Iceland; My Top Ten Things To Do!

In April we ticked off a major item in our bucket list; a trip to Iceland. Because it's such a unique and beautiful country, it's a good idea to plan in advance what you want to do. It's lucky for me then that I'm married to the world's biggest planner because we literally saw everything there is to be seen.

I'm limiting this to my top ten with some tips at the end for brevity's sake; otherwise we'd be here all year!

Reykjavik

The Blue Lagoon

We were concerned before we went to the Blue Lagoon that it would be a tourist trap but we really loved it. It's a geothermal spa and is considered one of the 25 wonders of the world. You should pre-book tickets to save disappointment and there's four options; standard, comfort, premium and luxury. We went for the comfort package which included entrance to the lagoon, a silica mud mask while you relax in the water, a free drink of your choice, an algae face mask and a towel when you get out. I can honestly say it was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable experiences ever. Sipping Prosecco while wearing a cleansing mask followed by a moisturising mask and all the time floating about in lovely warm, soothing water is the very best. It's worth every penny. We felt so refreshed after it (except that himself's shoes were stolen in the changing rooms but that's another story). The Comfort package is €65 each. 

Reykjavik Cathedral

This is a must see. Obviously the building itself is beautiful but inside, it's so peaceful and sparsely decorated. No gilding the lily for Iceland, that's for sure! Entry is free but you can pay €6 to get the lift to the top where you can see stunning views of all of Reykjavik (that's the photo at the very start).

Walk around Reykjavik

I always say that the best way to get to know a city is to walk around and see it from ground level. Reykjavik isn't huge either so you'll get a feel for the place pretty quickly. There's lots of tourist shops to pick up gifts for home but they are all quite pricey! There's also lots of very cute and interesting little clothes/homeware spots and plenty of quirky coffee places etc. It's a very colourful, lively city.

Harpa Building

The Harpa is near the docklands in Reykjavik and is a concert hall/conference centre. It's an architecturally stunning building and is more than a little surreal from the inside looking out. You can pay for a tour of the building which we didn't do but we did pay in to a David Bowie photography exhibition, which was very cool. I think Bowie would've been happy to have his portrait hanging in such a bizarrely beautiful building. 

The Northern Lights

I don't have a photo of this for one very good reason- we didn't bring the correct lens for the camera so our trusty Canon couldn't actually pick up the Lights, which is really annoying. But yes, they are beautiful. We actually saw them on our first night there, which was super handy because it meant we didn't have to stay up any other night after that in the cold! I know there are tours that will bring you out in the hopes of seeing them but I can imagine that would be costly and has a strong risk of being unsuccessful. We had rented a car so were quite free from that perspective. It is kind of the quintessential thing to do/see while you're in Iceland but it's a good idea to go into it without getting all your hopes up! Tips below on how to catch them!

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Yeah, that's right, giant blocks of ice cracking and breaking away from each other on the lagoon, then floating out to sea. The bottom photo is of more blocks of ice that were washed up onto the beach. It was surprisingly warm that day so we were just wandering around beside all this ice but sweltering in our fleeces! We could've spent all day there, it was such a striking place.

Black Sand Beach, Vik.

I think the photos speak for themselves, but to emphasise it; I haven't used a filter, it's actually that monochromatic in real life. Black and white everywhere as far as the eye can see. Again, surreally beautiful. Like so many places in Iceland, we were in awe. 

Gulfoss Waterfall

Iceland is well known for its impressive waterfalls but I'm including this particular one because it's often mentioned alongside Niagara for it's scale. It's certainly worth a visit but the wind was bitingly cold that day so I didn't get too close! Beautiful though.

Thingvellir National Park

If you're into your history and like to know the roots of the places you visit, a trip to Thingvellir National Park is the place for you. This is where the first Icelandic parliament was originally founded in 930 and remained up til 1798. That big ridge of rock you can see there is the tectonic plate boundaries of the mid Atlantic ridge. So…not something you see very day. We walked the full park and there's plenty to see as you go around, lots of photo opportunities!

Geysir Hot Springs

This is more of the geothermal water that Iceland is famous for. Deep down in the geysir, the water temperature is 125 degrees Celsius so you can imagine the pressure form all of that seriously boiling water- it's not gonna stay down there for long. Obviously stay well back and enjoy it from a safe distance! It goes off every few minutes to much hand clapping from surrounding tourists, which is understandable because it is very impressive!

Top tips!

• Be prepared for how expensive everything is. Having been to Norway before, we expected similar pricing and so we weren't surprised to see the locals buying their alcohol in the duty free when we landed, as we had seen the same in Oslo. We didn't pick up anything in the airport but it's not a bad idea to do so. We ended up stopping off at a supermarket for some craft beers and a bottle of wine that was much the same price as the airport so it hardly makes that much difference. You'll really notice the price hike when ordering a beer or a glass of wine in a restaurant, however so we ended up mostly not drinking with our meals. If you can, it's a good idea to pack a lunch for a day out and have plenty of snacks like fresh fruit with you- all available in the supermarkets, of course. Otherwise you end up eating a lot of junk food.
• Outside of Reykjavik, I could not find a decent cup of coffee for love nor money. I chanced one of the coffee machines that are at regular stops but it was vile. Save your cash and keep the memory of what coffee is supposed to be like in your mind (I'm only half joking there to be honest). Below is the delicious cup I had in Reykjavik. That cookie was good too..

• Food wise, you'll find that fish and lamb dishes tend to be the specialities. I don't eat lamb but himself enjoyed all the lamb that he tried while I revelled in big hearty bowls of fish soup after being out in the biting winds. The fish soup is kind of like a chowder, and I also had an amazing fish gratin that I'm still thinking about…We were advised by an Icelandic person not to eat whale- it's often listed on menus as a speciality but the locals frown upon it and would never eat it themselves, it's just a gimmick for tourists (a gimmick that involves killing whales). 

• We stayed in Skuggi Hotel in Reykjavik which was pretty reasonably priced, nicely decorated with friendly staff and it was centrally located but there's always Airbnb if you'd prefer your own space. When we checked in we got a booklet of discount vouchers which meant that I got 30% off my Icelandic woollen jumper! Score!

• So, the Northern Lights. You're more likely to see them at the start and at the end of the year. They're generally visible up until May but not after that so plan your dates accordingly. We went in April so I think we were just lucky really. You need a clear, dark sky and the locals should be able to tell you whereabouts they normally appear. Wrap up super warm (layers are your friend! I'm going to do a separate post on what to pack) and for the love of god, bring the right camera lens! There's also an online site that provides regular updates on the weather changes in Iceland (of which there are many) and that will give a better idea of your chances of seeing them. 
• If you're renting a car, be aware of potential add ons to the insurance when you arrive to collect it. When we got there they freaked us out completely about driving conditions- the risk of sand storms/grit storms/super strong winds that can pull your car door off etc. Basically, just drive carefully and keep an eye on that weather site I've linked in the previous bullet point.

And a waterfall rainbow for good measure!

Have you been to Iceland?

Any plans to go?

XX

Recently Read: May!

It's been a while since there was a book post around these parts, so here's all the books I read last month (sorry it's a bit late…as always).

Spectacles; a memoir by Sue Perkins
As I've mentioned before, I love autobiographies on audio because they're usually narrated by the author and tend not to require as much concentration as a work of fiction does in the same format. With this in mind and having seen plenty of positive reviews on Goodreads, I gave this a go. I've loved Sue (and also Mel, of Mel and Sue fame) since their Light Lunch days, which my sister and I used to greatly enjoy. I also love The Great British Bake Off, which is always an annual televisual highlight for me. Having said all of that, I'm not really sure what I was expecting of Sue's memoir but whatever it was, I was disappointed. It's narrated well, for sure but I felt like not that much actually happened in her life to warrant a book. That sounds harsh but a lot of her experiences seemed a bit ordinary to me, including an entire chapter donated to the story of her dog repeatedly having explosive diarrhoea in her car. It's not by any means the worst autobiography I've read but I wouldn't be going out of my way to recommend it either. (I'll take this opportunity to apologise to the aforementioned sister for buying this for her last Christmas.)

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
This was an advanced reader copy, so a huge thanks to Netgalley for that! I started reading this in January and have only just finished it, so that might give you an idea of how much I put it down to pick up something else instead. This is actually an incredibly charming novel, it was just too slowly paced for me.
Sara is a young Swedish woman who decides on a whim to visit her pen-pal and fellow book lover, Amy in her small American town, Broken Wheel. When she arrives, she finds things aren't quite what she expected and feels a bit out of place. The townsfolk however, quickly take her under their collective wing and in an effort to pay them back for their kindness, Sara responds the only way she knows how; with books. At first the locals are reluctant but Sara is determined and believes there's a book for everyone.
One of the things I really loved about this book was all the book references. Harry Potter, Jane Eyre, Bridget Jones and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, to name but a few. This is a story for people who really appreciate a good book and I love nothing more than a book about books. Have I used the word 'book' too often there? Nah, you can never say book too often.
Anyway, it moves along quite pleasantly without a huge amount happening although there is also a somewhat convoluted love story in there. Definitely a pleasant read, if you're looking for something lighthearted. 

A Book For Her by Bridget Christie
I bought this on sale on kindle for about a pound I think and it turned out to be a great purchase. The first line of the description really drew me in: "Bridget Christie is a comedian, feminist and idiot." The prologue had me laughing out loud and reading out sections to himself and the rest of the book carried on in the same thread. Similar to her stand up work, Christie manages to weave feminist issues such as female genital mutilation with humour- generally at her own expense. There's a few running gags that made me chuckle every time I came across them and some brilliant lines like:
 "I was given Catholicism by my parents, who I love. But it's a bit like being given a three legged dog. I'd rather have gone to the dogs' home and picked a dog myself, which had four legs, but we've made eye contact now. I can't just leave it there."
I loved this one, if you're into comedy and feminism (because why wouldn't you be!) then this is the book for you.

If I Did It; Confessions of the Killer (part OJ Simpson with extra commentary from The Goldman family)

A bit of background here; I recently watched The People vs OJ Simpson on BBC2, which I thought was great. I also have vague memories of the huge case that it was at the time so I wanted to read up on it a bit more. What happened with this book was that OJ Simpson had started writing it as a way to make money out of his ex wife's murder and that of Ron Goldman, the young man caught in the crossfire of Simpson's possessive rage. Most of the book is Simpson's own words; a "how-to", if he had committed the crimes. Goldman's family brought a civil case against him after he won the original case and they won this time. He owed them a huge amount of money in damages but as he showed no intention of paying it, they won the rights to this book. They've added their own comments and that of a personal friend of the family who was also a journalist involved in the court case. I listened to this on audio (obviously not narrated by Simpson), and found it almost unbearable to be listening to an abuser detail how "crazy" his ex was and how great he is and how really she was the abuser, not him etc etc. After finishing this, I couldn't actually tell you what the point of it was but I know it wasn't worth bothering with. 

A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimear McBride

This was a big award winner when it was released a couple of years ago and is the story of an incredibly grim Irish childhood. So far, so Angela's Ashes except this is written in a non-linear fashion, almost Ulysses-esque at times. I listened to this on Audio because I thought it might be easier to absorb but I think either way it would have been quite accessible- you get into the pattern of the writing quite quickly. The skill involved in the writing is obvious but I have to say I found the themes of Catholic oppression, misogyny, cancer, child abuse and sexual violence just a bit too much. 

(I'd like to take this opportunity to also apologise to my mother-in-law for buying this for her for Christmas a couple of years ago).

That's the lot for the minute. 

I've learnt that I need to stop buying my loved ones books that I haven't actually read myself….

But that aside, what are you reading right now?

To the comments!

XX

Bloom In The Park 2016

Although I've never been to Bloom before, we both had a day off work today and as the weather is SO glorious, we headed for the Phoenix Park for the 10th year of Bloom; a large outdoor and indoor event organised by Bord Bia with designer gardens, a lot of Irish food produce to sample and/or buy for later use, plants and garden decorations and equipment to buy, live cooking demonstrations, live music, a hammock and bean bag area for resting (yes, really) and a sculpture garden! Phew! I'm probably leaving something out there so if you are interested, you can have a look at their website HERE. 

For now though, here's some of our photos from the day:

I haven't shown any photos of the many food stalls, our refreshing drinks etc because they were on my phone which is now not cooperating (bar giving me the one photo of my sweating, below). Gah! However, if you want to see more of our day I'm on Snapchat @ Chloe M (Nursefancypants) and on Instagram @Nursefancypants.

If you are thinking of going, I'd highly recommend it, we really enjoyed it even though neither of us are gardeners! There's a real festival vibe to the day with people chilling out everywhere having a pint (or in my case a Dingle Gin cocktail), kids playing, lots of delicious food being eaten and overall, people just relaxing and having a good time. The garden exhibitions are just that; they're more like installation pieces in an open air gallery. Beautiful to walk through and appreciate.

On the less fun side of things; there's a free shuttle bus going from just over the bridge before Heuston station. It is free but expect queues- expect them coming back too! We had thought about walking but actually it's quite far in to the park so you might be better off just bussing it and saving your legs for walking around in there.

Prepare for the heat- bring sunscreen and a bottle of water and maybe a hat (especially for the young'uns). There's stations about the place with taps of fresh water to refill your bottles with, which is great for this weather. 

If you have one, bring one of those freezer bags you get in supermarkets to keep your chilled groceries cold. We bought butter and cheese and the butter had already started to melt, even though we bought it just before leaving, wrapped it well and thought it was protected from the heat. 

And just a plain old sturdy shopping bag, in case you do decide to do some shopping.

There are plenty of toilets, but as always, there's the same amount of men's to women's, which makes no damn sense at all. 

There were queues for the ladies toilets all day, I never once saw one for men*

Money wise, you could easily end up spending a small fortune, so set a limit and/or decide what you're interested in buying before you go in. 

You could also just eat all the samples and bring in your own sandwiches to further save some shekels but for us, getting lunch there was part of the experience. We had a big salad from The Happy Pear and some BBQ tandoori chicken and naan. Very nice. There may have also been a 99**

If you suffer from hay fever, take your antihistamines before you go in and bring them with you too!

It's €20 each for adults, open from June 2nd- June 6th, 9am to 6pm.

Have you been to Bloom? Are you going this year?

To the comments!

XX

*mutters about the patriarchy
**There was of course. It was a bloody heatwave, ice-cream all the way tbh.
*** I wasn't sponsored to write this post- we paid for our tickets in and all our own food and drinks. And it was worth EVERY PENNY! Hic.