Another Icelandic Road Trip

Akureyri (A-cure-you-ree or Ack-you-rare-ee depending on who you talk to) was, decidedly, our most beautiful stop yet. The view from our ship in the morning was simply majestic. The snowcapped mountains rose above the still inland waterways that we sailed in on.

We made the mistake of not planning an excursion of any sort here, and our last minute efforts to book a car were fruitless. So we set out into the great unknown in the morning. We took a chance on a Europcar rental place at the port. They were able to squeeze us into a European style Corolla (which is like a VW Golf in size and shape). It was super cheap. I'd imagine it would have been even cheaper if we had booked in advance. Highly recommend, just make sure you buy the premium insurance, as we have been warned that some of these places will try to catch you without it when a piece of gravel chips the window. So we got our car and set out; after all, what is a Bracciale family summer without a road trip?

We headed for the famous Goðafoss "Waterfall of the Gods." The waterfall was like a mini version of Niagara Falls, with its horseshoe shape and powerful roar. We viewed it from above, where we sat on rocks surrounded by water that would soon be tumbling down. The water was ice blue, cold, and crisp, as was the air. The volcanic rock formations all around the waterfall were black and covered in moss. We enjoyed our time there before setting off through the mountains for Lake Myvatn. This crystal clear lake was surrounded by pillars of volcanic rock painted with orange lichens and surrounded by yellow and white wild flowers. It was so serene and beautiful.

Our drive back included hundreds of horses, thousand of sheep, and plenty of beautiful little isolated mountain houses. Next we visited the Akureyri Botanical Gardens, the northernmost bontical garden in the world. If you know my mother, you know she was in her element. The garden featured a very wide variety of indigenous and foreign specimens, all beautiful and healthy. The climate is so vastly different in Iceland that I was very surprised to see hibiscus and citrus trees.

After this, we drove through the quaint little town of Akureyri and back to our port. Favorite things about this town: the stoplights are shaped like hearts. So random, but so adorable. The Europcar rental area had a key drop in the door because we returned after hours. We very much enjoyed our experience with this company and would absolutely rent again. Back on the ship, we marveled at the beauty of the coastline that we passed on the way out of the area.

By the end of our time in Iceland, I had collected a postcard, some local currency, lots of photos, and unforgettable memories - always my souvenirs of choice. If you have a souvenir of choice, what is it?

From: The Expeditioner