On Weds 2nd August, we flew from Heathrow to Keflavik International Airport and picked up a hire car from Europcar. Our flight was late and we stood in the car hire queue for 90 minutes, so we did not start on the road until around 7:30 pm. Fortunately the Icelandic summer days are long so we still had daylight for the 2 hour journey north to Reykholt. Mastering the roundabouts here took some doing as priorities are different to those in the UK, but being late meant there was little traffic on the road and that made things easier. And when I say 'on the road', I mean the only main road in Iceland which is Route 1. This two-lane road takes you all around Iceland, so it would be hard to get lost unless you ventured off road onto the F-class tracks which are reserved for 4WD vehicles.
We quickly discovered the vast and various landscapes of Iceland, and the frustration of not being able to stop to take photos. It is forbidden to pull over onto the verge in order to protect the slow growing vegetation. Lay-bys are few and far between, and not always well signposted. So if you miss the turning, you cannot do a U-turn and go back because the roads are too narrow and often surrounded by huge ditches. But there's always another view somewhere so you learn to soak up the experience and fill your brain with memories.
We had 14 days in Iceland and, for the most part, had good weather. All our hotels had been booked months in advance which is essential for travel in peak season. And we quickly discovered that dinner reservations had to be made well in advance too because some towns had few dinging options other than the hotel! Food was always good, especially the fish dishes. Icelandic beer was good too, and we took a liking to Snorri beer. And, as everyone knows, costs were eye-wateringly expensive! Petrol pumps are mostly unmanned but easy to use once you'd found the right bit of plastic to use. Today, Iceland is a cashless society which certainly makes life easier for travellers.
To accompany these long drives, we listened to podcasts on Icelandic history, culture, and modern day life. Iceland is thought to have been first occupied by Viking explorers in 874, although there is some evidence of the presence of Irishman's before that date. At that time the country was covered in forests; quite different to what one sees today. Icelandic personality is heavily influenced by their history of subjugation by other countries such as Norway and Denmark. And the ever present threat of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes has led to a more 'live for today' characteristic among the population of a mere 377,318, the majority of whom live in Reykjavik.
So please use the links below to follow us as we drive around Iceland.
