Day 1 in Iceland: From Keflavík to Reykjavík- English

1. Day 1 in Iceland: From Keflavík to Reykjavík 

We were thousands of meters in the sky, cramped like sardines on a small bright red plane that resembled a child's toy. Gisela, her family, and I were not vibing because of that tight space. Also, some of us, like Gisela and her mom, had motion sickness. The captain then announced on the loudspeaker that we had half an hour left and would arrive in Iceland. I perked up excitedly, and so did Gisela. Our flight from Baltimore, Maryland, to Iceland was shorter than expected. When Gisela booked the tickets, it said the flight would be 6 hours, but in reality, it was only five and a half hours. 

We booked our round-trip flight through Play. This Icelandic low-cost airline finally has flights from US cities such as Washington DC, Baltimore, Boston, and New York Stewart International Airport (about an hour car ride from Manhattan). Play has cheaper alternatives for flights to Europe via Iceland's Keflavík International Airport. To maintain the low costs, no complimentary amenities such as WiFi, food, drinks, carry-on or checked luggage, and no movie screens exist. If you want to come to Europe from the US, you can save money on flights by flying with Play. 

The plane continued flying through the misty air, and we finally landed! Our plane parked at the gate; it was time for the passengers to leave. Gisela was glad to stretch her legs and finally walk off the plane. I noticed the airport had Viking and nature-themed decorations when we exited the plane. Then we went through immigration, and the line was almost nonexistent. The officer didn't ask us anything other than how long we would stay in Iceland, and Gisela replied that it would be ten days. After immigration, we went to pick up our checked luggage. Because the family packed winter clothes, it took up a lot of space, so we couldn't take carry-ons. All of our luggage arrived safely. 

Then we went to the airport's arrivals section, and Gisela found the rental car place. We were doing a self-drive tour and rented a car through Hertz. We booked the self-drive tour through Iceland Tours, and the company booked our rental car and hotel and shared the itinerary for the famous Ring Road. Gisela did all the heavy work because she mapped out the hotel and created the list of objectives for each day. Gisela also booked additional tours and activities so we could have more fun. When we arrived at the Hertz section, it was closed because it was only 5 in the morning. Gisela called the car rental number, but no one answered. Then we all went to get coffee and breakfast. Gisela and I got a basil tomato pesto sandwich to save for later, and Gisela drank a Swiss Mocha with oat milk. While consuming breakfast, our dad exchanged money for the Icelandic krona. 

Then Gisela went to the information desk and asked them when Hertz would open. They said she needed to take the shuttle to a different part of the airport. The rental car shuttle was free. Gisela told her family about that, and we went outside. When we stepped outside, we noticed it felt cold. It felt as cold as November in Pennsylvania, where Gisela completed her undergraduate degree. I am also originally from Pennsylvania. Anyway, we couldn't find the sign for the shuttle, and Gisela asked another staff member. He said to continue ahead and past the tourist bus section. We thanked him and marched in the cold to get there. Then we found the shuttle. Other tourists were looking for rental cars, and the driver called out the names of the rental car companies, so different tourists got off the shuttle. We noticed he wasn't calling out Hertz even though we were near it. Then, he drove back to the airport to pick up more tourists. 

Gisela asked him about Hertz, and he said that the rental car desk was inside the airport. Gisela told him what the information desk said, and he said they needed to be corrected. I had fun riding the loop around the airport and finding the rental car places. Then we went back inside the rental car section of the airport arrivals. Gisela called Hertz again; this time, someone answered and said Hertz was opening now. The person was also right near us. Then we finally got our rental car. We got some extra insurance, and the staff explained the driving laws. 

He said not to go over the speed limit even if it's one kilometer an hour, and he said that the maximum speed limit was 90 km an hour on the highway. He then informed us that the INNER ring cars are prioritized in roundabouts. He also said we're not allowed to turn right on red like in the US. Then he told us that in the north near Akureyri, we needed to pay a toll for a long tunnel, and he said to pay it within 3 hours before entering it or within 3 hours after. An extra charge is sent to the rental company if we don't pay within that time. He also showed us the name of the website to pay the toll and the name of another site that details road conditions in different areas. 

Then he gave us the key, and we walked to the parking lot to find our car. Gisela took pictures of the vehicle from all angles. Then we got on and loaded our suitcases in the trunk. Gisela's dad was driving, and he was figuring out how to connect his phone to the car. Gisela and I also ate our breakfast. Then we finally connected the phone, and Gisela told us our first destination was the bridge between the two continents on the Reykjanes Peninsula. While we drove there, I noticed purple flowers that were fully bloomed on the sides of the roads. That was fascinating despite the harsh weather. I also noticed that Iceland had more of a tundra climate, and there were a lot of volcanic rocks. We found the place and parked the car. The site was on Route 425 on the way to Reykjavík. 

When we got out, it was cold and raining. It felt like winter, to be honest, despite July being the hottest month of the year! The Bridge Between Continents is a bridge that connects the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates. This is due to the mid-Atlantic rift. West Iceland, most of the north, and most of the Highlands in the central area have North American tectonic plates, while the rest of the country has Eurasian ones. So Iceland is geologically North American but culturally, economically, politically, and linguistically European. Also, the bridge is not literally between the two tectonic places, but it's in the direction of the two and serves as a symbol. Gisela and I were too cold to stand under the bridge, but we got many great pictures. Then we ran to the car and turned the heater up. 

Then, our next stop was Reykjanesviti, the oldest lighthouse in Iceland. It served as the significant landfall light for both Keflavík and Reykjavík. The cities are almost an hour apart. The tower is made of concrete and is 31 meters high. When we exited the car, we put on our heavier winter coats, and Gisela put on her snow pants. We also put rain ponchos over our coats to keep ourselves warm from the wind and the rain. We walked up the hill where the lighthouse was and hiked around. The lighthouse faced the sea, and the whole area was silent and serene. We had the place to ourselves and were surrounded by nature. This was a completely different environment from what I was used to. The area also had more greenery and trails made from volcanic ashes. Then, we wanted to see more of the beach near the lighthouse and drove down to it. 

The beach had black sand and volcanic rock. Much of Iceland's terrain comes from volcanoes. I also saw the statue of a bird known as the Great Auk. Those birds are extinct now. They were agile swimmers and could dive deeply. In 1800, the birds relocated to a remote island off the coast of Iceland, and in 1830, a volcanic eruption pulled the island underwater. The last few escaped to the southwestern tip of Eldey Island, but humans killed them. The last few were killed off in 1844. The beach was gorgeous, like nothing I'd seen before. 

Then, we drove to Gunnuhver Geothermal Area, close to the lighthouse. The hot springs were named after a female ghost that fell in them. Legend said she caused a considerable disturbance, and then a priest set a trap for her, and she fell into the hot springs. The mud pools form where steam from boiling geothermal reservoir water emanates, condenses, and mixes with surface water. Gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide make the water acidic, and the fresh lava rock becomes clay. Iceland's largest mud pool is also 20 meters wide across the mud rim. We could also access Gunnuhver from ramps and felt warmer beside the hot springs. We ensured we didn't come in contact with the water because it was more than the boiling point. The scene looked unreal and felt like we were on a different planet! 

Then we went to an area known as Brimketill, which had a pool made from marine erosion and mixed with lava. The waves eroded the laws rock by overawing the air pressure in cracks. The sea also creates under-pressure with the air, and the process develops over time. The lava pool looked majestic, and I had the impulse to jump in it and relax like a hot tub. After Brimketill, we decided to stop in the village of Grindavík for some coffee and food. While on our way, the road was blocked, and a police officer stood there. He asked us if we were going to the Blue Lagoon. Gisela said that we were going to Grindavík. The officer said the village was only open to residents because of a recent volcanic eruption. Then he showed us where to turn around. 

Since we couldn't see Grindavík, Gisela said we could visit the Krísuvíkurberg Bird Cliffs, an hour away from where we were. While driving there, we quickly stopped at Krýsuvík, another place with geothermal hot springs. The banks around the hot springs were bright red, orange, beige, brown, and yellow. The bubbling pools were over 100 degrees Celsius, and some splashed on the boardwalk we were walking on. The area also had an odd smell because of sulfur deposits. There were also lakes nearby that were formed by volcanic eruptions; thus, they were crater lakes. The area was so magnetic, and the banks of the hot springs resembled Mars while the green grass resembled Earth. 

After the hot springs, Gisela offered to drive, and we resumed the journey to the bird cliffs. Our car was a two-wheeler, but the GPS only took us on the road for four-wheeler cars. As a result, we had to turn around. Since we were all super tired from not getting any sleep on the plane, we decided to head straight to Reykjavík and check into our hotel. Gisela drove us there while her family members fell asleep on and off. I also fell asleep at some point. Then we arrived in the city, which was small for a capital. 

The outside of the town resembled Canada, but the architecture in the city center looked like that of Northern Europe. We arrived at our hotel, but there was no parking. Gisela called the hotel, and they said there was parking at P2 at the Church of Christ the King. We parked there and figured out how to pay for parking, but all the signs were in Icelandic. Gisela called again to ask about payment. The staff said the street parking in P2 was free from 21:00 to 09:00. She also said to enter the license plate number in the machine. Then Gisela's dad paid for the parking. 

Gisela and I walked down the hill to get to Hótel Reykjavík Centrum and checked in. Even though it was a little before 14:00, the staff said the rooms were ready. The beds were small in Europe, so a family of 4 humans would need two rooms. We got all our stuff and put them in the rooms. We were famished since we hadn't eaten lunch yet. Gisela asked the receptionist what restaurants she recommended in the area. The receptionist wrote down the restaurants that had traditional Icelandic cuisine. They were all within walking distance. We went to Fjallkonan, which was in Miðbær, an area in the city center. Gisela and I were pleasantly surprised that the restaurant had one vegan main course item and one vegan appetizer. We later learned that every restaurant in Iceland had at least one vegan option. So, at Fjallkonan, we ordered vegan barbecue ribs made of plants. We also got hummus and pita as an appetizer. They were tasty, and the food was high quality. It was clear it was not vegan just for the sake of it. 

I also noticed that the main course on the menu ranged from 20 to 40 USD. The food was expensive because Iceland relied on imports, and it was historically scarce because of the cold climate and the volcanic terrain. That was why, historically, the people ate meat such as lamb, beef, pork, and fish. Nowadays, people grow fruit and vegetables from greenhouses. Anyway, after our meal, we returned to the hotel to nap. Gisela reserved us a booking at the Blue Lagoon for 20:00. The Blue Lagoon was an hour and a half from Reykjavík. After our two-hour nap, we got dressed for the Blue Lagoon. 

Then we drove to it, and we saw that same police officer. Gisela showed him the reservation. Then he let us go and told us to follow the signs. We thanked him. Dad was shocked that the police officer was in the cold for so many hours. Then, after driving through and noticing piles of lava ash on the sides of the road, we finally made it to the Blue Lagoon. It was cold as we parked out of the car and reached the place. Gisela showed the staff the reservation, and they gave us bracelets to open the lockers and pay for services around the place. We got comfort tickets with towels, masks, and one complimentary drink at the bar. The humans changed into swimsuits, and we entered the water from the entrance. 

Then we opened a small door and made it outside. The water was heated to 38 degrees Celsius. It felt so warm in contrast with the cold air. The water was bright blue, and the air was misty. Even though it was late, it was still light outside. Gisela and her sister also had to keep their hair up because of the silicone in the water. It was very relaxing after a busy day of activities and an uncomfortable flight. We also put silica mud masks on our faces. They help with keeping the skin clear and healthy. Being a pug, I did not put that on my face. I did enjoy sitting on a swimming ring while the humans swam! 

The bar was also in the water, and the humans ordered free drinks. Gisela and I shared a fresita, a strawberry-flavored sparkling wine. That was awesome! We swam around and relaxed in the water until it was time for the people to get out. After scanning them to exit, we changed into our clothes in the locker room and disposed of the wristbands. We also stopped at the restaurant for caffeinated drinks and a late dinner. Gisela and I got a vegan tortilla wrap. I liked it, but Gisela thought it was too bland. After dinner, we drove back to the hotel and were drained. We arrived past midnight, and it was still light outside! Due to the proximity to the Arctic Circle, Iceland had 21 hours of sunlight in summer. The sunset was before midnight, but it was never dark outside because it quickly transitioned to sunrise. Because it was so late and we had been awake for more than 24 hours, we got ready for bed. I enjoyed my first day in Iceland very much! I couldn't wait for more Icelandic adventures!