OH YEAH!

Rob and I went to Iceland in 2017 with another couple.  It is a beautiful place.  I think “other worldly” is the best description I can come up with.  But you may be wondering what it’s like for older people.  If you come prepared, I think anyone can handle Iceland.

It’s so cold, you say.  The average temperatures aren’t much different than they are here in Missouri.  The wind does really blow though!  So wind chills are worse.  The coldest we saw was 18 F.  That was at 2:00 AM though, watching the Auroras!

We brought snow pants, good winter coats, wool socks, good gloves, insulated shoes and I bought a cool Icelandic wool hand knit stocking hat!  Layers are best, and because you may get rain not snow, any time of year, be sure to have a good rain coat.  Not just water resistant, but a rain coat.

We went in February, because we wanted a good chance to see Northern Lights.  Mid September thru Mid March is probably the best time, because you need dark skies, and the summer months have very short nights.   If Auroras are your main reason for going, check the moon phase.  You want to go when there is a NEW moon so it’s darkest.  A week either side is fine too.   There are several web pages to check what the chances are of seeing auroras.  Check those out.  Here is one we used. https://cdn.softservenews.com/free-member/aurora-borealis-forecast-3-day-bar.html   There also is a page for cloud cover forecast in Iceland that was remarkably accurate, https://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/cloudcover/     We had a rental car and found a nice dark place that was easy to get to, and decided our own itinerary, but you can take a northern lights tour and let someone else do the driving.  Most of those tours have the provision that if you don’t see lights on that night, you can come back again for free.  So do NOT wait until the last night you will be there!

A warning here though, these folks head out at a set time every day.  We watched 3 tour trucks loaded with people come up out of a ravine and head back to town, less than an hour before the clouds were supposed to clear out, according to the website.  We waited and sure enough it cleared off and we had a SPECTACULAR show right over head!

There was some ice most places when we were there.  In Reykjavik, some streets and sidewalks are heated with the geothermal water!  Near one waterfall the ice was treacherous.  We used the rope and our tripods to keep us going.  Our rental car had studded tires so no problem there, and the locals had studs in their snow boots.  If you have those slip on cleat things, that’d be great too.

There are lots of hot springs, but the most famous it the Blue Lagoon.  Swim up bar, free mud facials, it was really neat.

4 Geezers in the Blue Lagoon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We drove north to see the iconic Kirkjufells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s hard to get very far because you keep wanting to stop and look at this or that.

If this all sounds just too cold, then go in the summer!  Iceland’s summer is more like a US spring though.  You will always want to wear long pants and have a jacket.  Highs rarely get above 70 F.  That’s my kind of weather!

Do not make the mistake we did and book all your nights in one place.  The sights are all around the country.  Book 1 or 2 nights here, then move on down the road and see new stuff.  We missed a lot because of this mistake.

The food, while somewhat expensive, was very good.  Lots of lamb.  If your accommodations include breakfast, stuff yourself, take some snacks for lunch (or get an Icelandic hot dog) and then eat a nice supper.

Download Iceland’s emergency app.  You just push the button and it calls the police and tells them exactly where you are if you don’t have voice coverage.  We used it when some joy riding kids fishtailed into our rental car and didn’t want to call the police.  https://safetravel.is/112-iceland-app

So yes, with preparation Iceland is definitely for Geezers!  Do some research.  Go prepared.  If you are fairly mobile, you shouldn’t have any issues.

Waterfalls everywhere.  Landscapes out of “Game of Thrones” (did you know scenes at the Wall are filmed in Iceland?)  The original geyser.  (Geyser is an Icelandic word.)  Most people speak English.  Cell coverage on almost the entire country.  At least enough to send a text if you have car trouble.  Northern Lights.  What more could you want!  Put Iceland on your list.  It’s on our “Have to Go Back” list.