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ROAD TRIP TO THE ICE SIDE (South Coast, Iceland)

6/8/2012

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Shortcuts are not always good. Take the long road around the corners.
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This is the highlight of our Iceland trip and was the final stretch of our vacation (we did a cruise around Scandinavia, Baltics and Russia). On our third day, we decided to rent a car and take a road trip to the "Ice Side" just for the day. Yes, just for 1 day and its perfectly doable. If there is a country perfect for a road trip, I would always say it would be Iceland. 
 
Ultimately, our goal is to see Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, it is on the South Coast. It is quite popular because Tomb Raider was filmed there, Die Another Day and other films. So if you are planning to take a day trip to see this area, here are some tips:
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1. OF COURSE, RENT A CAR, BUT WHAT KIND?

We only rented a small and economical car just for the two of us, but if you are feeling adventurous and want to pass by the mountainous and treacherous roads, by all means rent a 4 x 4. Of course, it is cheaper to rent a smaller car but this all depends on what you want to do, what suits your need and most importantly your budget. We advice you to book a car earlier to avoid problems once you get to Iceland. While GPS is essential in some countries, you can get by in Iceland with a simple road map.  We used the one the rental agency hands out.  The tourist stops were marked on the map and it was easy to read. You can always get a map at the gas stations, if the rental car company doesn't have it. 

2. PLAN YOUR ROUTE AND START EARLY

The process of renting the car can eat up valuable time so we recommend starting early.  Plan ahead, know where you want to go and what you want to do, especially if you are just taking a day trip.  We decided to drive to Seljalandfloss, Skogafoss, Vik and the Glacial Lagoon. You will see road-side waterfalls (smaller than the Golden Waterfalls), the black beach, the biggest glacier in Europe and so on. 

 3. THE RING ROAD THAT RULED THEM ALL

The most popular road in iceland is the Ring Road or Route 1. It encircles the whole of Iceland, connecting the major towns. The roads are well paved and the signs are easy to understand. All the scenic views have areas to pull off to park and no entrance fee on any of the spots that we saw. Fill up your car when you see a gas station because they are far and few between. The towns are charming as you can imagine, with picturesque and colorful homes by the coast. You will notice when you are driving, there are a lot of hitchhikers because Iceland is considered a one of the safest countries in the world. We picked up one hitchhiker and took her to our final destination but we don't recommend this, its totally a personal judgement call. 

4. BE READY! IT'S A LONG RIDE

Going to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon can be done as a day trip. It took us 5 hours to get to the lagoon, which was longer than we thought because we stopped at every amazing natural wonder we saw along the way. Pack up some snacks and drinks on the road so you won't waste time stopping OR if you didn't have time to stop by a grocery store, stop at the gas station and when you fill up your tank, grab a quick bite from a hotdog stand. Hotdogs in Iceland was surprisingly delicious. Make sure to try all toppings, they are well known for that. Mentally prepare yourself (if you are driving), since its going to be a long ride. Luckily, my husband drove and did not mind it at all because it was during Midnight Sun. 

5. ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE RIDE

If you know you wanted to rent a car prior the trip, bring some sort of entertainment handy that can easily connect to the sound system of the car. Bring an audio jack, a bluetooth and whatever new gadget that is out there that can connect your iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc. to the car. Sometimes, people tend to forget this little things. Having the right music is a-must on any road trip but as an alternative you might want to try an audio book. We like audio books better on long trips because you have time to really get into the story.  
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If there is one thing we could do differently on this trip, that would be to arrive with the idea of renting a car. This would have given us the extra time to go further, and see more. 

Iceland will captivate you and you will definitely fall in love. The landscapes will just blow you away. It was a long and tiring day, especially for Brock because he is the one who drove, but the scenery just takes our breath away. It was definitely worth it! Despite the long drive, we were giddy, excited and happier than ever because nature just continues to delight us in every mile. The more I look at the pictures, the more I look back to this day, all the more I realize that indeed, Earth is crammed with heaven. 
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Categories: Europe, Iceland, Travel Tips
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LAND OF FIRE AND ICE (Golden Circle Route, Iceland)

6/7/2012

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Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,
 we must carry it with us or we find it not.
 - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Iceland is not popular just because of Sigur Ros or Bjork. This country has many natural wonders that will never seize to amaze you. On our second day here, we planned to see the Golden Circle Route, as Icelandic people call it. It starts from Þingvellir or Thingvellir National Park (the highlight is seeing the rift valley), Gullfoss or Golden Waterfalls (located at Hvita River), and the geysers. Iceland is called the Land of Fire and Ice because of its many active volcanoes and its close proximity to the North Pole. Iceland is one of those countries that you have to see for yourself to believe what I am talking about. It is truly an unbelievable place. 
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Categories: Europe, Iceland
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BLUE LAGOON: GEOTHERMAL SPA EXPERIENCE (Grindavik, Iceland)

6/5/2012

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We travel because life is short and the world is large. 
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HOW TO GET TO BLUE LAGOON?

Blue Lagoon is near the airport and it is advisable to go there on your way to Reykjavik or on your way back to the airport or you can have a full day of luxury spa experience.  From the airport, you will see the bus information you need and you can tell them how long you wanted to stay and relax at the spa. 
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How can one describe the ethereal wonder of this moment? It was surreal and unreal, to finally be here, to see and experience it. Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa and is one of the most visited attraction in Iceland. The steamy waters are part of a lava formation. The water is warm but as soon as you swim where the steamy part is, it gets hotter. 

You walk in a long pathway of lava rock formation before entering the spa complex. After changing your clothes and as soon as you walk out, the place just wows you! This is definitely a must see when you visit Iceland. We highly recommend it. Truly, nature is mysteriously spectacular and God is a genius! 
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Categories: Europe, Iceland, Travel Tips
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We are husband + wife, adventurers + visual storytellers, who love to see the world together. Our goal is to see 100 countries in our lifetime and we are halfway there.

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