Our arrival in Iceland was dramatic to, say the least – largely on account of a volcano eruption in Iceland which had apparently been brewing for weeks however we had no thought about.
Because it was a fairly early morning flight from London (the type that it’s a must to begin your day at like 3 a.m.) we simply headed straight to our lodge – the Reykjavik Konsulat Resort, 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 lots of that had hit Reykjavik up to now week or so however this one was notably vital 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 couple of 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 had been questioning if we must be panicked about this however the Icelandic individuals within the bar didn’t appear bothered within the slightest by this.
The truth is, 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 way in which, that restaurant Islenski Barinn is so price a go to.
The meals right here is so good. It got here extremely beneficial and I can affirm it’s so well 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 brought on by this volcano ready to erupt and as soon as it was carried out 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 anyway to me.
Like why would you wanna go so near it?
Seems, it was all effective to do and it was such an exceptional occasion in Iceland even the locals had been doing this hike.
An analogous volcanic eruption had occurred the 12 months 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 determination, we determined to hike to the volcano too. (Heads up – you’ll be able to 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 fairly one although the wind that day was simply doing probably the most.
You may 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 protected to hike to the volcano.
The federal government was consistently monitoring this and when the winds modified a couple of 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 state of affairs was so complicated as a result of it appeared such as you had been parking in a area however had been anticipated to pay.
After we did attempt to pay, the cost would get to the ultimate web page and simply have some form of technical subject with the cost 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 determination.
We thought the hike was going to be a small one and it kinda is but in addition isn’t.
The hike takes like 2.5 – 3 hours every manner however I believed 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 whenever you assume it’s over, it will get even steeper.
Proper off the bat, you’ll be able to see the volcanic move from the preview volcano eruption and it’s such a wierd 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’ll be able to catch your breath and begin to admire 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 grew to become apparent that the volcano was lots 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 obtained 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 observed individuals had been strolling over the lava area and thought perhaps it made sense to strive.
Spoiler alert – it doesn’t.
The rocks from these are so friable and can crack consistently beneath you.
It’s also possible to really feel the warmth in sure sections of it so there’s in all probability some exercise beneath it.
Even from the sting of it, you’ll be able to see how some sections are hole so that it will possibly break at any time limit 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 obtained darker you began to note how the beforehand ‘common’ part of the lava fields within the distance began to glow.
That’s whenever you realise that there’s precise sizzling lava on what looks like only a common lava area.
Once more, another excuse why you must by no means hike over these fields close to a volcano eruption in Iceland.
We simply went up slightly greater 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 distinct 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 onerous to descend down due to the moveable rocks beneath you. It was simply exhausting.
Ultimately at round midnight we obtained 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 Resort.
Dinner for that night time 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 helpful that night as a result of in all places was closed for dinner even on the lodge.
Right here’s what we obtained as much as the following day in this publish right here.
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