2025 ICELAND Reykjavik May 29-30

Started our day in Reykjavik by driving downtown to the Laundromat Cafe' to do laundry and have breakfast.  What a concept! Very cute place with laundry and playroom downstairs and cafe' with awesome food and drinks up.  We shared a "Dirty Brunch" which had eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, fruit, bread, yogurt and granola.  Plenty for both of us.  Had a nice chat with other travelers while we ate and waited. Then we walked down to the Hallgrimskjirka (church) and took the elevator to the top for views of the city. We were just in time to watch and hear the 12:00 bells chime! 

Tiny little washers- 2 loads for $20

Back to the car and we drove to the harbor area and went to Fly Over Iceland- a fun ride that takes you on a journey across Iceland by air, including wind and mist.  A great way to see parts of the country that you wouldn't otherwise see. Next door we went to the Whales of Iceland Museum which had life-size models of various types of whales.  Not sure it was worth the money but it was interesting.  

Went to the Perlan Museum which included a Volcano show, Ice cave, various displays and an Aurora show in the planetarium. We spent quite a bit of time here- very worth it.

We drove to the Blue Viking Studios near the Keflavik Airport where we checked into a very spacious room with a kitchenette. We had dinner next to the harbor at the Kaffi Duus seafood restaurant which was outstanding.  Catch of the day was halibut and trout with rice over veggies.

 May 30- travel to Ireland day, but because we missed our flight due to a glitch (*no details!) we had to stay one more night at the Aurora Hotel on Keflavik airport grounds. Because we had returned our car we ate at the hotel and had very good food and accommodations. Staff was wonderful too.  Wish we had more time in Iceland, there is so much to see and do.  We barely scratched the surface. It's a beautiful country.

2025 ICELAND On the Road to Vik and Reykjavik May 28

 After a simple breakfast we left the apartment and headed east on Hwy. 1 to Vik.  It was raining so we stopped at the Lava Center in Hvolsvollur where we had a tea/coffee, watched a movie about Icelandic volcanoes, and walked through an interpretive center which included a round 360 degree interactive display showing various volcanoes. Very informative.  We then went to Seljalandsfoss waterfall where we walked behind it and got a little wet but we were prepared for it.  Then down the road to Skogafoss which was very busy so we didn't stay long.  

At Vik (southernmost village in Iceland) we had lunch at the Ice Cave restaurant in a shopping center- 2 chicken sandwiches and 2 beers for $64 US! That's how high everything is here.  Went to the church on the top of the hill to see the ocean view. I regret not having time to go to Westman Islands to see the puffins which had recently arrived for nesting season.

We then drove to Reykjavik where we checked into the Grand Hotel Reykjavik.  Very nice place but 10K from downtown.  We decided to eat dinner there rather than lose our parking spot. Kirk had lingcod and I had pan fried trout- both were very good. 

2025 ICELAND Golden Circle May 27

We left the Hotel Hofnarfjall after breakfast and drove to the Golden Circle. Stopped at Thingvellir National Park and didn't stay in the park that long. We stopped to see Bruarfoss waterfall (very pretty blue water) and Gulfoss waterfall- the largest in Iceland and so awesome! The sun was hiding so we did not see a rainbow.  The size of the waterfall and the amount of water coming down was amazing.

Gulfoss Waterfall

We then went to the Geysir area and watched the Strokker geyser blow- really short and quick compared to Old Faithful in Yellowstone. Walked around the mudpots, etc.  Lots of tourist buses and people were there.

We went to the Fridheimar Tomato Farm (huge greenhouses full of tomatoes and other veggies).  We couldn't get into the restaurant so we sat outside of the bistro and had wine with homemade tomato soup and bread.  Wonderful! The sun was mostly out but it was cool sitting outside.  

We stopped at Kerid Crater and walked around the top of it. Then we went through Selfoss to Brautarholt where we self-checked into our South Central Apartment. Very nice new place which had a little kitchenette and great bed and bathroom.  After a short rest we went to find a restaurant which was not easy since we were about 16 miles from Selfoss.  Saw a full rainbow on the way, and ended up at the Minilik Ethiopian Restaurant in Fludir. Ate a delicious plate of seared lamb, rice and veggies on soft pita bread which we ate with our hands.  We stopped at the local grocery for breakfast items, then back to the apartment to sleep.

2025 ICELAND Bogarnes May 26

After a very good sleep and a nice continental breakfast at the hotel, we left town about 9:20 to head to the Snaefelsness Peninsula. It was cloudy and 47 with rain in the morning.  We put on our rain suits as it was windy also. We stopped at Ytri Tunga Beach and walked over some difficult rocks to look for the seals.  Saw a few but they were quite a distance away.  

We stopped at the Budir (black) church from 1848 and graveyard.  Then headed to Arnastapi (old fishing port) where we stopped for a caramel cake and hot drinks before walking up the hill to the Bardur stone sculpture of a mythical man/giant.  We stopped to see Svodufoss waterfall, it was super windy and very few people were there.  

We drove north along the shore of the peninsula to the town of Stykkisholmur.  Picked up some sandwiches to go at a bakery that had awesome rolls. We were back to our hotel in Bogarnes around 4:30, had a dip in the hot tub (not so hot after sitting overnight) and went to town for dinner at the Grillhusid. Kind of a bar/grill place where Kirk had pizza and I had a salad with chicken.  Both were really good and the service was great.  Back to the hotel to pack and relax before bed (no TV).  

2025 Iceland Travel Day May 24-25

Since we had a late flight, we left home at 11:00 and drove to Minneapolis, dropping off our car at the Doubletree by Mall of America where we will stay on our return.  Took the shuttle to the airport, and checked in at Terminal 2 for our Icelandair flight. After dinner we boarded the plane and left on time at 7:30 p.m. CST.  It was a very smooth flight over Hudson Bay, Greenland and the Atlantic.  Very cool deep red sunset which we saw for quite awhile over the frozen Hudson Bay. 

We landed at Keflavik airport (KEF) at 6:30 a.m. Iceland time after a 6+ hour flight.  Got our luggage after passing quickly through passport control. Picked up our rental car on the (small) airport grounds. Drove northwest on Hwy 1, stopping for pastries and drinks on the way to Borgarnes.  Stopped at Dirty Burgers' for lunch and we were so tired after little to no sleep we had a nap in the car in a grocery parking lot before taking the back roads to see Mount Hafnarfjall glacier, many sheep with new lambs, horses and waterfalls.  

View from our hotel room in Bogarnes

Volcanic landscape on way to Bogarnes

Lupines were covering landscape all over

We checked into Hotel Hafnarfjall south of town, unpacked and went into their hot tub which was just filled with natural VERY HOT thermal water.  Could not get all the way in, and stayed just a few minutes.  After another rest we went to dinner at Englendingvik Restaurant in an old sea captain's house with a wonderful fish buffet.  After dinner we enjoyed browsing in the old barn where the owner had a toy museum.  

Walked along the shore near our hotel before bedtime.  We have a very small room, barely big enough for two twin beds, nightstand and chair, and hooks on the wall.  Bathroom was small and dark but we managed.  Quiet place, more like a motel as all the rooms have outside doors.  The location was good, just outside of town along the bay.