DENMARK, GREENLAND, FAROE ISLANDS & ICELAND
So as per after every trip I do a reflection post where I look back with a heavy dose of early onset nostalgia! I am currently sat on an easyJet plane heading back home, I always try and write the post as early as possible.
I WAS WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING, FROM THE START TO THE END
EXPECTATIONS
If I’m honest I didn’t have huge expectations of the trip. With Greenland and The Faroes I felt there was never going to be much to see and I was sick of hearing how good Iceland was so I had talked myself into it being a let down. How wrong I was about absolutely everything!
THE TRIP
DENMARK
Copenhagen was a great place to start, a city full of charm and character which was no more obvious than in Nyhavn.
GREENLAND
Arriving into the small town of Kangerlussaq I plenty of activities planned. To actually walk on the Ice Sheet, get up close with a glacier and see the northern lights all in one day was incredible and they all blew my expectations, I couldn’t have ask for anything else from Greenland. Add that to the incredible experience of staying in a town like Kangerlussuaq where life couldn’t be further from what I’m used to.
There are very few times I get overwhelmed when traveling. One was at the Taj Mahal where I had to take a seat just to breath and the other was quaint island in the Philippines where I was left speechless at the kindness and charm of the locals. That day in Greenland will go down as another one of those days.
At times I consider what are my 7 wonders of the world, well the Greenland ice cap for its shear size has to be one. But as it is a natural phenonium can only be regarded as a natural wonder, so after my experience with the northen lights can go right to the top of that list.
FAROE ISLANDS
Flying to the Faroes my itinerary was a little in the air with the time of year and the temperamental weather but being able to do and see everything on my list plus being absolutely blown away, both literally and figuratively with landscape that can only be described as on steroids, I could see my trip was getting better and better. The Faroes are going to take off, mark my words.
ICELAND
I was meeting my parents and sister in Rekjavik the day after they landed. They were all looking forward to it but know very well what I am like to travel with. Our first day took us to the 3rd biggest geothermal power plant in the world and then the famous plane wreck, an easy way to burn a few calories. We stayed at the Magma hotel for convenience to the impressive Eldhraun Lava fields. However the weather had different plans and the snow that night made it impossible to see them. Instead we drove further on to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon for more impressive landscapes, horses and then further onto Diamond beach.
Today was the day of hiking to Svartifoss waterfall and then to Sjonarnipa for views of the Skaftafellsjokul Glacier from above, both of which are on the same trail. As if that wasn’t enough we then drove 2 hours to the incredible picturesque landscape of Stokksnes Island. The following day had us back to Skaftafellsjokul Glacier to explore the ice caves, another must when in Iceland. Today we started to make our way back west and checked into our hotel in VIK before going to Reynisfjara Black Beach and Dyrholaey Lighthouse
BLUE LAGOON
Friday was the day of the Waterfalls and natural pool and we visited a host of them all of which offered something unique, so very difficult to choose a favourite! One of the highlights and surprises for the others was without doubt swimming between the tectonic plates. Nowhere on earth will you get clearer water than here. We also had a tour of a 5000year old lava tunnel before arriving back to Reykjavik. Money has always interested me and no more so than the financial crash back in 2008. What better place to learn about it than where it all began. What better way to finish your time in Iceland than at the Blue Lagoon, having food, a beer and a face mask.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Every trip I seem to go on with the family gets better and better. I thought I had reached the peak of holidays during my southern Africa LINK trip but I would have to say this one trump it. This also makes me release more and more than although important it’s not always where you go that’s the main thing but who you go with that makes your trip that extra bit special.
NEXT UP
The Disputed Series in January. Click to read episode one.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
138/229
This post is part of The Nordic Series, click to explore or for episode 1 click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
