A clear day in Iceland! Hooray!!! (Golden Circle...Take 2)

We slept in and enjoyed an absolutely glorious amount of sleep!  Shockingly we all woke up at 11:15...which was when the sun came up! 

When we woke up we all discovered...it was beautiful outside!  We could actually see mountains, that were "rainbow" because of the sunset amongst the backdrop of Reykjavik!  We all woke up and decided to make the trek out to the second half of the Golden Circle!  We were suppose to visit the whole thing on Friday when we flew in...but getting the car stuck in the snow for several hours put that plan to shame.  So...we decided today, to set out and actually see the Geysir and Gulfoss falls.  On the way out of town we visited Hallgrimskirkja - which is a beautiful, modern Lutheran church in the heart of Reykjavik.  It is the largest church in Iceland and if you discount the radio towers, the tallest building.  And!  You can take an elevator to the top!  So we did!  And got to love the stunning views of the city!  We were so excited it was clear enough to see...well, anything!

Then, we started driving.  It was a longer drive than anticipated...but we couldn't believe that what looked like white fields and mist two days prior was actually gorgeous snowy plains with beautiful snowy mountains all around - it really was stunning and so exciting to suddenly see everything!  We stopped at a few of the more scenic lookouts and eventually made it to a stretch where we would suddenly see steam furiously rising up out of the ground - we had made it to the geysir!  yay!  We couldn't believe the energy as the water bubbled and bubbled and then shot up out of the ground so suddenly!  We were standing just feet away too - it was crazy!

We made it to Gulfoss Falls - which were AMAZING just before sundown...or, well, before the sunlight was gone.  This was by far the largest and most powerful falls I have ever been too (I haven't been to Niagara) and it was really cool!  We also dealt with incredibly slick sheets of ice that one had to navigate to get to both the Geysir and Gulfoss...and we may or may not have had a few hilarious moments of slipping, penguin walking, sliding...you name it. 

Tonight we enjoyed reservations at an awesome, trendy restaurant called the "Grill Market" (we tried to go last night and had to make reservations for tonight)...we enjoyed a mix of Minke Whale, puffin burgers, what Becky has proclaimed to be the best calamari ever, dried fish, deliciously marinated salmon, cod, monkfish, amazing lamb, fantastic beef tenderloin, duck, lobster... it was pretty ridiculously awesome!  We all left wonderfully and decadently stuffed.  A fantastic last dinner in Iceland! 



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Trekking the Solheimajokull Glacier!

Today was awesome!  I will let the album of photos speak for itself, but I can say - we give Arctic Adventures a thumbs up!  We were AMAZED by the natural of the blue ice of the Solheimajokull Glacier that was lightly dusted (and heavily covered in some parts) in volcanic ash and rock...which honestly made it that much cooler.  There are many active volcanoes in the area, but the Eyjafjallajokull volcano (that erupted in 2010) were quite close...and still bring ash to this glacier.

It did rain.  The entire time.  So we were very wet.  And we definitely learned the points of failure or success rate of absolutely all of our gear.  ...Sadly.  Many failed.

The camera survived.  The pictures may or may not be great.  When we would pull the camera out we had about one second to take a photograph before there was mist/rain on the lens.  So...just appreciate what we got.  :)

Overall...we had a fantastic time! The blue ice was stunning, hiking along the icy ridges with crampons was crazy and amazing (intimidating at times when were were walking down hill or uphill on incredibly slick ice...or when we walked over a spot that was clear), ice climbing was challenging and exhilarating, and overall, we really had a great time!  We got to see all kinds of formations around the glacier and did quite a bit of marveling!  We also stopped at an amazing gushing waterfall on the way back. 

Last night we had a great dinner (fish buffet for many, meat we self-cooked on hot lava rocks for others...which is an Icelandic tradition for special occasions).  We enjoyed an evening out on the town and got to witness the crazy late night scene, even if we weren't fully in the midst of all of it.  It was a great day.

Click Me to Enjoy the pictures!  :)

Day 1 in Iceland...

Conclusions after Day 1 in Iceland:

1.  It is very icy.
2.  Cars get stuck in the snow.
3.  Some people's waterproof shoes are not really waterproof
4.  An ice scraper works as an excellent instrument to dig out snow from under the car
5.  Even if they are in a hurry, Icelandic strangers who are not happy that you flagged them down will tie ropes to your car and help pull you free
6.  Making phone calls is easy... yes.  I have made several very random phone calls today.  They answer in Icelandic, but do an excellent job of switching to English.
7.  They don't sell bread or beer in the grocery store.
8.  If you step off the path the snow is potentially past your thigh...
9.  Layers are awesome. 

Today was an interesting one.  Everyone is wiped out but absolutely fine.  Some articles of clothing are far more wet than others.  We froze a bit, we laughed a lot, we marveled at the raw beauty of Iceland.   This site explains the Rift Valley at Thingvellier a bit more...

The Rift Valley in Thingvellier National Park where the American and European tectonic plates meet

The Rift Valley in Thingvellier National Park where the American and European tectonic plates meet

Daniel using his fleece as a scarf in desperation...It's cold!!!

whoops.  look out Chris

Becky championed this formation

beautiful!

loving the scenary

enjoying Thingvellier!

Me digging out the car...or at least trying to

Awed by the Austrian Alps!

1st of January, 2012:  Originally, we had hoped to go skiing this day - if we skied on the mountain on the other side of the river we could actually walk to the cable car from our hotel and take the cars right up to the top.  So, we donned our gear and headed out...only to find out that due to avalanche warnings/threats we couldn't ski that mountain.  Other areas were open...but it was already after noon...and if you remember how long it took to reach the slopes the previous day...it really wasn't looking good.  But!  We found out we could still take the cable car to the top to look around if we wanted.  Now...I knew that Innsbruck was tucked amongst a stunning mountain range...we had driven past it two years ago and I had drooled...a lot.  So far on our trip we had a clear day in Geneva, a really foggy day in Bern, medium fog in Lucerne, very snowy in Engelberg, and snowy in Innsbruck.  We really had not seen the crystal clear dramatic snow caps I was dreaming of...and here, we couldn't ski...and the weather was clearing more and more and more...(the image above was the view from our room as we headed out) and we decided very excitedly to ditch our ski stuff and grab our camera and the lenses and head out and make the most of our afternoon.  ...It was amazing!  We took the cable car from Congress Station to Hungerburg, changed cable cars and went up to Seegrube (where most people would ski from)...and at this point it was breathtaking...absolutely stunning.  And steadily clearing more and more and more.  Then we took the cable car up one more stop to Hafelekar - essentially the top of the mountain...so high that when we climbed up (which was nervewracking given all the fresh snow they have had and the fact that there were avalanche warning signs everywhere)...but you could actually see what was on the OTHER side of the mountain!  and it was...incredible!  One of the absolute most spectacular views I have ever seen and it was truly amazing and awesome.  :)  After all this we swung through old town Innsbruck - during daylight! and were able to climb the tower and see the city with the panorama mountain ranges all around it...truly glorious!  A wonderful way to start 2012...a year we hope will be a year of positive changes and opportunities for us.  :)

heading up the cable cars

AMAZING views!

they had an igloo ice bar at the Seegrube level

Daniel put the telephoto lens to work...our hotel is just behind that bridge to the right

:)

We took the cable car up to this point - Hafelekar.  From here is one of the steepest ski slopes in all of Europe (see warning below)

Daniel thought the warnings were all about the destruction he might cause...really it's an avalanche warning sign!

the other side of the mountain

Innsbruck is the city in the valley - this is probably my favorite picture from the entire trip

Innsbruck

Innsbruck

Altstadt (old town) from the Stadttower

Innbruck from the tower :)

Little tiny door

walking around town - gorgeous!

this is where we stayed!

Innsbruck, Austria = Awesome

The 30th and 31st of December, 2011

When people have asked me “if you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?” I have taken the question very seriously…because honestly, living in another country is a very true and dear dream for us.  For the past year or so my answer has been Austria.  We have been to Austria several times and each time have been enamored by the beauty of it, by the spirit in the air, and have absolutely loved the quaintness and amazing sense of tradition and history within the towns.  (Vienna is a city of grandeur and splendor).  So…as we were arriving in Austria this time…I had a pretty critical eye and was waiting to be “proven wrong” about where I have been stating I would love to live…but honestly?  Within the first thirty minutes we were in the country I couldn’t stop saying…  I really really love Austria! 

Innsbruck is fantastic.  And our hotel and its location were absolutely amazing.  As we set out for Altstadt (Old Town) and it was absolutely enchanting and beautiful and I really had my magic Europe moment of the trip as we turned down alley after alley and found beautiful shops and streets draped in Christmas light glittering from head to toe.  Innsbruck’s Christmas market was also amazing!  Full of delicious hot glühwiens and wonderfully yummy snacks of bratwursts and apfelstruedels.  The wares they were selling were also far better priced than in Switzerland and I was able to pick a prized Christmas ornament of the trip for myself.  It was snowing, the lights were glittering, I was clutching my mug of hot glühwien and enjoying a hot apfelstreudel – I had made it to magic Europe!  :)

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But!  It was New Year’s Eve!  So we showered and geared up for festivities – we found out our hotel was going to be in the center of it all and that the fireworks were going off across from the bridge.  There were vendors all over serving all kinds of yummy food and drinks and we decided tonight was definitely a street food night.  Overall New Year’s Eve was a lot of fun – possibly the most fun of any we have had.  It was just cold enough that we didn’t want to be out all night…but we would go out for 30-60 minutes and enjoy the atmosphere and duck back into our hotel room for a little while to warm up again and then head back out – it made it very comfortable and a lot of fun.  We rang in the New Year at a grand stand with a performer and dancers (who were more or less lip syncing to DJed music) and a crowd that was dancing up a storm – mainly to American music.  No lie…when we were under five minutes the song that was playing was Sweet Home Alabama!  And then the crowd counted down and it was 2012 and fireworks were going off all over as the music changed to Austria’s famous “The Beautiful Blue Danube” song was playing. We broke out our mini bottles of champagne and toasted to a new year of opportunity and adventure and soaked in the jubilant spirit of the crowd as the fireworks crackled overhead!  

The party continued into the night but we headed back to crash and get some amazing sleep despite the fact that the sound of the music and the crowds was roaring right outside our window.  All in all…one of the coolest New Year’s Eves we have ever had!  :)

Click here to enjoy our album!  :)