reykjaviknickelle

[reykjaviknickelle]

Let Me Introduce Myself

Hello. My name is Nickelle, and I am 21 years old. Currently, I am in the second year of my studies; focused on international tourism management, at the University of Central Lancashire. In my spare time, I also work as a part-time bartender and waitress. However, when I am not doing either of these things I enjoy getting lost in nature, eating lots – I mean lots - of tasty food and exploring new places.

My Expectations of Iceland

The largest expectation I hold for Iceland is regarding the scenery. As I have researched it - during my first year of study- and have seen many posts about the varied Icelandic landscapes. I hope to see as many of the vast natural elements as possible, Including lakes, the geyser hot springs, Gulfoss waterfall, volcanoes and the Aurora Borealis. Another expectation I have for Iceland is to try traditional and famous foods in Iceland, however, I do not eat fish. So, I would focus on trying foods such as ice cream which is eaten there all year round. Kleinas (Icelandic doughnuts) are a popular Scandinavian pastry. Finally, I would like to try the rye hot bread which is baked underground in a hot spring.

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[reykjaviknickelle]

A Short Overview of Iceland

At the end of February, I will be travelling to Reykjavik in Iceland for the first time as part of one of my modules; ‘International Study Visit’. The flight from Manchester to Keflavik airport will take around 2 hours and 45 minutes. Iceland has a cold climate with high temperatures of 3 degrees Celsius and lows of -2 degrees Celsius in February. Iceland is a Nordic nation that is part of Europe. It is located roughly halfway between Europe and North America. There is a rich history, largely dealing with paganism and Vikings. In addition to this, dramatic landscapes are boasted throughout the country.

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How I Prepared to Travel to Iceland

I want to be as prepared as possible for my trip to Iceland, as this will allow me to avoid ‘bad’ experiences and truly enjoy my time there. Firstly, I searched for the weather averages in Iceland during the time I’ll be visiting. Following on from this, I looked at packing lists to ensure I take suitable clothing, such as thermals, a rainproof coat, and suitable boots. I also searched for the things such as if tap water is drinkable and what kind of adapter I would need. Regarding entry requirements, I utilised the information available on gov.uk. Where it stated I still do not need a visa to travel there, even after Brexit. The same website was used to find out what is required to allow for travel during covid, this being a negative PCR or Antigen test 72 hours before departure, an NHS covid travel pass, and a passenger locator form.

Fit to Fly Test:

Personally, I chose to do a fit to fly rapid antigen test pre-departure for £29. The test only took a couple of minutes to complete, and I received a negative result within half hour.

Passenger Locator Form:

The passenger locator form had to be completed within 48 hours of departure. To complete it you had to upload a negative covid result, and your NHS covid pass for them to validate. You then received a barcode at the end. However, completing this could be tricky as your names had to match exactly. For example, the NHS pass was written in capital letters, so you had to use capitals in the passenger locator form.

NHS Covid Travel Pass:

To gain access to the NHS covid travel pass I downloaded the NHS app and signed up. This then gave me access to a digital QR code showing my vaccine status.

[reykjaviknickelle]

Things I'm Most Excited About in Iceland

Traditional Food and Drink:

Due to the location of Iceland, and the fact it is an island, traditional food was simple and reflected the natural circumstances. As a foodie, I was very excited to try the traditional foods available. Icelandic fare consists of a variety of fish and lamb. In addition, Iceland serves controversial meats such as whale, puffin, and shark. While I am in Iceland, I hope to try a variety of these, including, smoked lamb (hangikjot), rye bread (rugbraud) and a type of sweet bread, called kleina. Once other alcoholic drinks became too expensive to import, Icelanders began importing schnapps and vodka. Brennivin is a caraway flavoured schnapps that is made from fermented potatoes. this drink is also known as the black death due to its high alcohol content. (Guide to Iceland)

Blue Lagoon:

An iconic symbol of Iceland, which I was excited to learn more about and could not wait to experience for myself. The pools themselves act as cooling for the geothermal power plant and were not originally intended for public use. However, it was discovered that waters are good for the skin. Due to the fact, it is filled with silica, algae, and a variety of minerals. As well as the pools themselves, there is an onsite spa, restaurant, and gift shop. You can buy a variety of skincare made with elements of the blue lagoon, such as silica and lava. (Bluelagoon.com)

Viking History:

Icelanders are proud of their Viking heritage and there are ways to learn about them all around the country. The majority of Vikings came from Norway, but a lot of Viking women seem to have come from the British Isles. Despite popular belief, the Vikings did not wear horned hats and were a lot more progressive than other parts of the world at the time. The rich Icelandic farmers came together to create one of the first democratic parliaments, located in Thingvellir national park. In addition to this, women held more power. Being able to divorce their husbands, inherit property, and a famous female Viking even had her own team. (Iceland Travel)

Nature:

Iceland was created by volcanic eruptions as the tectonic plates shifted, about 18 million years ago. There is a large variety of dramatic landscapes in Iceland, ranging from black sand beaches to glacier caves. Despite its name, only 10% of Iceland is covered in ice. However, these glaciers are the largest in Europe. They are formed as hundreds of layers of snow are compressed into large ice masses. Meanwhile, there are 32 volcanic systems in Iceland. Within this, there are 130 volcanic mountains. The most recent volcano to erupt was Krýsuvík in 2021. This is why Iceland is known as the land of fire and ice. (guide to Iceland & artic adventures)

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En route to Iceland!

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I made it to Keflavik airport

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A video of cute moments I discovered aorund reykjavik

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Travel day and the beginning of the adventure

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Journal article of my first day in Iceland

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Video of Day two in Iceland

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Journal article of day two in Iceland.

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Video of day three in Iceland

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Journal article of day 3 in Iceland

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Video of my final day in Iceland

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Journal article of my final day in Iceland