Our Travels in Iceland: Day 1
(Travel advice for family trips in Iceland)
After 24-hours of flying, all three of us (myself, mom, and dad) met up in the Keflavik airport in Iceland. Outside, the world was a gray, lost in a thick and endless cloud.
We walked through sheets of rain to a tiny car (not the car my parents had intended to reserve weeks before). Something had gone awry with their reservation and it had not appeared to exist in the system when they’d arrived—hours earlier than I had—at the airport. So they’d spent the past five hours figuring out how to get a car so that we’d be able to drive 2.5+ hours to Stykkishólmur.
Iceland advice #1: Prior to arriving in Iceland, ALWAYS check for your confirmation code. If there is no confirmation email, you do not have a reservation. This goes for cars, tours, and anything else that requires booking in advance.
Driving to Iceland’s west coast:
As my mom re-familiarized herself with driving manual, Iceland decided to throw in another challenge. Round-abouts. We came across roundabout after roundabout after roundabout as we drove north west toward Stykkishólmur.
Grasping the wheel, she twisted her head to ensure that cars weren’t racing around the circle before shifting and twisting around and heading straight on once more.
Iceland advice #2: Prepare yourself for roundabouts
The weather didn’t help to lessen the anxiety during this drive. With the landscape blurred in rolling gray fog, we all silently wondered to ourselves, what is this trip going to be like? Will we be in constant downpours as we try to witness the beauty of this land? Will every sight-seeing tour be a quick huddle outside the car before jumping back inside?
Finally, as we began to near the little seaside town of Stykkishólmur, the sun started to peek through the clouds. We drove past the Bakery, the Bonus grocery store, a little restaurant, and café, up a little hill until we came to the small pink cottage that we’d rented for the next two nights.
Iceland advice #3: Get to the grocery store on time
Its pitched green roof and white box windows were picturesque to say the least. Parking in the gravel lot outside, we walked up to the door and checked ourselves in. Inside, we dropped our things then decided to rush out to the grocery store before it closed at 6pm. Everything in Iceland closes a bit earlier than we’re used to.
And because eating out is a pricey activity in this country, we knew that we’d want to make our breakfasts and lunches at our Airbnb. Especially since the following day would be spent driving along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (and would require snacks!).
Since I’d been to Iceland before, I’d also mentioned to my parents that it’s not easy to find beer or liquor. However, this Airbnb had been advertised as being close to a liquor store, so our fears were quelled. That is… until we realized that at 6pm at night, no Icelandic liquor store was open.
So, that left us with only one option: head to a restaurant after grocery shopping in order to enjoy some Icelandic beers.
And that’s exactly what we did.
After struggling to lock the house (my advice here? Read the instructions that the Airbnb owner leaves. He wrote them for a reason and they’ll most likely explain the tricky nuances of the house), we walked over to the little blue house in which the restaurant Narfeyrarstofa was located. Inside, we found an adorable setting of small tables with wooden bistro chairs, each lit with a Scandinavian style round pendant light.
Iceland advice #4: If you go to Stykkishólmur, eat at Narfeyrarstofa (and order the scallops)
There, we ordered three fantastic meals: fresh scallops from the waters just down the road, homemade falafels, and a lamb burger. We also ordered a beer each (which then turned into two beers each).
Everything was so delicious and felt like a relaxing end to a less-than-smooth start to our trip.
Unfortunately, I decided to get into an argument with my mom about women’s rights (because what would an amazing trip to Iceland be without an unnecessary argument?).
I think yelled RUTH BATER GINSBERG at one point. Needless to say, we walked out of that restaurant in stony silence and created an even heavier storm than the one we’d driven through.
Iceland advice #5: If you’re feeling angry, just take in the scenery
Still, we filled the hot tub and took some time to cool down and talk about the fight. When the pool was heated and filled, we sat inside and looked out over the tall swaying grasses to the dark water. A small gray cottage with a pointed roof was a silhouette against the backdrop with nearby islands standing out against the sky as it turned pink with the sunset. It was breathtaking really and showcased for us in our own private hideaway.
And everything was okay.
It was impossible to feel anything apart from awe when staring out at the beauty of the world that surrounded us. Children played on the rocky hill up the street, birds soared over the sea, and the sky flashed purple, fuchsia, and dandelion.
Iceland trip DAY ONE: Definitely an odd melding of experiences. Exhaustion, anger, sadness, awe, delight, peace.
What would a McKillop trip be without all of the above?
