Yesterday, we were in a friggin hurricane. For real. Chasity was all 'did this damn hurricane follow me?!?' As she drove up this endlessly ascending mountain on our way back to Reykjavik. With the ascent continuing, the fog rolled in and dropped visibility to maybe twenty feet. This is a country that doesn't believe in guardrails and usually there are steep drop offs. So she is curving and going and hell we don't know where we end up if we go off the edge because... fog. The weather wasn't done! Winds reached over 40 mph and at one point we were blowing and hydroplaning and there was wheel gripping. Luckily we made it to the city. The car rental people told us an SUV was blown off the road and rolled yesterday so... I'm not exercising hyperbole here.
We got to the hotel and decided not to venture into Reykjavik in the crap weather. We took advantage of a happy happy hour, fantastic restaurant (Satt) and a beer tasting led by Snorri, our new buddy who gave us lessons in Icelandic history, the sagas (folktales) and mythology as told thru beer.
This morning we headed into town and had a great breakfast at the Laudromat Cafe and shopped to get rid of our Icelandic money. We said goodbye to the gastropub we loved on our first day.
Summing this trip up... epic diva road trip. Excellent vacation.
Chasity top highlights: walk behind the Selandjafoss waterfall and hiking to the top of Skogafoss waterfall
Tanisha top highlights: blue lagoon and hike through Thingvellir park
Meghan top highlights: midnight at Gerdi stargazing (Tanisha wants in on this one too), cottage stay
Best meals ranked : 1) Hofn lobster was out of this world 2) gastropub in Reykjavik 3) meal in Vik 4) all our hot dogs (first was the best!) 5) dinner at the art bistro
One word from each of us to describe Iceland
Chasity- breathtaking
Tanisha- singular
Meghan- extraordinary
The people are friendly, accommodating and super honest!! For example, we paid for the hot tub cottage by leaving money in a kitchen drawer!
We just said bye to Chasity and she said we can do this in another decade since it was last 2005 in law school we were all together.
Lots of laughter on the trip, an evil gps system, a radio station that played the most bizarre mix of music, amazing hotels, food that is a foodie dream world, and just a fantastic trip with friends.
Diva Tips
1. Do not get a gps. Roads are well signed, use a map. In winter, get a mifi and use your phone.
2. Learn the Vinbudin hours and locations. Don't be like us, about to be stuck way east with no wine. As it is, we overestimated, and left four bottles with the car people. :(
3. Get a top quality hotel. In bad weather, you will thank us. Good restaurants and good bars can save you.
4. One lane bridges are no joke.
5. Sheep crossings happen. Don't speed. And stop- wait them out.
6. You might need change for bathrooms at national parks.
7. It's expensive. Save. The food is worth the money. We ate plenty of hot dogs but we ate some amazing meals. As one waitress said 'the Icelandic people love their food!'
8. You can't see everyone thing you thought you could see. We had an aggressive first day and still had to leave things off. Unless you plan to see and go without stopping to explore or enjoy or climb, you just can't cran it all in.
9. Do NOT press fill the tank as an option at gas stations. They will hold two hundred plus dollars on your card until actual amount clears through. Can take up to 8 days. Get prepaid cards!
10. At the blue lagoon, there are private showers, there is a lovely blow dry area, and key point... to be the popular person... know that the bar is 'to the right!'
11. You pay at the register everywhere including restaurants. Oh, and no one will ever bag your food or anything for you at any type of store.
12. Do not be the ass who pulls over to see horses on a road that has no room for that crap!
13. We didn't see the northern lights, but we did have some beautiful nights. Also this shoulder season and it was still busy so beware the summer crowds.
14. There are no sheets. Just duvets. And the rooms are hot. Pack a summer nightie. Trust us.
15. You might want to pack toilet paper if you are going east or north. Just saying. God knows where you go that everyone can't see but there it is....
Signing off....
The Divas in Iceland.
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