Why do I want to go?
Because I want to confirm reports that Iceland is actually green and Greenland is actually ice (this means I also need to get to Greenland at some point, but nevermind). My interest was especially piqued after I saw this gorgeous time-lapse video my friend Sean Stiegemeier did during the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010.
Iceland appears to be like heaven for anyone who dabbles in photography so I’d imagine my iPhone and I would have a grand time together taking in and apping out all of this country’s natural beauty.
I also hear the place likes to party. My dream is to partake in a rúntur, preferably during the long winter months when the night never seem to end. With a population of only 120,000, Reykjavik seems like a real cozy yet sexy place to get your party on and with a bangin’ music scene to match. There’s so much more than Björk in terms of sounds coming out of Iceland and I fully intend on discovering them.
Snaelfellsnes Peninsula seems to be the place dreams and romantic winter honeymoons are made of. If I had a car and partner in crime, I’d love nothing more than to make it up to this part of the country and just drive/wander aimlessly. It’s supposed to be breathtakingly beautiful and the place to see all the best Iceland has to offer in relatively small area.
Assuming I go in winter, which I already mentioned is the season I’d be interested in going, I’d HAVE to go to a place like Reykjanes, 30 minutes outside of Reykjavik, to view the northern lights. Preferably whilst kicking back in one of the peninsula’s many geothermal pools and Brennivín in hand.
im obsessed w/ iceland. i did the layover for a day but have yet to get back to see the whole country. reykjavik did leave a great taste in my mouth though. very rarely do i visit a place with such an intense desire to return. i may be biased though because as a kid i was checking out books at the library about iceland…so ive always been obsessed. but it really is THAT good.
perhaps we meet at airwaves 2013? ;)
Megan recently posted..When an Expat No Longer Feels Like an Expat
October seems too far away but I think that would be an awesome event to be present for. Dying to see the northern lights though, especially this year as they are in their prime, and best time for that is winter I believe. Do you know if there is a maximum amount of days you are allowed to stopover? I’d definitely want at least 3-4 days. A week in my dreams.
i know of someone who is doing the iceland thing via layover from oslo and using 3 days…
when i flew iceland air, they were super accommodating with all requests…i am sure if you speak w/ their customer service they might see what they can do. i cant foresee them denying any request you have to take a long layover because in reality, you’re pumping money into their economy by doing so.
and if you’re still in sweden we should meet up somewhere in lapland and check out those northern lights ;) if you miss iceland this year, that is ;) but i think you’ll be able to make it there. i also love that iceland air allows 2 free bags to be checked in so i can carry loads of stuff back from the states to norway.
i think you should contact their tourism board and iceland air and see if you can do a huge write up for them regarding how to maximize time during a layover. i know a lot of people that take those layovers, but many waste the time their and don’t maximize the short time. it would be informative to their ongoing promotions about these layovers if people knew how to take advantage of them. :) you may have already done that…but if not i think you should check it out. my friend who emailed me regarding his 3 day layover would not have had to do so if he could find information about it on the web… ;)
Megan recently posted..When an Expat No Longer Feels Like an Expat
there* sorry…that was bothering me.
Megan recently posted..When an Expat No Longer Feels Like an Expat
Oh yes, I’m plotting :) 2 free bags??! Even more of a reason to fly them between continents. No idea what’s happening in 2013, I don’t have one thing planned. But I do hope to be back in Scandinavia at some point since I care about it so much. We shall see.
Who is to say the northern lights can’t be done twice in ones lifetime? If all my wishes come true it’ll be Iceland and lapland this year as they will be at their prime this year.
SAH-WEET, I didn’t know about the stop over! this sounds perfect for my jump over the pond this summer.
Definitely a sah-weet option that apparently not enough people know about! I say go for it.
it seems everywhere I look these day all I see are pictures and information about Iceland. I think maybe the universe is trying to tell me something. :) I am hoping to visit in late summer 2013 if I have enough days left in the schengen zone.
Stephen S. recently posted..Birth of a Backpacker: Why I Travel
I think it is, Stephen. Just do it!
Great blog! And I highly recommend Iceland as I recently went and was enchanted with its beautiful landscape and unnatural wildness!
Stephanie Mayo recently posted..Putting the Buda in Budapest
Thanks Stephanie! Yes, enchanting seems like a perfect adjective to describe it. It will be mine, oh yes…