a travel log : Iceland : post 2/5

 

This post covers: Alafoss, Akranes, Laxarbakki, Snaefellsnes, Stykkisholmur

This week I'll be writing all about our latest Icelandic adventure.  Enjoy!

 

We got 3 sweaters at Alafoss.  They have a really good selection at great prices.  I wish I could have bought more!  I highly recommend making a stop.  Its not far from Reykjavik.  And next door there is a wood store with all hand carved things: toys, furniture, trinkets.  You can watch the wood carvers at work on certain days and times.

We bypassed the underwater Hvalfjordur Tunnel shortcut and went around a really beautiful and large fjord called Hvalfjordur.  There were several waterfalls along the way, ruined homes and really cool scenery.  We were glad we took the detour even if we did get stuck in a snow storm.  Our plan, like most nights, was to set up our tent, but the weather forced us to reconsider.  Instead we got a really good recommendation to stay at Laxarbakki.    

 

waterfalls every where

 

little houses everywhere used for I don't know what

 

You are looking at where the lava flow ended before entering the sea.  Can you imagine!?!

 

You could see the actual lines of flow from when the lava was hot and running.  It looks like a mudslide but indeed is hardened lava.  I was absolutely amazed by this scene.

 

In this are lava spilled into the ocean and created this land.  After 100's of years its now overgrown with moss.

 

You can see at the end of the road that the lava flow just stopped there!

The drive around the Snaesfells Peninsula was pretty remarkable.  It like all of Iceland is tree less.  But what there was abundance of was lava fields!  Seriously, there were the most amazing blankets of lava.  I bet it was terrifying to any in inhabitants that witnessed the lava flows when they happened.

 

There were old abandon homes and farms all over the place.  It was pretty windy and cold the further north we went and we saw some ice and snow on the mountains but not as much as we would see in the West Fjords.  We were having a hard time getting used to the fact that it never gets dark in the summer so we were missing out on dinner because places were closed before we realized it was "night time".  Here we enjoyed some tasty food and very nice tourists as company.  

Before we took the ferry at Stykkisholmur, we took down camp (which was free to camp and had free wifi), and explored the little town before we left.  It was very small but still larger and more populated that the rest of the Snaesfells peninsula.  The view from the orange lighthouse that I loved (if you go, you can't miss it) was a.maz.ing! with the bluest water and the clearest skies I have ever seen.  It was truly a sight.  Iceland was just getting more and more beautiful.

Tomorrow I'll be writing about the West Fjords, one of my favorite parts of Iceland.  I'm excited!

*  If you have questions or would like suggestions for planning your trip to Iceland, I'd be happy to share what I know.  Also, if you have something to share about traveling in Iceland, please share it in the comments or email me.  I'd love to hear.  You will find more posts about Iceland HERE.  Thanks for reading!