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 thought 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 thought what was occurring and simply assumed somebody was drilling one thing someplace.
Because it seems, we had 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 a number of hours, all rested and napped up, we went out for dinner at Islenski Barinn and that’s once we realised that there was a volcano eruption in Iceland and it simply felt so surreal.
We had been questioning if we ought to be panicked about this however the Icelandic individuals 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’ll 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 really helpful and I can verify 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 whole time we had been there.
Clearly, the earthquakes had been attributable to this volcano ready to erupt and as soon as it was finished erupting, earthquakes ceased.
The following day, once we awoke and checked the information, we noticed so many individuals had hiked to the volcano which made no sense in any respect to me.
Like why would you wanna go so near it?
Seems, it was all high-quality to do and it was such an outstanding occasion in Iceland even the locals had been doing this hike.
The same volcanic eruption had occurred the yr earlier than and because of that, the federal government had already created paths to hike to the volcano.
In order a spur-of-the-moment choice, we determined to hike to the volcano too. (Heads up – you possibly can book a tour to a volcano via the link 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 would barely stroll with out feeling such as you had been going to get blown away which truly turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Because it seems, that sturdy wind round here’s what was blowing the fumes from the volcano away so it made it secure to hike to the volcano.
The federal government was always monitoring this and when the winds modified a number of days after this, they really shut down the hikes till the winds modified once more and made it secure to hike to the volcano.
The parking state of affairs was so complicated as a result of it appeared such as you had been parking in a discipline however had been anticipated to pay.
Once we did attempt to pay, the fee would get to the ultimate web page and simply have some form of technical problem 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 choice.
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 method however I believed it was simply over the mountain so I didn’t trouble taking any snacks and even water with me.
Fortunately, Lloyd did determine to take water with him.
The hike begins off a bit steep after which while you assume it’s over, it will get even steeper.
Proper off the bat, you possibly can see the volcanic move 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 strategy this hike.
There was a path A and a path B however we didn’t know what the distinction between each paths can be.
As we carried on, it turned apparent that the volcano was quite a bit farther from the automotive park than we’d anticipated however we had been too near again down now.
Anyway in order that’s how we received 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 move from the earlier volcano eruption in Iceland however not the present one.
We then seen individuals had 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 always beneath you.
You too can really feel the warmth in sure sections of it so you realize 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 realize that it might 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 received darker you began to note how the beforehand ‘common’ part of the lava fields within the distance began to glow.
That’s while you realise that there’s precise scorching lava on what looks as if only a common lava discipline.
Once more, one more reason why it’s best to by no means hike over these fields close to a volcano eruption in Iceland.
We simply went up somewhat larger on the mountains round us to understand the view extra, even when from afar and ultimately determined it was time to hike again to the automotive.
We determined to take a unique 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 had been simply so exhausting to descend down because of the moveable rocks beneath you. It was simply exhausting.
Ultimately at round midnight we received again to the automotive, completely exhausted, scoffed down as many snacks as doable at file tempo whereas driving over to our subsequent lodge in Selfoss – The Greenhouse Lodge.
Dinner for that evening was a pack of Indomie noodles, some bananas and dried fruits.
The noodles had been a final minute genius thought we had earlier than leaving London and so they can in so extremely useful that night as a result of in every single place was closed for dinner even on the lodge.
Right here’s what we received as much as the following day in this post here.
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