Iceland Vacations
Vacation Ideas

I checked them out and I was happy find round-trip tickets from Boston that easily fit in my small budget. I was quite surprised because this was less than six weeks in advance. It was a great deal as even domestic flights often cost much more.

Upon arrival in Iceland, I explored Reykjavik--the nation's capitol--and especially its main shopping street. This is the famous Laugavegur and it was quite a thrill.

Next I caught a bus to the small and beautiful town of Vík í Myrdal.

This was not your typical bus. A small company provides mail services along the southern coast of Iceland. They also take passengers along to fill extra seats. It made for a unique and quite interesting experience.

My fellow travelers seemed to be regulars who used the bus to commute to their remote homes in lieu of automobiles or to visit the city from villages along the way. This gave me good opportunity to interact with the locals.

The town of Vík is an absolutely enchanting traditional fishing village on the southern tip of Iceland.

There may not at first appear to be an awful lot to do, but the people of the town are amazing and friendly people if you can manage to get them talking.

Along the ocean there are miles and miles of gorgeous black sand beaches with crystal clear North Atlantic water and glacial brooks draining into the sea.

Within ten miles of Vík there are many hiking trails, one of the largest glaciers on the island (Myrdalsjökull), the geological formations Dyrhólæy, Reynisdrangar, and away in the distance, the monolithic Hjörleifshöfdi.

The village itself is situated in a valley between two steep ridges and is populated by traditional corrugated tin houses and its iconic white and red church.

In the warmer season, greenery is everywhere. In the winter months, the place is a wonderland of ice and snow sharply contrasted by the black rocks and soil. Overall I highly recommend Vik as a destination for anyone planning Iceland vacations.

Upon returning to Reykjavik, the glories of Iceland continued. I was fortunate enough to know some of the native language and have a friend who lived downtown.

Highlights from my Iceland vacations time in the capitol include

• Trolling the numerous coffeehouses--most of which serve wonderful local beer as well. Some of my favorites are Café Rót, Hljómalind, and Uncle Tom's Cabin.
• Visiting on a daily basis the public swimming pools and hot springs.
• Enjoying the local cuisine which centers around freshly caught fish and hearty lamb stews.
• Enjoying life-changing views of the northern lights with some locals. This can truly be a turning point for anyone.
• Gazing out at the cerulean blue seas and the stark volcanic terrain.
• The museums and local art and music were invariably breathtaking.

Reykjavik manages to maintain a mystical small-town, Scandinavian feel while offering all the benefits of a modern place.

The only issues are the cost of food--not significantly higher than expensive American cities like New York or Boston--and travel outside of Reykjavik.

The city itself has an excellent and relatively inexpensive bus system--the rocky geography makes rail a practical impossibility--but beyond Reykjavik's limits there are only expensive tours and mail buses like the one I took.

Even traveling from the airport can be a costly ordeal depending on the strength of the Króna, Iceland's national currency. That aside, Iceland is an absolutely amazing place to visit.

I recommend brushing up on the basics of Icelandic, no easy feat, and simply being brave enough to say yes to all things the locals may dare you to do.

Hákarl and Brennevín really are not so bad as legend makes them to be--and if you do not know what these things are, visit and you will quickly find out! I am so happy with my Iceland vacations experience.

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