Iceland day 2 recap: Geothermal pools not good for cameras

After a lovely Scandinavian style breakfast at our hotel, we all walked into the city together and bought all the touristy items we felt we needed. I got a hat with the Icelandic flag on it because, as you may or may not know, I seem to collect hats. Every where I go I manage to find a hat I absolutely NEED. 

Then we got in the car and drove to go see a ski area called Bjalfjoll. You see, no matter where my family goes in the world, if there is anything ski/winter related, we must see it. Unfortunately, it was not open because it had been such a warm winter. There was barely any snow on the slops, but it was still really fun to see a ski area in such an obscure part of the world. 

The trail map.

A view from the lodge. Not great conditions for skiing, but still very cool!

Then we continued out little road trip.

Yeah... what that signs says...

A view going up to the ski mountain.

A cool little house by an awesome looking mountain.

Rainbow over the lava fields!

We stopped in a small town and got some food for a picnic at the local grocery store. This town seemly popped up out of nowhere. It had been nothing but a mix of mountains, lava fields, and untamed wilderness for most of the drive. Then this little town cropped up amongst the rugged mossy covered mounds of basalt. 

We stopped on the side of the road a little ways past the town by some Icelandic horses to eat our picnic. 

Icelandic horses. :)

Our picnic spot!

The road we were driving.

My new BFFL.

After our lovely picnic, we continued on along that flat curving jet black road. It took us past the churning ocean, large cliffs, rugged lava fields, and tawny tundra. (look at the alliteration.) 

Our next stop was a geothermal are called Krýsuvík. It is located in the middle of the fissure zone on the Mid-Atlantic ridge. For me this place will always be known as the "the bubbling mud pots that smell like elephant farts." Reason being when I first visited the spot as a four year old, that was the one element that really stuck in my head. Forever more that is how that incredible geothermic zone will be known. You're welcome Iceland.

 This place is an incredible array of geothermic pools going up to 212 c, steaming earth, bubbling mud pots, and sulphur smelling air. It's really difficult to put into words what this place looks like, so I will just put the photos up instead. 

mmmm...Sulphur smell!

Just what we want to see...

View from the top of the path.

This place really is other worldly. It almost looks as though it comes right out of a science fiction movie about some distant strange planet. It is nature in its purest form. I walked up the board walk and a little ways on a path that seemed to go up the hill to more steam. I just wanted to sit there and take it all in (pinch I'm dreaming) because it was just so incredible. But, we had to leave to go to our final stop of the day, the Blue Lagoon. 

So after another hour or so of driving, my face still glued to the window looking at the rugged landscape fly by, we arrived. 

The path to the Lagoon.

Outside the main building. Look at that water!

We got our towels, our lockers, changed then went in. It was terribly cold outside, but  it was just enough to make us hover by the door, then rush out into the water as fast as possible once we had built up the courage. And I decided to bring my camera in because, hey, it's waterproof! (foreshadowing; it wasn't waterproof enough...)

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa with its warm water rich in minerals such as silica and sulphur. It is 2/3 salt water and 1/3 fresh water and ranges in temperature from 98 F to 102 F. One of the coolest things about the Blue Lagoon is the buckets of silica mud mask goo that they have situated at different points around the lagoon. This mud is rich in minerals and very good for your skin. It feels awesome and my sister had a fun time completely slathering herself in it. And throwing it at me...

We swam around for while watching the sunset over the mountains and through the steam. I sat in the warm water, my face caked with the silica mud, and watched as the sun dropped lower and lower, turning the sky a rich orange. The fresh air, the water, the steam was all incredible and quite relaxing. The Blue Lagoon really is a incredible place in Iceland, even though every tourist and their brother ends up visiting. Then it was twilight. By the time we left, it was well after dark. 

These pictures you see here are some of the last my trusty Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 ever took. Somehow, water got into the camera and killed it while we were in the Blue Lagoon. Because we were traveling, I had no way to fix it.  A few days ago, I bought a refurbished Nikon Coolpix AW100; another "tough" camera. RIP my great Panasonic. You served me well. Now let's see how long this Nikon lasts. They seriously need to make an "Annie proof" camera...

We arrived back at our hotel very late and we were all very tired. To be back in the city was such a change from the wilderness that lies just beyond. Both are just as lovely in their own separate ways. It was a great day!

Iceland day 1 recap: What time is it?

Before we dive right in, I would like to apologize for the total lack of a quality posts during my trip. I would have loved to have posted "in the moment" to keep things fresh and exciting, but the WiFi was very spotty, so not much happened in that front. But now I am back WiFi enabled, and ready to recap. So here we go!

After a five hour flight, filled with the adrenaline of suddenly hearing Icelandic as well as English and the discomfort of attempting to sleep on a plane, we arrived at Keflavik Airport at two in the morning our time. Around six thirty something their time. It was around eight when we had collected out baggage in a tired stupor and stepped out into the fresh Iceland air. It was cool and crisp and refreshing. It was even better than I had remembered; fresher and cleaner than my memory could produce. 

A shuttle came to the airport and gave us a ride to the car rental place. Luckily it was just us in the shuttle, because it was like a game a baggage Tetris just to fit all our stuff in the back. It was even more difficult to fit our five duffel bags and ski bag into the back of our rental car; a Ford focus.
  

It was still dark around nine when we began the drive from the airport into the heart of Reykjavik to our hotel. I had slept maybe an hour on the plane and was tired beyond tired, but as soon as we were driving and there was enough light to see out the windows, there was no hope of relaxation. I sat there with my face practically glued to the window, peering out into the gloomy morning light at the lava fields whizzing by. I could barley believe I was actually there, actually in Iceland. In the land of Of Monsters and Men (an incredible Icelandic band and one of my favorites). Our whole time there is was kind of a "pinch me I'm dreaming" type of situation. Total sensory overload because Iceland is without a doubt one of THE coolest places on earth.


It was a fifty kilometer drive on almost completely straight highway, but in certain areas it curves around large lava rock formations. Why? Because fairies live there. Cool fact: About half of the Icelandic population believes in elves and fairies. How cool is that?


Anyway, after we arrived to our hotel, Guesthouse Sunna, we unloaded and settled in. My mom and I decided that despite being ridiculously tired, we didn't want to waste any time so we went out to explore the streets of Reykjavik. 

Hallgrímskirkja and statue of Liefur Erikson. This church is the right in the center of Reykjavik and was across the street from our hotel. We could  always find our way back!

View up the street to the church.

Some graffiti we found in a cool little courtyard off the main road.

This one was probably my favorite.

We visited some tourist shops and then returned back to the room to wake up my dad and sister. Then I went out for a walk with my dad and we bought some groceries. There was a little convenience store one street down from our hotel that had all we needed for lunches and dinner. Including one of my favorite Icelandic foods, Flatkökur. It is an Icelandic stone baked flat bread that it totally amazing. Before the 18th century, it was the only bread Icelanders ate and it was baked over an open flint because there were no ovens. It's slightly smokey and totally wonderful. If you ever get a chance to try some, do so, because it will give you a better idea of what I am talking about, especially considering that description was pretty lacking. Here's a website with some more history and a recipe. http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/features/multimedia/Traditional_Icelandic_Flatbread_13_372617.news.aspx?ew_news_onlyarea=&ew_news_onlyposition=13

A little later on, after we returned we all rallied and got in the car to go look at Icelandic sweaters at a place called Àlafoss. 

View of the store from the outside. I would hate working in a place where I saw that out the window.  (not)

This place was so cool. There must have been hundreds of sweaters of all styles and colors. Everything from the traditional pullover to cardigans. We spent a while looking around and my dad made friends with the sales clerk. As he always manages to do when we are in foreign countries. Another thing they had was yarn. Lots and lots of yarn in practically every color. And knitting supplies. As a budding crochet artist who can only make hats, this was really cool to see. Now I kind of wish I had bought a skein or two of yarn. That way I could have crocheted a few hats then sold them at a ridiculous price because they were "hand made with real Icelandic wool". Damn. Next time. 

Some sweaters!

Anyway, my lovely mom bought me a sweater that is so pretty and warm and I love it! And I am not just saying that because she is going to read this...

My awesome sweater!

 It was rainy, overcast, and surprisingly cold that afternoon and that sweater made it more than comfortable to be outside. Those sweaters were tailor made to be in that climate. Looking out over the mossy tundra with my warm new sweater, I felt like some bad ass viking. The rugged landscape is evident in the history and the culture of that cool cool island in the northern Atlantic.


Stay tuned for day two and three recaps! Thanks for reading!

WISSA 2013

Currently, I am sitting in the Surf Cafe in Kalajoki, Finland. We just had a skippers meeting and I will be racing soon. First we are going to be doing STS (short track slalom) then in the afternoon, wind permitting, we will be doing a few course races. Yesterday was our first day of racing, and my arms are still aching from it. So today will be interesting.

We arrived here in Finland two days ago, after flying from Iceland to Norway and then to Finland where we took a train to the race site.

It has been great to see all the same faces yet again at the races. The unstoppable Swedish team. The almost 7 foot tall Latvian guy. All our Finnish friends. Anyway, I will be posting videos soon. The only place that has wifi is this surf cafe. So once I get the chance, I will post more. Also, I hope to do a recap of our time in Iceland.