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Ice Magic

Smoldering volcanoes, Baltic souls and green valleys Meer informatie

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Dag 36
zaterdag 27 september 2025 om 15:00
☀️ 28 °C
Hoogte: 68 m
Australië Sydney -33.7064, 150.959633°42’23” S 150°57’35” E
Dubai, Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca
27 september, Australië ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
ReizigerSee you soon
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Dag 35
vrijdag 26 september 2025
☀️ 34 °C
Hoogte: 8 m
Verenigde Arabische Emiraten Dubai 25.26962, 55.29068325°16’11” N 55°17’26” E
Heathrow to Dubai
26 september, Verenigde Arabische Emiraten ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
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Dag 34–40
25 september 2025 om 16:00 - 1 oktober 2025
6 nachten
☀️ 19 °C
Hoogte: 16 m
Engeland Sipson 51.472079, -0.45254351°28’19” N 0°27’9” W
Oxted to Heathrow and beyond
25 sep.–1 okt., Engeland ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
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Dag 33
woensdag 24 september 2025 om 10:41
⛅ 13 °C
Hoogte: 105 m
Engeland Limpsfield 51.259438, -0.00314851°15’34” N 0°0’11” W
Zambian Mafia, Oxted
24 september, Engeland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
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Dag 32
dinsdag 23 september 2025 om 10:06
☀️ 11 °C
Hoogte: 127 m
Engeland Forest of Dean 51.836136, -2.47648151°50’10” N 2°28’35” W
Green Bottom to Oxted
23 september, Engeland ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
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Dag 31
maandag 22 september 2025 om 11:57
☀️ 12 °C
Hoogte: 183 m
Wales Six Bells 51.718124, -3.13296551°43’5” N 3°7’59” W
Blwch to Green Bottom
22 september, Wales ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Today, we traveled to Barbara and Simons place at Littledean near the Royal Forest of Dean.
On the way we detoured a couple of times, firstly to get a photo of a very narrow bridge that we had to cross the previous day (7 foot max width) and secondly to Abertillery to see the Guardian of the Valleys, a 20m tall sculpture commemorating the Six Bells mine explosion that killed 45 miners in 1960. The statue is very imposing and impressive. The names of those killed are listed around the base of the statue. As well as the statue, there are a number of plaques providing an insight into the devastating impact that this accident would have had on the local community. A very moving memorial.
Then it was on to B and S at Green Bottom and a short walk along the River Wye and up to a lookout on an adjacent ridge for views of the river. The views were stunning. B and S do a lot of kayaking on this river.
Then it was back to Green Bottom for dinner and an early night.Meer informatie
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Dag 30
zondag 21 september 2025
☀️ 13 °C
Hoogte: 240 m
Wales Llanthony 51.944584, -3.0363651°56’41” N 3°2’11” W
Llanthony Priory and England border
21 september, Wales ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
We met Barbara and Simon at Llanthony Priory, built by the Cistersions in the 1200s. We left their car at the priory and drove to the start of our walk. The walk was steep uphill for the first6-800 meters, then relatively flat as we walked on the ridge about 12km back to the priory. It was a beautiful day, and the scenery was spectacular. The top of the ridge is the border between England and Wales for a large section of our walk.
It was a steep drop of about 500m from the ridge top down to the priory so Geoff's knees were complainingby the time we got down. We had a drink at the priory bar (cider-a great thirst quencher) before Simon drove us back to the start of the walk to pick up our car. B and S headed home then while we went in to Brecon for dinner at a Thai restaurant, which was surprisingly good.Meer informatie
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Dag 29
zaterdag 20 september 2025 om 09:23
🌧 13 °C
Hoogte: 141 m
Wales Capel Garmon 53.060012, -3.78217953°3’36” N 3°46’56” W
Betws-y-Coed to Bwlch
20 september, Wales ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
We moved today to Bwlch in the Brecon Beacons area.
As we left Betws-y-Coed we got instructions on how to find a bridge built by the Romans about 2000 years ago from Michael the Airbnb owner. Found the bridge after the occasional wrong turn. It is a very narrow stone bridge over a raging torrent. It is amazing that it is still tanding after all this time.
After settling in at Bwlch, and because it was raining fairly heavily, we met Geoffs old friend Barbara and her husband Simon at The Big Pit, a coal mining museum that includes a tour underground. The guide we had was an ex-miner and was very knowledgeable and entertaining.
We then went out for a very enjoyable dinner with Barbara and Simon to the Coach and Horses Inn.Meer informatie
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Dag 28
vrijdag 19 september 2025 om 10:49
☁️ 18 °C
Hoogte: 14 m
Wales Conwy 53.280022, -3.82641153°16’48” N 3°49’35” W
Conwy and Betws-y-Coed
19 september, Wales ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
The decision we had to make today was whether we were too tired to drive to Conwy to see the best of the Edward I castles. It is renowned for being the best preserved Middle Ages castle and also particularly beautifully positioned. The alternative was to hang around Betwys Y Coed, catch up with admin and relax. Going to the castle won! So we did.

It was everything that was promised. The walls incorporated the whole town and it was still in tact and impressive . Not all accessible on foot but mostly. The wall perimeter was 1.4km. The fiesty Welsh had to be kept out of the whole town. Life for the locals was tough and they were a savage foe.

We went to Bank cafe for the second worst coffee ever and then headed back to Coed Y Celyn, our lovely home.

Geoff dropped me off at the town of Betws for me to look at the shops and then I walked home. I bought a North Wales tea towel and a carved wooden spoon. It’s a welsh tradition for the boys to carve one for their wife to be.

We tried a couple of pubs for a beer at around 5. After 2 hot beers we went home for a home cooked steak and veg. The first hot beer was in Ty Gwynn, formerly a pack horse stop built right at the current roads edge. It was a very atmospheric building.

Betys Y Coed has been a great place to stay.Meer informatie
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Dag 27
donderdag 18 september 2025
☁️ 19 °C
Hoogte: 8 m
Wales Llandudno 53.321781, -3.82220853°19’18” N 3°49’20” W
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Caernarfon, Beddgelert and Llandudno
18 september, Wales ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Had a two hour session in Caernarfon the morning learning how to weave. Very interesting and very easy.
On our way out of Caernafon, we had a look at the ruins of a Roman fort. The fort was manned by German auxiliary rather than real Romans. Geoff was ecstatic anyway.
Then to Beddgelert, where it was raining cats and dogs. A very nice village, which was the site of a very sad incident in the late 1200s (see photo).
We had a rest at home before heading out for dinner at Llandudno at the Abode restaurant, which was very nice (home-made pie and veg). Then a walk around the town (which was a bit of a revelation - this is a very popular seaside holiday destination with lots of delightful Victorian buildings along the shoreline) before attending the local Methodist church for a 2 hour concert by the local all male choir. The choir were great, as were the guy accompanying them on the piano and organ and a female soloist. All very good. Jules over the moon.
An hour drive home and straight to bed after another very successful day in Wales.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Oh so sad!
19-09-2025Reageren
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Dag 26
woensdag 17 september 2025 om 10:59
🌬 17 °C
Hoogte: 8 m
Wales Holyhead 53.311729, -4.63232253°18’42” N 4°37’56” W
Anglesey
17 september, Wales ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
Another great day of discovery. We started the day by finding a great coffee shop in a trashy town. We went there because of the Roman ruins but they hardly existed and were almost completely non existent . The coffee made up for that though. We had two and bought bagels for lunch.

The South Stack lighthouse walk and lighthouse tour made up for everything though. Such a dramatic coastline and such hardships of the past explained to us. Thousands of ship wrecks lay submerged under the sea along the coast and hemp baskets transporting the workers and provisions across a zip line to the lighthouse which is across a gorge not attached to the mainland. So many steps and the wind nearly carried us away at times. It was absolutely beautiful.

The Bryn Celli burial mounds were from prehistoric times. Approximately 200BC. I was very excited about seeing these. The area was so atmospheric with beautiful green rolling hills.

After this we drove to Beaumaris to have a quick look at the perfectly symmetrical castle, also built by Edward I. It was never finished as he ran out of money. He was trying to show his might in this area of Wales after conquering from Welsh. Four castles were started but never finished. These ruins are amazing in size and symmetry.

The last sight was the Menai Bridge. A beautiful bridge across the Menai Straits Beaumaris is a picturesque town, really happy to have visited.Meer informatie
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Dag 25
dinsdag 16 september 2025 om 08:41
☁️ 11 °C
Hoogte: 106 m
Wales Dinorwig 53.116272, -4.11943153°6’59” N 4°7’10” W
Mount Snowden
16 september, Wales ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Up early and a 40-minute drive to Llanberis to catch the train to the summit of Mount Snowden. Didn't see much on the way up because of the fog and rain. Arrived at the top around 10am after an hours train ride. Put on all our cold/wet weather gear before going up to the summit (about 2 minutes from the station).
It was foggy, raining lightly, and blowing a gale at the summit. Visibility zero. Not much fun.
We decided to walk down the mountain anyway even though we had return tickets on the train. The first half a kilometer of the descent was pretty horrendous, particularly for Jules whose glasses fogged up with the rain and whose hair was playing up in the high winds, blinding her. It was pretty slow going. Geoff was having second thoughts at this stage, but not Jules.
Half a km in, the track turned off the ridge and suddenly there was no wind. The rain eased shortly after. The track was moderately hard for us old timers but not for the hundreds of others we passed on the track.
After a couple of km we dropped below the cloud cover and had stunning views for the rest of the walk. We took the easy path down, the miners trail, which was very gentle for the last few km as it was a track used many years ago to supply miners about a third of the way up the mountain.
We finished the walk at Pen-y-Pass. Had an ice cream at Pen -y-Pass to celebrate Jules crossing another item off her bucket list while we waited for the shuttle bus that would take us 20 min back to Llanberis.
Both pretty tired at the end of it and both happy with what we were able to achieve given our various ailments.Meer informatie
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Dag 24
maandag 15 september 2025 om 12:39
🌧 14 °C
Hoogte: 14 m
Wales Betws-y-coed 53.079193, -3.79560553°4’45” N 3°47’44” W
Chester to Betws-y-coed
15 september, Wales ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
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Dag 23
zondag 14 september 2025 om 17:24
🌧 13 °C
Hoogte: 13 m
Engeland Queens Park 53.189194, -2.88243953°11’21” N 2°52’57” W
Reykjavik to Chester UK
14 september, Engeland ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
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Dag 22
zaterdag 13 september 2025
🌬 13 °C
Hoogte: 14 m
IJsland Reykjavik 64.145508, -21.93321864°8’44” N 21°55’60” W
Stykkisholmur to Reykjavik
13 september, IJsland ⋅ 🌬 13 °C
Only 2 activities today and a fair bit of driving to get back to Reykjavik.
Stopped off at a waterfall first and spent an hour there wandering along the river. OK waterfall but not as good as we have seen before.
Then, on to a spa where we alternately poached ourselves in the hat spas or sauna and then froze ourselves in the 6 degree plunge pool. Very relaxing and a great way to finish the tour.
Finally, it was a 1.5 hour drive back to Reykjavik where we just had time to settle into the hotel before our guide took us out to a nearby restaurant for a final dinner. As usual the dinner cost us $200, and the food was fairly average. What can you do? It's Iceland. The company was great, though, and it was hard to say goodbye to the guide and the friends we had made on the trip.Meer informatie
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Dag 21
vrijdag 12 september 2025 om 11:15
☁️ 11 °C
Hoogte: 35 m
IJsland Stykkishólmur 65.071999, -22.72596265°4’19” N 22°43’33” W
Snaefelsness Peninsula
12 september, IJsland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
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Dag 20
donderdag 11 september 2025 om 09:24
🌬 12 °C
Hoogte: 134 m
IJsland Bláskógabyggð 64.255568, -21.12800464°15’20” N 21°7’41” W
Selfoss to Snaefellsnes
11 september, IJsland ⋅ 🌬 12 °C
First up after breakfast, we drove to Thingvellir National Park. This is on the line through Iceland where the Eurasian and Nort American tectonic plates meet. The plates are pulling slowly apart, forming a valley. This is also the location where the initial Icelandic parliament, the Althingi met in 930AD. It continued to meet there each autumn for centuries. It was very windy. We walked to the nearby waterfall, church and Prime Ministers old summer residence.
We then drove west stopping at a few viewpoints looking at the glacier created u shaped valleys. Stopped at one spot to look at some sheep pens created out of stone walls, no longer functional.
Had lunch at a farm (soup and bread-delicious) and a bit of background about farming in Iceland from the owner of the farm. It is a tough life for the farmers and the sheep (which spend 6 months of the year running free way up in the hills and the other 6 months in the shed (winter).
Then it was on to our hotel in Stikkisholmur with a couple of stop offs to look at glacial valleys etc etc. Zzzzzzzzzz.
After dropping our gear at the hotel the weather was so good we walked through the town to a light house for yet more stunning scenery.
Dinner at the hotel with the mob then bed.
This was a really long day. Both of us were really cooked at the end.Meer informatie
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Dag 19
woensdag 10 september 2025
🌧 11 °C
Hoogte: 18 m
IJsland Hveragerðisbær 63.997601, -21.19304363°59’51” N 21°11’35” W
Selfoss, Geyser, Tomato lunch, Gullfoss
10 september, IJsland ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Sigridur Tomasdottir (1874 -1957) was born in Brattholt farm near Gullfoss and had no formal education. However she learned to read and draw beautiful pictures of wildlife. She and her sisters guided visitors around the waterfall. She grew up to be an activist who helped save Gullfoss from developers who wanted to build a power station to supply electricity to a large part of Iceland. She was the daughter of the original farm owner. His land contained half of the Gullfoss waterfall . Her father refused to sell to the developer but eventually was tricked into the sale of his property. Sigridur worked huge hours and tirelessly to stop this project from going ahead. We have her and her helpers to thank for saving the majestic waterfall from destruction. She is subsequently known as the first environmentalist in Iceland.Meer informatie
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Dag 18
dinsdag 9 september 2025 om 13:08
☁️ 10 °C
Hoogte: 96 m
IJsland Reykholt 64.183246, -20.43822364°10’60” N 20°26’18” W
Glaciers Waterfalls and Beaches
9 september, IJsland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
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Dag 17
maandag 8 september 2025 om 08:47
🌧 10 °C
Hoogte: 6 m
IJsland Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður 64.04866, -16.18082264°2’55” N 16°10’51” W
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Jokulsarlon Vatnajokull Svartifoss
8 september, IJsland ⋅ 🌧 10 °C
The black ice shows the volcanic activity and layers of ash in previous decades/centuries. There are 30 active volcanoes in Iceland.
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Reiziger Svartifoss waterfall.
09-09-2025ReagerenVertalen
Reiziger Is this beanie warm dad??
11-09-2025ReagerenVertalen
Reiziger It certainly is Jen. He has worn it most days in Iceland since we have been on the road.
11-09-2025ReagerenVertalen
Reiziger Super warm thanks jenn
13-09-2025ReagerenVertalen
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Dag 16
zondag 7 september 2025 om 19:10
🌧 11 °C
Hoogte: 10 m
IJsland Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður 64.127182, -16.01348364°7’38” N 16°0’49” W
Reykjavik - Hali
7 september, IJsland ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Big breakfast at the hotel before jumping on the tour bus and heading east.
First stop was a geyser fielding a town about half an hour from Reykjavik. Cooked some eggs in the water and watched the geyser fire off a couple of times. Ate the eggs with some rye bread also cooked in the hot water oven.
Next stop was the Lava exhibition. Lots of detail about the volcanos. Interactive and very well presented. Great exhibition.
Then onto the big waterfall that we could walk behind. Spectacular.
Finally we had a walk on a black sand beach - fine volcanic san. No surf unfortunately.
Then it was a three hour drive to the hotel. Arrived about 7.
Dinner at the hotel. Very expensive but delicious.
Big day but very interesting.Meer informatie
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Dag 15
zaterdag 6 september 2025 om 09:21
☀️ 9 °C
Hoogte: 27 m
IJsland Reykjavik 64.14566, -21.93208564°8’44” N 21°55’56” W
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Reykjavik Day 2
6 september, IJsland ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
We only had time for one museum so it was the National Museum which is about life in Iceland from 800, when it was first settled to current day. It was excellent. Then it was of to the waterfront. A huge storm was coming so Geoff dared me to go on the Reykjavik Eye wheel. I was up for it so we viewed the huge storm from above. Very dramatic sky but we didn’t see any rain fall at all. We had a beautiful sunny day which is amazing.

At 1.30pm we joined a large walking tour. Luckily it was split it two. Our guide was great. An Icelander who had studied acting in London. The Iceland Government pays for all tertiary education and even if you go abroad to study, they foot the bill and you pay 2% of the fees each year for the rest of your life. It isn’t much apparently.

The story is that a man Floki Vilgerdason, in 868, broke the law in Norway and grabbed two huge wooden poles from his house, jumped into his Viking ship and sailed to Iceland. When he arrived he threw them out of his ship and wherever they landed, he would build his house. Reykjavik it was. There a monument to him in the town and all Icelanders are related to him. 31 generations in fact. Young people have an App now to check how closely they are related to the person they are dating. The government recommends 5th generation as the minimum. No laws enforce that. It’s a big deal as all nationals are related. Population is only just under 400,000 today. This also means that is also the only Icelandic speakers in the world. They are doing what they can to preserve their language.

Legs were really tired by now. Back to the motel for a quick nap and well earned hot bath then off to reception to meet our group and guide. 4 Canadians, 6 Americans and 4 Aussies.

Dinner at MAR seafood restaurant for us. Delicious seafood meal.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Street art.
07-09-2025ReagerenVertalen
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Dag 14
vrijdag 5 september 2025 om 18:03
☁️ 10 °C
Hoogte: 4 m
IJsland Reykjavik 64.147435, -21.9222464°8’51” N 21°55’20” W
Reykjavik
5 september, IJsland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Another late get up. Feels like a wasted day just traveling with no time to be a tourist.
Had a free sauna at the accommodation (super hot- the guy in the sauna with Geoff kept throwing water on the coals. G almost passed out but refused to give up - life is a competition).
Got an Uber to the airport 2.5 hours early for the flight. We're getting more conservative as we get older. 3.5 hour flight to Reykjavik gaining 3 hour time difference so we arrived about the time we left.
Caught the flybus to our accommodation and settled into our $520/night hotel without issue. Everything very expensive here.

Went out to the main drag for dinner. Found a place that served soup inside a loaf of bread. Shared one and had a wine/beer then walked down to the waterfront to see the Viking boat statue. Pretty cool.
Temperature was dropping and the wind was getting up so it was getting uncomfortable so we headed home. Got to bed about midnight Helsinki time.Meer informatie
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Dag 13
donderdag 4 september 2025 om 17:21
☀️ 18 °C
Hoogte: 20 m
Finland Helsinki 60.165653, 24.94775260°9’56” N 24°56’52” E
Finland Finland Finland
4 september, Finland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Last day in Tallin. Had a late get up and took our time to pack up. Went for a coffee to Rocket Bean (small and cold just like Melbourne). The bean was called Pussy Magic so that made up for it a bit.
Got an Uber to the ferry terminal and waited a couple of hours for the ferry. We paid extra for the ferry ride for access to the Lounge. Lots of free food (delicious) wine and beer and bugger all people. The only way to travel - it's great being a boomer!

Ferry ride was about 2.5 hours. Arrived in Helsinki late afternoon. We had booked accommodation within walking distance of the Viking ferry terminal but unfortunately we didn't travel with Viking so we landed about5km from our accommodation. Another $50 taxi ride.

Went for a walk after settling in. Pretty touristy in the centre and not as interesting (depressing) as the Baltic cities from a history point of view. Had a look at the design district (jewelery, clothing etc zzzzzzzzzzz!) Had an expensive beer/wine then bought a sandwich at a supermarket and called it a day.Meer informatie
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ReizigerMissed you by three days
05-09-2025ReagerenVertalen
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Dag 12
woensdag 3 september 2025 om 10:02
☁️ 17 °C
Hoogte: 41 m
Estland Tallinn 59.370445, 24.73490959°22’14” N 24°44’6” E
Tallin Day 2
3 september, Estland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
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