Iceland
Grundarfjarðarbær

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    • Day 3

      Snæfelness Peninsula

      September 4, 2023 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

      Mit Rückenwind ging es vom Campingplatz los in Richtung Osten auf die Halbinsel Snæfelness, die Angeblich das Beste aus Island auf einer Halbinsel vereint, ähnlich der Isle of Skye in Schottland.
      Der Wind war mein stetiger Begleiter, mal von hinten und leider allzuoft auch von der Seite, da musste ich das Lenkrad sehr gut festhalten.
      Mit jedee Kurve die man fährt, verändert sich die Landschaft, das Licht und die Wetterverhältnisse. Mal fährt an durch gefühlt unendliche Täler, die scheinbar gut zum halten von Schafen und Islandpferden sind, dann durch die unwirklich Landschaft aus Vulkangestein und Lavafeldern, oft mit Blick auf das Meer oder Berge. Die Straßen hatte ich oft für mich alleine, wenn man dann aber an einem der vielen möglichen Spots am Strand, in einer kleinen Gemeinde oder am Vulkankrater anhält, stapeln sich die Autos auf dem Parkplatz, Reisebusse spucken gestresste Urlauber aus, die möglichst viele Fotos in kurzer Zeit machen wollen und die kleinen Cafes und Restaurants haben gut zu tun.
      Die Halbinsel ist ein ein schöner flecken Erde, mir waren da nur leider immer wieder zu viele Leute. Am Robenstrand waren keine Robben, denen war es da auch zu voll, dafür verliefen sich die Massen an der Küste bei Arnastapi.
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    • Day 4

      Day 3 - Auf nach Snæfellsnes

      July 31, 2023 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

      Wir haben Wetterbedingt unseren Plan, Richtung Osten zu fahren, geändert und beschlossen, der Sonne entgegenzufahren. Dabei konnten wir die wunderschöne Landschaft Islands bewundern und haben einen traumhaften, einsamen Schlafplatz gefunden ☺️Read more

    • Day 8

      Kirkjufell mountain

      August 16, 2023 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

      Der Kirkjufell ist ein Berg in Island, der sich in der Nähe der Stadt Grundarfjörður auf der Snæfellsnes-Halbinsel befindet. Er ist bekannt für seine markante dreieckige Form und seine malerische Lage am Meer. Der Name "Kirkjufell" bedeutet "Kirchenberg" auf Isländisch. Der Berg ist ein beliebtes Fotomotiv und wurde auch in einigen Film- und Fernsehproduktionen verwendet, darunter in der Serie "Game of Thrones".Read more

    • Day 2

      🌊 Grudarfoss

      June 30, 2023 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

      Next stop is another waterfall and this time it’s Grudarfoss, just a short walk (thankfully) from the car park to the waterfall. But the view when we got close was fantastic, to get a little closer we took the stepping stones other the river and then walked slightly more towards the waterfall and then came back.Read more

    • Day 30

      Varmahlid to Grundarfjorfur

      August 4, 2023 in Iceland

      We travelled across the northern fjords today, taking in the sights and sounds as we made our way to the Snæfellsness Peninsula - affectionately called Snuffeluppagus. It's a pretty drive in and around the fjords with lush green lands full of Icelandic ponies and variously coloured sheep. We took the road less travelled and tried to save some time, landing ourselves on an unexpected 65 kms of dirt road for almost an hour! Samara drove today and it was an arduous journey for her, if I say so. Our fellow drivers were not as courteous in making way or slowing down along this road but the sheer and slippery drops on our right (my side of the car!!) caused us some cardiac concern.
      We made a worthwhile stop at one of the oldest stone churches in Iceland, Thingeyrar (spelt with a funny P). In 1106, the bishop of the time pledged to build a stone church if God would relieve a famine in the area. Good 'ol God did so and Thingeyrar (with the funny p) took shape. Founded on 1133, it existed until the reformation in 1550. The present church was rebuilt and consecrated in 1877. It's known for the thousand (give it take) golden stars on its blue ceiling.
      On the way out, we both patted and spoke with some Icelandic horses. Samara was happy!
      We literally only had to cross the road to see the Vatnsdalsholar, a cluster of hills of various sizes across the Vatnsdalur Valley. These were thought to have been the result of a catastrophic landslide in the area. It must have been a huge one as there were no mountains within coo-ee of the hills so we have no idea how the mounds of rubble really got there. The view from the top of one of the hills was spectacular though and worth the climb.
      Vikings started coming to Iceland in around 874, give or take, and there are various stories of their presence here. For the most part, though, the local Vikings were farmers and did a bit of raiding and pillaging in the off season. Erik the Red (probably named for his red hair rather than the blood he spilled) was famous for a number of reasons around here and we spent some time at the ruins, and in a very precise replica, of his family longhouse. Erik did cause some concern locally, arguing with and killing a neighbour (more than once … the neighbour killing, not the same neighbour) and ended up being exiled for 3 years. He took his family and a boat and ended up in the, so far undiscovered, island to the north. He called this Greenland and he is credited with its discovery. He called it Greenland so it would sound attractive and draw Icelandic immigrants there, over whom he would rule and became their chieftain. He later returned to Iceland, murdered a few other neighbours, then left for Greenland forever. His son, Leif Eriksson (later known as Leif the Lucky) went on to become a seafarer as well and became the first European to set foot in North America (not Chris Columbus!) We spent a very pleasant hour with a local guide who taught us heaps! We even tried on a chain mail helmet. Fun fact: only 25 Viking swords have ever been discovered in Iceland. It is thought that many were simply smeltered down into farm ploughs when the raiding and pillaging was over. Talk about recycling at its best!!
      An interesting fact about the Icelandic longhouses is that their turf (on the roof and walls) was laid in a herringbone pattern rather than with one slab on top of the other. Not only was this aesthetic, it helped keep the turf in place during the wind and stormy seasons. Clever!
      We passed through a couple of little fishing villages and climbed the viewpoint at Stykkishólmur. The seas in the fjord were calm, full of bird life and spotted with islands. It was a lovely final stop if the day.
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    • Day 6

      Grundarfjördur

      August 5, 2016 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

      Schnee auf 200m Meereshöhe anfang August - erstaunlich! Wohnen im alten Postamt, kann man mal machen. Morgen geht's zurück nach Reykjavik und wir geben den Mitwagen ab. Mit Riss in der Windschutzscheibe, dafür ja aber ohne Dellen.Read more

    • Day 13

      Arrival at Kirkjufell Mountain

      November 6, 2016 in Iceland ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

      We have just arrived at what was to be our first location of the day and the weather is the worst we have experienced so far. Tony says, "These are the worst conditions I've ever driven in." Very astute is Tony ... he doesn't miss a trick!

      We are parked next to the lake below the waterfalls which are a short walk from here ... we can just about see them. The car is shaking from the wind, the rain is horizontal so we'll be sitting here for a while to see if things improve. What do you think?
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    • Day 14

      Kirkjufellsfoss - Take 2

      November 7, 2016 in Iceland ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

      We awoke to grey skies once more so decided on a more leisurely start in the hope things would brighten up. When we arrived at the small car park it was once again blowing a gale with the now standard fitting of horizontal rain, but at least the view from the car was quite a bit clearer than yesterday. After a while we decided to brave the elements and at least get a photograph rather than leaving with nothing. First Tony, then Rob ventured to the left of the falls to look back towards the mountain which is the classic shot for this location ... except for the grey skies and driving rain, of course.

      We're now back at our accommodation to sort ourselves out for the afternoon and will be exploring the Berserkjahraun lava field.
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    • Day 4

      Kirkjufells

      July 4, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

      Visited Kirkjufells, one of the most picturesque areas in the country. Then we hit the road for a long drive to the north. It was long, but the 1 am sunset was worth it. Found a random campground just to crash at for a few hours before getting back on the road the next day.Read more

    • Day 7

      Grazie Kirkjufell!

      March 30, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

      Veniamo in ostello sorseggiando finalmente una birra con una normale gradazione alcolica decidendo il da farsi per la serata.
      Un pensiero mi assilla « dopo il primo avvistamento il giorno del nostro anniversario riusciremo a festeggiare il mio compleanno con l’aurora ». Tutto reso più elettrizzante dal nome della nostra camera: nordurljos. Il meteo ci suggerisce che le nuvole non sono dalla nostra parte. Il vento solare però é 7/10, un evento che non capita tutti i giorni. Quindi, perché non provare? Birre nello zaino, gambe in spalle e via con la macchina a cercare un posto lontano dalle luci della città. É proprio sotto il monte Kirkjufell che incominciamo a intravedere le stelle. Parcheggiamo la macchina e fissiamo gli occhi al cielo fino a quando Luca decide di scendere e di osservare anche sopra le nostre teste. L’aurora incomincia a formarsi con una scia traballante verde più che mai, illuminando mano a mano tutto il cielo. Sono le 10:30 pm ore locali mente in Italia é già passata la mezzanotte e stiamo festeggiando il mio 31esimo sotto l’aurora boreale più bella che mi potessi aspettare.
      Ti amo Luca 💚
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Grundarfjarðarbær, Grundarfjardarbaer

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