Snapshot of Iceland: Background

I wasn't planning to travel to Iceland. I was teaching in rural Alaska and planning my move back to California. I was saving money for my move.

Prometheus

I was watching the opening scene in the movie "Prometheus". The scene was panning this magnificent landscape and stopping at the biggest waterfall I had ever seen. I was wondering where on earth this was filmed. I was sure the waterfall had been CGIed. I looked it up online and found out, no, that was in fact a real waterfall in Iceland called Dettifoss. I was impressed.

Then I was looking at my Yahoo news feed and I saw an article about places people really need to see.....and Iceland was on that list. I felt it call to me.

Now, one of the reasons that I don't travel is that I don't have anyone to go with me. I normally put it out of my head because it's just not going to happen.

But could I go alone? A travel article online said that a single woman would be safe in Iceland.

Should I wait until next year after my move? A voice inside me said, "NO!"

I needed to go to Iceland. I can't tell you why I felt that way but it was something I had to do.

So, within a week I had booked my flight and hotel in Reykjavik. I booked everything myself and according to the travel packages I found online, I did it saving $2,000-$3,000. I booked the flight of of Icelandic Air using their calendar of prices. I picked the cheapest flight. It was "off season" but the peak season would have been only a week later. I was trying to research hotels and found that most of them were booked up (probably for other travel packages because tourist season was not yet in full swing) so I jumped on a good hotel.

My research

I ordered a couple of travel guides and a 'How to Speak Icelandic' cd series. I watched a ton of videos on Youtube about Iceland. I booked connected to a local in Reykjavik through Guide to Iceland. She was very helpful and gave me ideas on what to do and see based on what I was looking for. 

I was very thoughtful about my tours. Dettifoss was in Northern Iceland, which would have meant a bus ride and an overnight during the week. I decided to pass on that and just stay in Reykjavik and take day tours from there. In retrospect, I do wish I had gone to see it. But, I still had a great trip. 

The website has been updated, but I did find the actual tour links through the bus company, Grayline:

South Coast, Waterfalls, & Glacier Hike ~ I wanted to see the waterfalls Skogafoss & Seljalandsfoss. I thought the Glacier Hike sounded cool too. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" was filmed at Skogafoss...and other places.

Landmannalaugar Geothermal Area ~ This tour looked very cool, and I wanted an opportunity to try going in a Hot Spring. And there was another waterfall on the trip. There's one part you pass where they filmed "Thor 2".

The Blue Lagoon & Golden Circle ~ This was my last tour and it is THE tour to go on. You spend the morning at the world famous spa, The Blue Lagoon, and then tour the 'Golden Circle' which consists of a massive waterfall, Gullfoss. And you get to see Geysir...and other geysers...plus, you drive through a part of Iceland where the North American continental plate meets the European continental plate (okay they are technically drifting away as opposed to meeting but whatever).

I booked my tours every other day so that I could go out & experience Reykjavik. For that day, I planned to check out museums and go whale watching. 

Now a note: there is a famous penis museum in Iceland, called the Icelandic Phallological Musuem. (warning: link shows several specimens) It's basically the largest collection of different animal penises in the world....in jars & whatnot. I debated going there because it would be something to say I went there and the I could only imagine what that gift shop would look like. But medical specimens in jars grosses me out. I don't like to watch medical shows on TV, and I even cover my face in parts of "Grey's Anatomy". So, I decided beforehand that I would not be checking out that museum. 

My trip was set. I was so excited!