Reykjavik, Loft Hostel

Sun 31 March
So on this day, the Sunday after the Northern Lights, I moved over to the Luft Hostel from the strange hotel (100 Hotel) that I was staying at. Strange because I never met anyone who actually worked there. You checked in by a buzzer and found the key in the room. There was no reception desk or anything. There was a Chinese juice bar which kind of filled the reception area but I think they were just occupying the same building rather than part of the hotel. But I could be entirely wrong. Will never know.

There was an interval between having to check out of that hotel and check in at the hostel so I briefly stored my stuff at Dana’s hotel. Fortunately, all three were on the same street (the main street in Reykjavik it would seem and the hostel was only a couple of minutes from Dana’s hotel. What did we do in the intervening period? Laundry and a first visit to the Cat Cafe. It was Easter Sunday so not a lot was open.

I'd never heard of cat cafes before but apparently they are a thing. What is a cat cafe I hear you ask? Tricky to explain. But basically it's a cafe that has cats living in it. Combining two great things (cafes and cats) makes for an even better thing. I think in my dotage I want to set one up.

So later in the day I moved into the Loft Hostel on the same downtown street. It was much cheaper than the other hotel but I was committed to a shared dorm now. I met Bibi and Izzy as I moved into the dorm (Izzy who was later to share a car with me). Bibi was from Belgium and Izzy, Canadian/Bulgarian. The hostel had a lovely relaxed bar area and a kitchen with a goodly supply of free food. Bibi had apparently managed to eat nothing but the free food which would drastically reduce the cost of Iceland. We also had a slightly odd French chap who was staying at the hostel for free by sleeping on the floors outside the dorms - despite the fact that we invited him in at some point.

Mon 1 april
So on Monday Dana and I hired a car together. Relatively cheap by Iceland standards, maybe £35 a day (each or combined? I can't remember) but after the insurance waiver it doubled to maybe £70 a day (must be combined - again I have the figures somewhere). It was not a four wheel drive so wan't really capable of severe off-roading but would suffice to get us around.

It was a small black car - I can’t remember the make - but it had the registration KT (as in KT boundary - appropriate in Iceland). We hired it for three days Monday to Wednesday.

So the first day we did what is called the Golden Circle. We drove to more or less where we were the previous Saturday night where we had seen the Northern lights and got a good view of where we had been. Here there was a view of the boundary between the two continental shelves (shelfs?). Also,Dana had booked to go snorkelling. They run tours where you can snorkel or scuba on the divide between the two shelfs. Dana cancelled her trip - with some reluctance I think - but on seeing those who were doing it and how freezing it was at the time, she realised she'd made the right choice.

We discovered that you had to download an app to park. It’s harder to park than you think. No that’s not true. It’s not hard to park but you do need the app to park properly and of course it is expensive again to do so. Iceland is very expensive for tourists.

Anyway on the Golden Circle we then went to the big icy waterfall (name it - come on check these things!!!) and then the volcanic crater. Quite a long day. In fact, I was to have three long day driving all day in the car. I think it was today we stopped off at a supermarket on the way back so we could have some food that wasn't super expensive. Pasta and pesto. Can't beat it.

Tue 2 April
The second day we went to Vik along the bottom of the island having been told that it was very spectacular with black beaches. First we tried to find a volcano that was erupting but were told that the roads to it were closed as people who got close to it were getting ill.

So instead to Vik. The last 5 miles drive into the town were quite scary as there was an enormous blizzard and the traffic came to a standstill for a fair bit of time. Who'd have thought in Iceland? We did think we might have to stay there overnight but the weather did improve. In Vik went to the tourist info place
and met Jane 3 (ie someone who very much reminds me of Jane Kennedy - I will leave Jane 2 out at the moment). Had a quick trip round the maritime museum and then went to to the black beach which was the windiest place I have ever been. Going onto the beach the wind resounded into a conical hole in the cliff and it sounded like a jet engine behind me. I really had to put all my energy into taking each step as the wind was so strong. Had been warned not to get to close to the sea as you could get sucked in.

Dana and I spent the evening watching Princess Bride on my computer. She has good taste!

Wed 3 April
Dana passed up on today’s trip as she wanted to work and instead I spent the day with Izzy who was delightful. She is Canadian / Bulgarian. We started off at the cat cafe - my second visit. We drove towards and round Snaefelsnaes. Some amazing views and also a possible Game of Thrones volcano (I think the one that was in the Hound's vision). In retrospect I’m surprised there are no Game of Thrones tours. Perhaps there are.

And I won’t forgot the desperate search for a loo for Izzy!!!

Thu 4 April
Today first thing I returned the car to the airport and then flew out back to Copenhagen. I had changed the date of the return flight out because it was just too expensive in Iceland. I spent that night, the Thursday night, in the Best Western near Copenhagen airport. So this was a day in which not a lot happened. I had to spend much of the day at the airport as the car needed to be returned by 9-10 am and the flight out was something like 3pm so it wasn't worth heading back into Reykjavik and out again. And there was also a three hour time shift between Iceland and Denmark so a very little happening day.Læs mere