 I have been blessed to visit Iceland twice. My first experience was in 2014 on a short stopover on my way back from visiting the UK. I only had two night so my trip was a whirlwind. I opted for a Golden Circle Tour to see some of the sights on my list and I loved it. The next day I spent alone exploring Reykjavik - I was not disappointed ! This was a great trip and I vowed to come back and explore more with Gene. We were blessed to do just that and spent 3 days exploring more of what Iceland has to offer. One of the things on my wish list was walking on the black beaches of Vik – it was amazing……  Where to begin........If you are in Iceland for only a short time I would chose a couple of tours to see as much as you can. Personally I loved the Golden Circle on my first visit to Iceland as I had a short time and wanted to see as much as possible. On our next trip we rented a car and we were able to see highlights of the Golden Circle but also headed to the south to see the glaciers and beaches of this area. Wherever you go in Iceland the sights are breathtaking. I would recommend setting one day aside to explore the wonderful city of Reykjavik  We began our day in Reykjavik at the Opera which is on the waterfront. This is a stunning building and from here you can easily head down the road to the next stop on our itinerary- Sun Voyager (Icelandic: Sólfar). This is the famous sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason, located next to the Sæbraut road in Reykjavík  From here we headed up....... Up a very large hill in search of Hallgrímskirkja. www.hallgrimskirkja.is/ Once at the top you will be rewarded by the magesty of Hallgrimskirkja.We opted to enjoy the view from a fabulous little Cafe Loki. This is a great place to view the stunning church and enjoy delicious coffee and pasteries. This is a Lutheran parish church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 74.5 meters (244 ft.) high, it is the largest church in Iceland and among the tallest structures in Iceland. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson . Once you have explored the beauty of the church be sure to head a little ways around the corner to the side of the church where you will be welcomed by a beautiful sculpture garden worth stoppoing for. Some of the sculptures in the garden behind the Eina Jensson Museum. There is no charge to visit the garden or the Lutheran church.
Next we headed down one of Reykjavik’s busy shopping streets as we headed toward The Old Harbor. Next Stop Lunch at The Old Harbor The Old Harbor is a great place to visit with lots of restaurants offering 2 course meals for reasonable prices. There are lots of tours that can be purchased here for trips to Puffin Island and Whale Watching.
Where to Stay................Iceland is expensive Iceland but I managed to find two hotels for a reasonable prices and they offered en-suite rooms which is not always the case in Iceland. When I visited Iceland alone I stayed at Nardurey Hotel in Hafnafjorur. This was a great option as it was a short bus ride to Reykjavik and the tour company picked me up and dropped me off here for The Golden Circle tour. This hotel was very clean and comfortable and offered a good variety at breakfast. Service was friendly and informative. nordurey.is/ Geo Hotel in Grindvik was just wonderful. This place was in a beautiful coastal town with lots of places to explore locally and some wonderful restaurant options. We loved staying here as it was a great location for touring, also not far from the airport and if you want to spend time at the Blue Lagoon this is a very short drive (they also provide shuttles).The rooms were spotless and very comfortable and breakfast delicious. Highly recommend this hotel if you have a car rental.  Geo Hotel, Grindvik If you are in Grindavik this café is a must. Not only is the food delicious and reasonably priced the location is beautiful. Cafe Bryggjan serves the best lobster soup .The service here is friendly and the food lovely. We went regularly and were treated so well. I will say don’t let anyone talk you into fermented shark………….I regret trying it to this day!!!!  The walk upto Cafe Bryggjan. Must See Sights......On the Road- Heading South......On our last trip to Iceland one of my goals was to walk on the back sand beach of Vik. What we weren’t expecting was the stunning sights along the way. This was a breathtaking trip travelling in a tiny car and we had a blast…….   And We Made It...................Vik On both occasions that I have been blessed with stopovers in Iceland I have had a blast. I fell in love with the country and the people. I do hope to return but next time in the winter I can’t wait to see Iceland and all it has to offer at that time especially the Northern Lights. So until next time as they say in Iceland “Takk Fyrir Síðast”  Bernie PrestaExploring the world one trip at a time.
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