Our arrival in Iceland was dramatic to, say the least – largely as a consequence of a volcano eruption in Iceland which had apparently been brewing for weeks however we had no concept about.
Because it was a reasonably early morning flight from London (the sort that it’s important to begin your day at like 3 a.m.) we simply headed straight to our lodge – the Reykjavik Konsulat Lodge, intent on having a nap earlier than going out to discover Reykjavik.
Simply as I used to be about to nod off, our lodge out of the blue began shaking and creaking.
I had no concept what was occurring and simply assumed somebody was drilling one thing someplace.
Because it seems, we have been experiencing an earthquake in Iceland.
It was one of many a whole bunch that had hit Reykjavik previously week or so however this one was significantly important as a result of this was the one which heralded the eruption of a brand new volcano not too removed from Reykjavik.
Anyway, quick ahead just a few hours, all rested and napped up, we went out for dinner at Islenski Barinn and that’s after we realised that there was a volcano eruption in Iceland and it simply felt so surreal.
We have been questioning if we must be panicked about this however the Icelandic folks within the bar didn’t appear bothered within the slightest by this.
Actually, if something, it appeared like an thrilling factor.
Anyway, we didn’t assume a lot else of it (I feel I could have posted on TikTok about it) and we simply had our meals and headed out to discover Reykjavik.
By the best way, that restaurant Islenski Barinn is so value a go to.
The meals right here is so good. It got here extremely advisable and I can affirm it’s so definitely worth the hype.
Anyway, so yeah off we went exploring Reykjavik and we didn’t really feel any extra earthquakes within the metropolis the complete time we have been there.
Clearly, the earthquakes had been brought on by this volcano ready to erupt and as soon as it was completed erupting, earthquakes ceased.
The subsequent day, after we wakened and checked the information, we noticed so many individuals had hiked to the volcano which made no sense in any way to me.
Like why would you wanna go so near it?
Seems, it was all wonderful to do and it was such an exceptional occasion in Iceland even the locals have been doing this hike.
The same volcanic eruption had occurred the yr earlier than and due to that, the federal government had already created paths to hike to the volcano.
In order a spur-of-the-moment resolution, we determined to hike to the volcano too. (Heads up – you possibly can e-book a tour to a volcano by way of the hyperlink right here).
The drive from Reykjavik to the Meradalir volcano eruption in Iceland is definitely fairly a reasonably one although the wind that day was simply doing probably the most.
You can barely stroll with out feeling such as you have been going to get blown away which really turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Because it seems, that robust wind round here’s what was blowing the fumes from the volcano away so it made it protected to hike to the volcano.
The federal government was continually monitoring this and when the winds modified just a few days after this, they really shut down the hikes till the winds modified once more and made it protected to hike to the volcano.
The parking scenario was so complicated as a result of it appeared such as you have been parking in a discipline however have been anticipated to pay.
After we did attempt to pay, the fee would get to the ultimate web page and simply have some kind of technical concern with the fee web page being unable to load.
We simply gave up on that and determined to likelihood it.
This was the place I made what was arguably a ridiculous resolution.
We thought the hike was going to be a small one and it kinda is but additionally isn’t.
The hike takes like 2.5 – 3 hours every manner however I assumed it was simply over the mountain so I didn’t hassle taking any snacks and even water with me.
Fortunately, Lloyd did resolve to take water with him.
The hike begins off a bit steep after which once you assume it’s over, it will get even steeper.
Proper off the bat, you possibly can see the volcanic circulation from the preview volcano eruption and it’s such an odd surreal sea of black lava strewn alongside the valley between these hills/mountains.
The hike then peters off in inclination and that is the purpose when you possibly can catch your breath and begin to respect the view round you correctly.
At this level, we kinda realised that there have been two methods to method this hike.
There was a path A and a path B however we didn’t know what the distinction between each paths could be.
As we carried on, it grew to become apparent that the volcano was quite a bit farther from the automotive park than we’d anticipated however we have been too near again down now.
Anyway in order that’s how we acquired there and I used to be like “Wait a second, why is that this volcano angle so totally different to what we noticed on the information?”.
It simply appeared a lot additional away, even with a zoom lens and there didn’t appear to be any clear path to it.
Seems, the trail we’d taken was the one to see the lava circulation from the earlier volcano eruption in Iceland however not the present one.
We then seen folks have been strolling over the lava discipline and thought perhaps it made sense to strive.
Spoiler alert – it doesn’t.
The rocks from these are so friable and can crack continually beneath you.
You too can really feel the warmth in sure sections of it so you recognize there’s in all probability some exercise beneath it.
Even from the sting of it, you possibly can see how some sections are hole so you recognize that it will probably break at any cut-off date and when it does, the perimeters are fairly sharp.
We in a short time determined it didn’t make any sense to do that and simply stayed again and appreciated the view from a distance.
Because it acquired darker you began to note how the beforehand ‘common’ part of the lava fields within the distance began to glow.
That’s once you realise that there’s precise sizzling lava on what looks like only a common lava discipline.
Once more, one more reason why you must by no means hike over these fields close to a volcano eruption in Iceland.
We simply went up a bit of increased on the mountains round us to understand the view extra, even when from afar and finally determined it was time to hike again to the automotive.
We determined to take a special route again earlier than the route we took simply appeared so lengthy.
The route again was each bit as lengthy, perhaps even longer and had bits of it that have been simply so laborious to descend down due to the moveable rocks beneath you. It was simply exhausting.
Finally at round midnight we acquired again to the automotive, completely exhausted, scoffed down as many snacks as potential at file tempo whereas driving over to our subsequent lodge in Selfoss – The Greenhouse Lodge.
Dinner for that night time was a pack of Indomie noodles, some bananas and dried fruits.
The noodles have been a final minute genius concept we had earlier than leaving London and so they can in so extremely helpful that night as a result of in all places was closed for dinner even on the lodge.
Right here’s what we acquired as much as the following day in this publish right here.
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