Cold outside I

[chas]

I'll stick some more photos up when I've got time Adam if anyones interested, having had 3 house deals fall through on us this year and feeling fairly pee'd off about it we made the decision to have a "Superbreak" as they call em, so off we went to Iceland, Reykjavik to be precise.
Saw the Northern lights, Gullfoss falls, swam in the Blue Lagoon and saw the techtonic plates that are splitting Iceland in two and a load more but didn't get to see the Geysir because we were stuck up on that bloody glacier for hours.
The 4wd "A-team" jeep thing got stuck fast, that 8wd Man truck got stuck aswell but once it got free was bloody inpressive just driving up the side of a mountain and I can assure you that a snowmobile doing 75kph in a virtual whiteout makes the pulse rush a bit if you're doing it for the first time.
Just to add to the occasion I had flu all the way through and was doped up to the eyeballs, to be honest I had no idea we were going that fast, but the screams coming from the back seat should have told me something I suppose I was quite happy in my own little blurred world.

[sunndog]

Nice, never been to iceland but snow machines are real good fun aren't they

[Fox Hunter]

I just new you had to be somewhere I'd be immensely jelous of!

Ha, sorry to hear you had the flu the whole time Chris but it sounds like it was a brilliant experience. Get the pics up if you get a chance it's good to see what's out there

[chas]

I honestly didn't realise I'd taken a pic of THAT bar sign

[chas]

Blue Lagoon

Presidents House, walk right up.

Hotel window at night

Harbour

Harbour again

Gullfoss falls

[Fox Hunter]

Chris, that's absolutely spectacular, thanks for sharing those. That certainly looks like somewhere I'd love to go, doubt I ever will though.
The pub one was funny, made me laugh. What a fantastic experience to get to have and I'm not referring to entering the pub

[chas]

I enjoyed it James even though I did feel crap most of the time.
Price wise it can be done on a budget to a certain extent, not as cheap as some package deals to Spain but not as expensive as you might think.
At one of the places I visit with my work I came across another lad who was actually going on the same flight as us, fairly sure he got his plane tickets for well short of a hundred quid, possibly down to seventy-ish.
The problem comes when you get there and the need to travel, organised tours by bus or "superjeep"( as they call them) are very well organised, bus trip to the sightseeing centres are quite reasonable but the jeeps do tend to cost quite a bit.
An example; Northern lights trip by bus £30-ish, by jeep stick a hundred in front of that.
There is a firm over there called "Sadcars" there rental charges seem to be the cheapest about but the cars are not really up to the harsh winter weather according to one bloke we spoke to.
Every body over there seems to speak fluent English so no language barrier, the food is a bit different from here with menus containg such exotic items as Minky Whale, Horse and Puffin, I had none of them thank you
If I go again, I'll go in the better weather and drive around in a 4wd so the off road tracks are accessible, if you like rugged countryside Iceland takes some beating
Size of England is approx 50.000 sq miles with approx 53 million people, Iceland is slightly smaller at 40,000 sq miles but only 1/3 rd of a million inhabitants, so it ain't overcrowded.

[some bloke]

Stunning pictures thanks Chris.

The Blue lagoon is quite an attraction it seems and is something I would have to do if I ever found my way there.

[chas]

Stunning pictures thanks Chris.

The Blue lagoon is quite an attraction it seems and is something I would have to do if I ever found my way there.

Oh look, I've found the quote button !!!!! at last.

Dave, that lagoon experience is all a bit surreal, you're bathing in sea water (although you're miles inland) the water is heated by geothermal activity and is about 38 degrees C (98 F).
The bottom of the pool is rock, covered in what seems like course volcanic ash, there's meant to be all sorts of trace elements in there as well which are supposed to offer healing properties.
If you look on the right of the photo, that little wooden shed is actually a bar, but you're only allowed 3 alcoholic drinks per person which to be honest is more that enough for me.
Retrieving your robe or towel once you leave the water was a bit of booger, walking across snow and ice when we were there and it was bloody cold.
Another item off the bucket list for me at least, if you get the chance to go Dave, do it, but if I was to go again I'd pick the weather a bit more carefully.

[Fox Hunter]

I enjoyed it James even though I did feel crap most of the time.
Price wise it can be done on a budget to a certain extent, not as cheap as some package deals to Spain but not as expensive as you might think.
At one of the places I visit with my work I came across another lad who was actually going on the same flight as us, fairly sure he got his plane tickets for well short of a hundred quid, possibly down to seventy-ish.
The problem comes when you get there and the need to travel, organised tours by bus or "superjeep"( as they call them) are very well organised, bus trip to the sightseeing centres are quite reasonable but the jeeps do tend to cost quite a bit.
An example; Northern lights trip by bus £30-ish, by jeep stick a hundred in front of that.
There is a firm over there called "Sadcars" there rental charges seem to be the cheapest about but the cars are not really up to the harsh winter weather according to one bloke we spoke to.
Every body over there seems to speak fluent English so no language barrier, the food is a bit different from here with menus containg such exotic items as Minky Whale, Horse and Puffin, I had none of them thank you
If I go again, I'll go in the better weather and drive around in a 4wd so the off road tracks are accessible, if you like rugged countryside Iceland takes some beating
Size of England is approx 50.000 sq miles with approx 53 million people, Iceland is slightly smaller at 40,000 sq miles but only 1/3 rd of a million inhabitants, so it ain't overcrowded.

Right, if you can do it I'm going to have a go at it....

Find the quote button that is I'm struggling with finding the arrow pointer thing for last post and keep having to read the last whole page. That's if I remember to click on the last page in the first place

Sounds as if it's got to be done right when you go out there. I don't like the idea of going on a bus in the snow, I'd wait and save more for the 4x4 I think. Good tip about the weather, never really thought about that.
It's always interesting to hear the menu's from these foreign lands. I like to read them but I'm with you as in I'm not that adventurous when it comes to sticking it down my neck.
That blue lagoon does look like a must do. Does it cure new forum incompetence?