2017 in Iceland
On December 26, 2017, I took an overnight flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Keflavik Airport near Reykjavik, Iceland which resulted in the visit of my 18th unique country:
This made it my:
- 1st time in Iceland
- 3rd time in Europe
- 2002 in UK + 2014 tour
- 2nd time experiencing New Year's Eve outside my hometown
- 2015-2016 in New York City
- 1st time experiencing New Year's Eve outside my home time zone
- 1st time in Iceland
Visit
The premise of the trip actually coincided with a desire to see Sigur Rós perform in their home country, as well as visiting their country all to itself. To top it off, this trip would end with celebrating New Year's Eve in Reykjavik.
Itinerary
- 2017-12-26
- Flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Keflavik (KEF)
- 2017-12-27
- Shuttle and self-tour of Reykjavik
- Hallgrimskirkja : cathedral observation tower
- Harpa : Sigur Rós concert
- Shuttle and self-tour of Reykjavik
- 2017-12-28
- South Coast tour
- Skogafoss (waterfall)
- Reynisfjara (black sand beach)
- Solheimajökull (glacial hike)
- Aurora borealis chasing (did not see northern lights)
- South Coast tour
- 2017-12-29
- Golden Circle tour postponed to 12-31 due to misunderstanding
- Shopping and dining in Reykjavik
- Lucky Records
- Hereford Steikhús
- Dinner including puffin and whale steak
- Aurora borealis chasing (did not see northern lights)
- 2017-12-30
- Cafe Loki
- fermented shark tasting
- Norður og Niður (North and down) indoor music festival
- Cafe Loki
- 2017-12-31
- Golden Circle tour (originally scheduled for 12-29)
- Thingvellir (rock formations)
- Gullfoss (waterfall)
- Geysir (geyser)
- New Year's Eve!
- Flugbjörgunarsveitin (fireworks purchase at the search and rescue centre)
- Golden Circle tour (originally scheduled for 12-29)
- 2018-01-01
- Blue Lagoon (geothermal outdoor swimming pool)
- swimming outdoors on new year's day in the Arctic!
- Blue Lagoon (geothermal outdoor swimming pool)
- 2018-01-02
- Last look at Reykjavik
- Flight home
Reflection
Without a doubt, I knew from the first trip that I already wanted to visit Iceland again.
If I could do it over again, I would recommend doing it in this order:
- Reykjavik tour (for time zone and cultural acclimatization)
- Golden Circle (a first impression of natural Iceland)
- South Coast (a second, more spectacular impression of natural Iceland)
- Northern lights chasing (in the winter)
- Experience Harpa and rural Iceland like a local
Having the Sigur Rós concert closer to the end would also have made it a more memorable experience. Severe jet lag and lack of sleep on the first evening in Iceland almost ruined the show for me!
Still, I enjoyed this trip as it capped off a year of travel to naturally exotic places, recalling the trip to Yellowstone just a few months before!
I ended up going to Iceland again in the winter of 2021 !