, but even still the colors were so nice. It was the first clear night since I arrived (unfortunately no Northern Lights).
The walk home was even nicer! (I didn't take any pictures though). The sunset above was around 10 pm. I walked home at 1130 and the sun was down but the horizon was a vibrant blue. The walk along the water is very beautiful!
I got in at about 1150, and surprisingly the French couple from the night before was still up playing cards with an American couple ( the French couple had to fly home this morning at 4). In Iceland, you can walk outside with open alcohol, and in our cafe you are allowed to as well. They had a 60 of Jack Daniels and they were playing cards, so I joined them for a little bit. When the French couple went to bed, the Americans and I walked downtown (at about 130am). Supposedly the Reykjavik weekend bar scene is crazy! People don't go out till about 1 am and the bars stay open till 5-7 am. I didn't drink because I didn't want to spend the money, but it was fun just walking around. The city really felt a lot bigger then it is! I met some cool people who want me to come to their show at a bar down the street within the next month. It was pretty cool.
This morning after work I walked down to the flea market. I got a few nice pictures of the harbour on the way:
The flea market is pretty awesome. Its about a minute away (as you can see I'm pretty central. Takes me about 3 minutes to get to the centre downtown square). I looked around for some sweaters. They were all so expensive! The most expensive I saw was 30,000 ISk (about 300$CND) and the cheapest was a used one at a second hand shop which was 9,000ISK (about 90$CND). So, for 14,400ISK....
TADA!
It was the first one I tried on and I loved it! I tried a darker one on but it wasn't as nice. The woman who sold it to me was really nice. She helped me try it on, and made sure it wasn't too small. It was expensive but worth it!
That is my day so far, but it is still early!
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