Category: Travel

Here’s some misc pics from our last day in Iceland – Blue Lagoon and our flight back home.

Keflavik airport was it’s usual windy self, plus hail, snow and ice – at times it was quite a blizzard. We were late by 15-20 minutes as we waited for the London flight to arrive, which had about 10 connecting passengers. Once they were on-board we deiced one last time and were good to go. Luckily the skies cleared and at takeoff it was really nice.

Now, takeoffs on a 757 are always fairly powerful and sometimes a treat, even at max load as I imagine this KEF-SEA flight to be at usually. This one in particular was perhaps the coolest and most spectacular I have yet to experience. With the wind whistling down the runway at a cool 40-45 kts, we LEVITATED into the air like a space elevator or something, after what I swear was only a 20 second roll until airborne, power reduced 15 seconds after that! It was quite an experience.

Luckily, I got video! The vid is a bit shakey – I’m not the best – but it really was that bouncy with all the wind. Perhaps it doesn’t do it justice and it was one of those “you had to be there” moments. Anyways, here it is…

Video: Icelandair 757 takeoff from a windy KEF (BIKF)

Photos:

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Robin Sparkles would be so proud of us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8pEzi1E5Og

Yesterday we walked around and went to…the mall!  Best way to people-watch the locals and look at all the different stores, etc.  Today is museum day, and then tomorrow is Blue Lagoon in the morning and then we depart lovely Iceland…

Also, most of you know I’m a complete airplane and airport nerd.  So of course I had to blog about that via a trip report over at airliners.net…

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/211299/

Today we went to the Perlan.  It was quite a hike, but the views are spectacular.  Perlan is a bunch of hot water tanks with a view deck, cafeteria and fancy revolving restaurant.

Later we’re going to the Volcano House for coffee and to watch cool volcano movies.  Then another relaxed night like yesterday.

We’re hopeful the weather stays clear for a possible Snaefelsness Tour tomorrow or Tuesday.

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Today we toured the South Shore of Iceland – black sand beaches, glaciers, and waterfalls!  The tour was longer travel than yesterday – our asses are glad to be back “home” in Reykjavik.  But it was worth it – again, incredible sights were seen and it was WINDY!  Loved it!

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We were going to do Snaefelsness Peninsula tour today, but it got snowed-in and we did the Golden Circle tour instead.  Tomorrow we do South Shore tour, and we’ll try for Snaefelsness later in the week.

Oh, and Happy Iceland Beer Day!!

Here are today’s photo highlights:

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Reykjavik: Adorable.

Keflavik Airport: Adorable, fast.  But an excruciatingly far and cramped bus trip from Reykjavik.

Skyr, famous Icelandic yogurt-type stuff, is pretty good.  A little tart, but thick and creamy.  It’s lowfat, though, so it’s really quite nice and nutritious.

Jet lag is hell getting old.  No matter trying the “stay up till local bedtime” trick, I was still wide awake at 1 aM.  Will just have to power through it for another day and then should be fine.

There are tons of Thai and Asian restaurants all around Reykjavik.  For dinner last night we ate at “Noodle Station” just down our street that had this rich, deep beef broth with with ramen noodles and tender chunks of beef.  An interesting first meal for coming to Iceland you’d think, but it was super yummy and pretty reasonable – $15 for both of us.  Considering you don’t ever tip here (it’s not expected) that’s about what you’d spend in Seattle for the same with a tip…

That said we paid $7 for three bananas at the grocery store.

Iceland cold tap water tastes amazing.  Comes naturally from springs and said to be the best in the World.  I’ll argue that the Pacific Northwest has some equally awesome water, but still – Iceland is better than some parts of Washington.

On the other hand hot water, amply supplied by natural geothermal sources, smells gross like sulfur.  Lets just say showers are quick.  Hot and cold water come from two different sources.

Paprika potato chips are pretty good.

Our apartment that we rented is great.  A veritable Skandinavian Ikea showcase.  It has one of those spiral-staircase-of-death things to get in, though (it’s on top floor).   It’s on Skólavörðustígur street.  Sko-la-worth-ust-iger is what we think that is 🙂

Iceland has 320,000 people or so, yet is a first world country with generally excellent roads, airports, telecommunications, utilities, social services, hospitals, schools, etc, etc…(bank failures notwithstanding…)  How they run an entire country with less than the population of Seattle proper is interesting to ponder.

Everyone speaks English without an attitude.  But not between themselves, of course.

Today we are off on a day trip to the Snaefelsness Peninsula and will probably have a bunch more photos.

Also, as you know I’m a big airplane geek, I actually posted a “trip Report” on airliners.net: Icelandair FI680 SEA-KEF February 2012