#Car Rental Iceland Keflavik | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jaydeemedia · 11 months ago

Text

[ad_1] Iceland is undoubtedly one of the best islands to visit in the world. It’s wild, ethereal, and majestic while also being a humbling land of unforgettable experiences. Yet its landmass is more than some imagine, and ensuring that you get the most from your Iceland road trip will require a little bit of planning – both in terms of seasonality and which stops to spend your time at. I know many Iceland itineraries cram a lot in, for example, suggesting to do the Golden Circle in just one morning (which would leave you little time for more than a quick photo stop at each spot) or even recommending day trips to Black Diamond Beach (not to be confused with the also heavily photographed Black Sand Beach) which is around a five-hour drive each way from Reykjavik. Sure, these work if you just want to tick off a list of attractions and spend the bare minimum amount of time at each sight – helped when visiting in the near continually sun-lit days of summer – but if you ask me, that would be tragic; the incredible landscapes and experiences that an Iceland road trip offer are best savoured slowly. Still, I get that Iceland is an expensive country, and lingering to take your time can cost you both in terms of money and missed opportunities. As such, I’ve tried to craft these Iceland itineraries with that in mind, sharing a few suggested routes ranging from a quick three day Iceland itinerary to a more rounded seven day Iceland road trip – easily adaptable with your flight in mind. Strokkur erupts around every 6-10 minutes Following the seismic activity in Iceland at the end of October 2023, some attractions (such as The Blue Lagoon) and other locations may be closed for safety reasons – keep an eye on updates and plan accordingly. Planning your Iceland road trip: practical information Before diving into suggestions of the day-to-day route of these itineraries, here’s a little practical information you should consider when planning your Iceland road trip. Getting around Iceland: tours, car rental, or buses There are a few different ways to explore Iceland, each with its own pros and cons. Driving is, of course, the most popular option and my personal recommendation, as this gives you much more freedom. While there are plenty of tours – this is how I explored on my first visit – the costs can quickly add up. There are also buses, mainly operated by Strætó, yet the downside of exploring Iceland by public transport is many of the services to popular destinations are only scheduled a few times per day, meaning (unless you’re planning a long trip) you’ll have to be selective about where you visit – tickets and bus passes also aren’t the cheapest. As such, most travellers would say a car or campervan rental is essential to enjoy true freedom during your Iceland road trip. When choosing your car hire, be sure to check that local, on-the-ground support is available in case of any difficulties and that the office has extended opening hours (and out-of-hours drop-off), as some flights in and out of Keflavik are in the early hours. Family-operated companies such as Lava Car Rental offer a range of car rentals in Iceland, with SUVs, campervans and electric vehicles available alongside their standard affordable cars. Also handy is that all-important 24/7 self-service option for both picking up and dropping off. They also allow car rental without a credit card if you take the full insurance — something I always struggle to find with the big chains — and is considered one of the market leaders in Iceland, reflected in their accolades. You can also check with the rental company whether your planned Iceland itinerary requires a 4WD or if a standard rental car is suitable – you don’t want to overpay, nor do you want to get stuck in a tricky situation. You can also bring your own car to Iceland on the Faroe Islands ferry. However, this is a long journey, and it’s certainly going to be cheaper to rent a car rather than take such a long detour via Denmark, where the ferry departs.

Road tripping Iceland in winter restricts where you can go Which season is best for an Iceland road trip? The best time to visit Iceland for a road trip will depend entirely on the experience you want to have and how comfortable you are driving in potentially adverse conditions. In the summer, you’ll have much more time to explore the island as the days are long – especially around the midnight sun when there are close to 24 hours of light – while in the depths of winter, you might only have a handful of proper daylight hours to discover the island. Another consideration in winter is that camping is a no-go, and roads into parts of the highlands close due to snowfall. That said, I adore Iceland in winter (NYE is a great experience here); prices can drop dramatically, and seeing the snow-covered landscapes is dreamy. The bottom line is you’ll have to decide what experience you want from Iceland and then plan accordingly. Getting around Iceland needs a little more consideration in winter How long should your Iceland road trip itinerary be? Personally, I wouldn’t really recommend less than a five-day itinerary for Iceland unless, of course, you’re on a stopover and only have time for a flying visit. That said, most of the major airlines serving Iceland, such as Icelandair and even new budget-focused Play, offer the chance to plan some stopover days. The second time I visited Iceland, I used one of these stopover programs with the now-defunct WOW when I travelled between San Francisco and London, and it was a great way to enjoy two trips for the “price of one”. Personally, I’d say give yourself at least a week to enjoy your Iceland road trip, and if you want to do the full ring road, then most people will recommend at least a 10 day itinerary so you have time to enjoy all the majestic scenery without any need to rush. Good to know: parking, rules, off-roading and road closures Parking in Iceland is, for the most part, free. However, some popular attractions, such as Seljalandsfoss, have a charge. Reykjavik also has some zoned paid parking. There’s a local app (Parka) on which you can pay most parking fees and book campsites. You won’t encounter any toll roads unless you use the northern tunnel while doing the full Ring Road. In winter, for safety reasons, all F roads (the highland gravel roads suited to 4WD) are closed, and some other roads can be shuttered, depending on the weather. If visiting in the winter, check on the website Road.is to keep up to date on any closures and keep in mind all other factors that apply when visiting Europe in winter. All off-road driving in Iceland is forbidden and punishable by fines; respecting the environment is of the utmost importance, especially given the sharp increase in tourist numbers in recent years. Silfra is one of Iceland’s most unique places to snorkel 3 Day Iceland itinerary On a three day Iceland itinerary, you’ll have a chance to experience some of the best things to do in Iceland close to the capital city of Reykjavik. If you’ve only got a long weekend to visit The Land of Fire and Ice, you’ll be able to get a decent introduction to the country’s landscapes, geothermal wonders, and wildlife with this three day itinerary that will work year-round. Tours are available to visit these attractions, but picking up a car on arrival will allow you to really maximise your short visit. The longest distances are covered on day two, so you have a full day and no need to rush back to the airport, though if you’re arriving in Iceland later in the day and have an evening departure, you might want to switch around days one and three. Day one: The Golden Circle (optional: snorkelling in Silfra) Day two: Skógafoss (and Gljufrabui), Seljalandsfoss, Vik, Reynisfjara Beach Day three: Reykjavik and The Blue Lagoon Thingvellir National Park Church Day one: The Golden Circle (optional: snorkelling in Silfra) After landing in Keflavík and picking up your car, it’s time to get straight into your Iceland road trip.

The Golden Circle – a popular route which pulls together the highlights near Reykjavik – is a great starting point, especially if you’ve arrived early in the day. It takes around three hours to drive the full Golden Circle route, plus, of course, you’ll want to make plenty of time for stops on the way. However, I’d propose that you end and sleep in Selfoss rather than doing the full loop, so you shave around one hour off tomorrow’s driving time heading south. There’s a campsite and a few decent hotels here. With that in mind, head to UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park first. This was the location where Iceland’s Althing (parliament) used to meet, and you can enjoy a walk through the park, taking in the pretty church and even prettier landscapes. Here, you’ll also find Silfra, a rift where the continents’ tectonic plates meet. If you want to scuba dive or snorkel, you’ll want to book it in advance – no need for a tour with transport; you can meet the operators directly here to get your dry suit and enjoy the experience. I found the experience of snorkelling here unforgettable; just be aware you’ll need to allow around two hours, though, with a car, you’re not reliant on waiting for everyone else to finish their dive so that you can get away quicker. Then, continue driving inland to Haukadalur, a geothermal valley where you can witness Strokkur erupting around every 10 minutes and the now less-active Great Geysir. Not far beyond is the mighty Gullfoss waterfall. On the drive back to Selfoss, you could detour to the ‘Secret Lagoon’ thermal baths if time allows. Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls Day two: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss (and Gljúfrabúi), Vik, and Reynisfjara Beach If you’ve stayed in Selfoss, you’ll be looking at less than four hours of driving in total today. If you’re using Reykjavík as a base, then it will be over five hours in total – alternatively, if you have a late flight back on day three and you’re visiting in winter, consider staying along the south coast tonight in a small village in hopes of spotting the northern lights as there is less light pollution. You’ve got a few ways of enjoying this drive heading southeast. You can either head straight to Vik and then work your way back, do all the stops en route and then drive directly back at the end of the day, or split the stops en route (my recommendation) so you break the journey up and are never driving too much in one go. For example, do a waterfall, then Vik, then another waterfall on the way back. Whichever way you choose, there are a handful of highlights you’ll certainly want to stop at. First up is my favourite, the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which you can walk behind to feel the cascade’s power. Next is Skógafoss, a spectacular 60-metre plunging cascade which is not far from the more hidden Gljúfrabúi waterfall. Allow at least one hour here to visit the upper viewing platform. Hopefully, you’ll also spot Icelandic Horses nearby. Lastly, you’ll arrive at the small village of Vik, from which you can easily access Reynisfjara Beach, best known for its jet-black sands and the Reynisdrangar lava-formed basalt rock formations. If you’re visiting in summer and can make the most of the longer days, you might want to book a guided hike on the Solheimajokull Glacier near Skógafoss. The Reynisdrangar rock formations Day three: Reykjavik and The Blue Lagoon To wrap up this three day Iceland road trip, spend some time in the capital city of Reykjavik. If you decided to stay in Selfoss again last night, you can enjoy a leisurely drive and perhaps a stroll in the geothermal Reykjadalur Valley en route. Once in Reykjavik, take a walking tour of the highlights, such as the Hallgrímskirkja church and the Sun Voyager sculpture. I’d also highly recommend paying a visit to the National Museum of Iceland, where you’ll get an insightful overview of the nation’s history without being overwhelmed or feeling rushed. End

your Iceland itinerary by driving back towards the airport to soak in the geothermal seawater spa that is the infamous Blue Lagoon. Sure, it’s touristy and perhaps not that authentic these days, but I found it truly magical – especially around sunset. You’ll want to book tickets online in advance to guarantee a visit, as it’s the most popular attraction on the island. This is also the reason I don’t recommend booking it straight after landing, as the time slots are highly contested, and if your flight is delayed, you may miss out. If you’re unable to get tickets, there are a couple of other options not far from Reykjavik, such as Sky Lagoon. After bathing, you’ll feel fully refreshed and ready for your flight – and if you have an intercontinental red eye, then the opportunity for a pre-flight shower and to get changed before departure will be much appreciated. The Blue Lagoon is one of the most touristy places to visit in Iceland 5 Day Iceland itinerary If you’ve got five days for your Iceland road trip, then you’ll be able to fit in not just a few more of the best places to visit in Iceland but also enjoy some of the country’s most incredible experiences, such as kayaking on a glacier lagoon or even trekking atop the glacier itself. Day one: The Golden Circle (optional: snorkelling in Silfra) Day two: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss (and Gljufrabui), Vik, and Reynisfjara Beach Day three: Black Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Day four: Heimaey Island for puffins (or whale watching) and Reykjadalur Valley Day five: Reykjavik and The Blue Lagoon Day one: The Golden Circle (optional: snorkelling in Silfra) Follow the suggestions of the three day Iceland itinerary above. Vik Church Day two: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss (and Gljúfrabúi), Vik, and Reynisfjara Beach Again, repeat the three day Iceland itinerary above, but instead of returning, book a place to stay around Vik instead. You can take the drive a bit more leisurely with a couple more stops, as you won’t need to return the same day. With this extra time, you could also spend some time at the Dyrhólaey nature reserve, just across from Vik’s black sand beach, where you might spot puffins as well as admire the natural arch at the end of the headland. Diamond Beach is a must-visit in Iceland Day three: Black Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon It’s around another two-and-a-half-hour drive to Jökulsárlón from Vik along Route 1, so if you plan to journey there and back in one day, count on a solid five hours of driving. You can, of course, cut tomorrow’s island and puffin trip from this five day Iceland itinerary (especially in winter, as it’s not puffin season and days are shorter) and go a bit slower if you wish. This is also a good idea if you want to trek atop the glacier, as then you won’t be rushed or need to skip the other spots en route. For accommodation tonight, either return to Vik so you’re better placed for tomorrow’s island trip (less of a drive in the morning) or stay closer to the glacier so you can split some of the activities and stops over two days. Either way, set off early to make the most of the day, as there are a few places between Vik and Jökulsárlón Glacier you’ll want to visit. If you want to trek atop the Vatnajökull glacier or kayak in the Jökulsárlón lagoon, you should have booked these experiences and guides in advance, and you can then plan your schedule around this. First up is the striking river-flanking Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, propelled to fame when Justin Bieber filmed a music video here. You’ll want around an hour to walk the top trail from the car park. Back on the main road, you’ll then have the option to detour to Svartifoss waterfall if you wish. Just before Jökulsárlón, there’s also the Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon, which is often a little less crowded. Still, you’ll want to spend most of today around Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Dotted with icebergs, this is the country’s deepest lake, and it’s absolutely mesmerising.

Here, you can take seasonal boat or kayak tours on the waters to get a closer look at the floating ice and potentially spot the seals that call the lagoon home. On the ocean side of the lagoon, the Black Diamond Beach (Breiðamerkursandur) is just as picturesque, with the large translucent nuggets of ice providing an incredible contrast to the dark black sands. Behind it all is the vast Vatnajökull ice cap and its various outlets. Visiting the ice caves or trekking atop the glacier are some of the most incredible experiences you can have in the country, and the highlight of my visits to Iceland remains this corner of the country. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is one of the best places in Iceland to kayak in summer Day four: Heimaey Island for puffins (or whale watching) and Reykjadalur Valley If you’re visiting between May and August, a boat trip to Heimaey Island is a great idea for several reasons. Firstly, it’s home to the largest puffin colony in the world, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to admire Atlantic Puffins. Secondly, you’ll get to see another side of Iceland by leaving the mainland for one of the islands. Thirdly, you might have the chance to see whales and other wildlife while visiting, especially if you take a boat tour with Viking, who operate trips around the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago from the main island. From Vik, it’s around a one-hour drive to Landeyjahöfn, the departure point of the ferries. The crossing takes around 40 minutes, and there are sailings every couple of hours. You can take your car on the ferry (additional cost) or park for free at Landeyjahöfn and cross on foot – a decent option if you plan on taking a boat tour around the archipelago anyway. End the day by driving through the geothermal Reykjadalur Valley back to overnight in Reykjavik. It takes around two hours to drive back to the city. Day five: Reykjavik and The Blue Lagoon To wrap up this five day itinerary for Iceland, follow the suggestions of what to do in Reykjavik on ‘day three’ of the three day Iceland itinerary above – you’ll likely have a bit of extra time, so you could squeeze in a couple more attractions such as Árbær Open Air Museum just outside the city centre before wrapping up at The Blue Lagoon. Reykjavik is the capital city of Iceland 7 Day Iceland itinerary With one week in Iceland, you can see more of the country away from the most visited spots. If you don’t mind a fast-paced road trip itinerary, then you could consider doing the full Ring Road around the island, although if you want time to do this route justice and not feel rushed, a lot of locals would advise you to allow at least ten days. For a more leisurely seven day Iceland road trip itinerary, spend a couple of days in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula instead. Day one: The Golden Circle (optional: snorkelling in Silfra) Day two: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss (and Gljufrabui), Vik, and Reynisfjara Beach Day three: Black Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Day four: Heimaey Island for puffins (or whale watching) and Reykjadalur Valley Day five: Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day six: Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day seven: Reykjavik and The Blue Lagoon Day one to four: as above Follow the five day Iceland itinerary above, staying in Reykjavik on the evening of day four Exploring glaciers and ice caves Day five and six: Snæfellsnes Peninsula From Reykjavik, it’s a little over two hours drive to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and then around another two and a half hours to loop around it. So, while it is possible to do this slightly more offbeat western part of the country as a day trip, it’s going to be rushed. As such, split it over two days and spend a night staying out here – the town of Grundarfjörður has perhaps the largest cluster and choice of hotels and guesthouses on the peninsula. Highlights you’ll want to cover in these two days include seeing the peninsula’s iconic Kirkjufell, an almost conical green-carpeted mountain

fronted by a waterfall (allow an hour or two for a scenic walk), a visit to the underground Vatnshellir Cave, an 8000-year-old lava tube, and the narrow Rauðfeldsgjá Gorge. While very different from the much more famous Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, it’s still a decent alternative, especially given the latter has been closed on and off in recent years due to the environmental damage of so much footfall. At the tip of the peninsula, the Snæfellsjökull National Park draws together many of the epic landscapes and natural phenomena that make Iceland so special, and at the heart of it all, the icecap-crowned Snaefellsjökull stratovolcano is a sight to behold. With two days to road trip the peninsula, you’ll also have enough time to to stop at one or two small fishing villages, such as Arnarstapi, visit the pebbles and dark sands of Djúpalónssandur beach, and witness the Hallmundarhraun lava field and waterfalls. There are also a couple of geothermal baths and hot spring spas here, such as Lýsuhólslaug, which would make for a more laid-back alternative to the Blue Lagoon. Snæfellsnes Peninsula Day seven: Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon Follow the same suggestions for the last day in Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon, as detailed in the Iceland itinerary above. Make your Iceland road trip longer with a 10 or 14 day itinerary On a 10 or 14 day Iceland road trip, you can enjoy the Ring Road at a more leisurely pace, allowing time to really stop and explore places en route. From spring until autumn, you could alternatively add a Westfjords extension to the seven day Iceland itinerary or venture into the highlands if you’ve rented a 4WD. [ad_2] Source link

0 notes

wwwgocarrentalis · 1 year ago

Text

Your Key to Iceland: https://www.gocarrental.is is your key to unlocking the wonders of Iceland. With a passion for travel, a commitment to service excellence, and a green vision for the future, we invite you to explore the land of fire and ice with us.

1 note · View note

carrentalsiniceland · 2 years ago

Link

#Best car rental Reykjavik #Best Car rentals in Keflavik #Best car rental Iceland #best car rentals #best places to travel #bestplaceiceland #service #Budget Car Rental Iceland #car rental iceland #Cheap Car Rental Iceland

0 notes

hockeylvr59 · 4 years ago

Text

Secret Love Part 9 || Cale Makar

Requested: [ ] yes [x] no

Authors Note: I really really struggled with this chapter. I have a love/hate relationship with writing vacations and for some reason even the bedroom content was a battle. So I really hope you enjoy it because this one took some work to get everything to come together. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Next up: days 2-? of vacation.

Warnings: oral sex

Word Count: 3,301

~~~~~~~

Dating Cale honestly felt like the most natural thing in the world. Some days, he’d meet you for lunch between clients after finishing a workout, others he’d come over for dinner or to watch a movie. Everything just fit and immediately felt like this was how things had always been. You sometimes forgot that you’d been together less than a month.

Two weeks after Cale had surprised you with dinner, your phone buzzed with a text containing the dates for your trip to Iceland. From that moment forward, you felt like you had stepped into a whirlwind. Suddenly your life was full of things like requesting time off work, googling what an appropriate wardrobe would be, shopping for the things you needed but didn’t have. Then there was the packing, trying to fit a week and a half worth of clothes into a single suitcase and your usual carry on, making sure you didn’t forget the plug adapter for your phone or worse your passport.

They weren’t bad things, but they were out of the ordinary and you were looking forward to just being on vacation with Cale, the stress that came with vacationing put behind you.

As Cale loaded your bags into his parent’s car on a Tuesday in mid-June, you finally felt your excitement kick in. Laura and Gary were dropping the two of you at the airport so that you didn’t have to worry about parking, and as Gary drove Laura rambled on about how pleased she was that the two of you were taking this trip together and how she was certain it was exactly what the two of you needed. When Cale mouthed that she ‘didn’t know the half of it’, it took everything in you not to bust out laughing.

Assuring Laura that you would take plenty of pictures, you hugged both her and Gary before heading with Cale through the airport. After going through security, checking your luggage, and finding the proper gate, you settled into Cale’s side to wait for your flight to board. Cale had gotten an evening flight, allowing you to sleep the eight hours it took to fly across the continent. You were grateful for it now but you were certain you would be even more grateful when you landed, knowing that with the time difference you would spend 8 hours on a plane but arrive 14 hours after you had left.

Sleeping on the flight, your head resting on Cale’s shoulder, made time move quickly and before you knew it you were fastening your seatbelt for the landing at Keflavik Airport.

“We’re here.” You whispered excitedly, curious as to what was awaiting you when you stepped outside of the airport.

“Someone’s excited,” Cale said, a soft grin on his face as he grabbed your carryon for you as the two of you navigated through the airport. Collecting your luggage, you followed Cale over to a rental car desk and watched as he chatted with an agent. He signed a few papers and handed over his credit card, and soon he was handed keys, the two of you making your way out to a lot to pick up your vehicle for the trip.

“Ten days vacation with my boyfriend...you could say I’m a little excited.” You mused, stretching to kiss him after loading your bags into the trunk of the SUV. It was just after 10 am and the weather outside was brisk but comfortable. Cale kissed you back before pulling a map from his carryon bag.

“Ready to be my navigator?” He questioned, closing the trunk before moving to the passenger side, opening your door. “We’ve got an hour drive into Reykjavik and then I was thinking food…?” Cale suggested. A late breakfast/early lunch sounded wonderful and you quickly agreed, sliding into the vehicle. It took Cale a few minutes to get comfortable behind the wheel in a new country, but once he did, he dropped his hand to the center console, allowing you to lace your fingers in his as you watched the countryside pass by. It was a quiet drive, comfortable, the two of you just enjoying each other’s presence.

When you finally reached the capital city Cale found a public parking lot and the two of you ventured out on foot in search of food. Cale had clearly done his research because he led you toward the waterfront, straight to a tiny little food stand. Ordering you each a hot dog, Cale explained that it was Iceland’s national food and therefore seemed the natural choice for your first meal in the country.

“You sure just one is gonna be enough for you?” You joked, knowing that his athlete’s stomach burned through calories faster than you could ever dream.

“If I’m still hungry I’ll go back for another.” Cale simply shrugged and as the two of you settled into a picnic table with your food, you just shook your head, smiling over at him. Cale did indeed go back for another and you failed to bite back the laughter when he glared at you just a little.

“I’d rather not see what you’re like when hangry so please, eat as much as you need to.” You giggled, looking around as you waited for him to finish. This was the biggest city in the entire country but yet it didn’t feel stressful or crowded like you’d experienced in other cities. Instead, it was a place you very much wanted to spend time exploring, enjoying the chance to witness just a taste of daily life here.

When Cale finished, you disposed of your trash before heading back out onto the street. Leaning against his side, you looked up at him for direction, not sure what the plan was for the day.

“Want to just walk around the city?” Cale inquired. Looking at him it was clear that he didn’t really have a plan and you twisted, planting your hands on his chest as you peered up at him.

“And here I thought you planned this trip.” You teased. It wasn’t that you opposed his idea, you just had to give him a little bit of a hard time just because you could.

“I did plan this trip.” Cale murmured. “I planned this trip to have the flexibility for us to go where we wanted to go and see what we wanted to see without having to worry about following a strict schedule. I’ve got a rough outline...or did you not look at the map?” He teased right back. As his hand drifted down to your lower back he dropped his head to kiss you. You were still getting used to this whole being able to kiss him in public thing, but you liked it. “I wasn’t sure how tired we’d be...so I figured we’d just start local, check into the hotel, and play it by ear from there. Okay?”

“Okay.” You smiled, pecking his lips once more before settling back onto your feet. “So which way Mr. Makar?”

With your hands entwined, you walked through the city of Reykjavik, taking in all of the sights it had to offer. At the Hallgrímskirkja church, you marveled at the height of the ceiling while Cale joked that it was like staring at a graph in math class all over again. Smacking him gently, you insisted on taking your first selfie, laughing at each other as you did. Already, your brain was cataloging that there would be two distinct folders of photos on your phone, one you could show the parents and one you could not.

As you passed the statue of Leif Eríkson, you rambled on to Cale about how historians had new leads on where Vinland actually was located and how the Vikings had clearly discovered North America long before many of the other European explorers had.

“Someone has been watching documentaries lately.” Cale smiled, his grin fond. “History was always one of your favorite classes wasn’t it?” You nodded in agreement and noted that Cale seemed unbothered by you playing mini historian. The fact that he remembered what your favorite classes were in school kind of surprised you. But this was one of the many reasons why this trip was such a good thing, you were getting to reacquaint yourselves with each other and learn things you didn’t know before.

Soon, you walked through what seemed to be a shopping district. It was quaint and quiet and reminded you more of a small suburb than a big city. The buildings were all small and cute and there was graffiti art all over the place. When you reached Tjörnin Pond, you pulled Cale to sit on a bench for a few minutes, more wanting to just sit and take things in than actually needing to rest.

“This place is gorgeous.” You breathed, your linked hands resting on Cale’s thigh. “Thank you for bringing me.”

“Thank you for coming,” Cale replied, his lips pressing against the top of your head. Sitting for a few more minutes, you headed off again, continuing along until you reached the harbor. There you saw the Harpa concert hall, a modern glass building whose panes of multicolored glass shone brightly under the midday sun, and the Sun Voyager sculpture which resembled a Viking ship floating on water.

Having essentially circled back to where you had started, the two of you made the decision to head back to the car. You’d killed enough time wandering around that you could check into the hotel and so you headed that way.

You hated to admit it but Cale might have been right. The moment you settled into the car, you felt yourself immediately start to doze off. You knew logically that you shouldn’t be tired, but yet that was exactly what you felt. You didn’t even realize you’d fallen asleep in the short drive over to the hotel until Cale was unbuckling you.

“Hey sleepy.” He whispered. “I already checked in and took our bags up. You wanna go up and take a nap?” Cale’s question was answered only by a look of exhaustion on your face. It didn’t take long to reach your room and once you had, you flopped down on the bed, sighing softly at its comfort. Cale’s hands slipped your shoes off your feet and he chuckled, the weight of his gaze causing you to shift.

“Don’t even say it.” You mumbled.

“I didn’t say anything.” Cale defended. “Are we calling it a day though and just getting an early start tomorrow?” He asked. Though you wanted to keep going, you didn’t think your body agreed and so you sighed shrugging.

“Yeah...I think so.” You pouted. The pout was pulled from your lips though when Cale stretched, the bottom of his shirt riding up to reveal the fine happy trail that started just below his belly button and disappeared under the waistband of his grey sweats. It was amazing how easily even a peek at your boyfriend’s body made everything better.

“What do you want for dinner? I’ll run out and bring food back.” Cale insisted, his fingers running through his somewhat sweaty hair.

“I’d say surprise me but I’m not sure that’s such a great idea in a foreign country.” You joked. “I don’t know. I’m not that hungry.” You whined. Or if you were hungry you just didn’t know what sounded good.

“Women…” Cale mumbled teasingly under his breath. “I’m going to see if I can track down a couple salads. Will that work?” Your stomach growled at his suggestion and you both took that as your body’s agreement. “Okay. I’ll be back soon.” Cale stated, leaning down to kiss you before slipping from the hotel room.

As your head fell back against the pillows, you knew you could easily just go right back to sleep. At the same time though, you couldn’t help but feel gross from the travel and from spending the afternoon walking around. So you forced yourself up and into the small bathroom to wash off.

By the time you finished and had slipped into pajamas, Cale had returned with food. Though you weren’t super hungry, you forced yourself to eat before finally crawling into bed.

You weren’t sure what time you fell asleep, though you knew it had to be ungodly early. When you awoke, it was to the feeling of Cale’s arms tightening around your body, his voice low and smooth in your ear.

“Will you stop the tossing and turning...it’s too freaking early.” Letting out a hum of confusion, you twisted in his arms, your head landing against his shoulder. “It’s 3 am...and I’m awake because you can’t stay still…” Cale grumbled. “I know I said we’d get an early start but I didn’t mean this early.” He added. “So can you please tell your body to knock it off.”

“Sorry.” You whispered, forcing yourself to go rigid against him. Apparently, your body had had enough sleep already and decided that any extra sleep would not be the peaceful kind. Cale’s fingers slid up your back and he let out a grunt of frustration when his touch only caused you to stiffen further.

“Sweetheart...would you relax?” He murmured.

“I’m trying.” You mumbled back, turning back over to face away from Cale with a sigh. You wanted to sleep, you did, but now that you were half awake, your brain was filled with anxious thoughts and silly worries. It had been less than five minutes since he woke you when you felt Cale’s lips on your shoulder and once again his arms tightened around you.

“Let me help…” He murmured, his fingers shifting to brush against your stomach.

“Cale I…” Whatever complaint was on the tip of your tongue was silenced when Cale rolled you underneath his body, his mouth seeking yours. His kiss was lazy and soft and he didn’t fully pull away until your body had turned to jello.

“Do you trust me?” Cale questioned softly. You could only nod because of course you trusted him. You trusted him more than anyone else you’d ever been with. “Then let me help you relax so we can both sleep.” He pressed, one hand sliding down to rest against your hip.

It was his blue eyes that revealed what he was planning on doing and you caught his cheek in your palm before he could start sliding down the bed.

“Cale...you don’t…”

“Sweetheart...if you think I haven’t thought about what it would be like to bury my face in your sweet pussy a million times in the last few months you’re insane. I want to...will you let me?”

Nerves ran through your body at the thought of trying this for the first time with Cale. What if you didn’t like it? You’d failed to remind him that he wasn’t the only one inexperienced in this area, so it would be a blow to his ego for sure if this went badly. Suddenly, the image of Cale licking your fluids from his fingers popped into your head chased by the fantasy of his head between your thighs. All you had to do was agree for that fantasy to become a reality. Before you could even verbalize your assent, Cale had started sliding down the bed, dragging the blankets with him.

“If I do something you don’t like just tell me.” He breathed, his fingers tugging your shorts and panties off of your body quickly.

Nude from the waist down, Cale trailed his mouth across your stomach as he settled himself between your parted thighs. Then he jumped down to your left knee, nipping his way up your inner thigh before repeating the process with the other.

He was both teasing you and giving you the chance to stop him if you needed to but now that he was there, you wanted nothing more than to see just what kind of damage he could do.

“Cale, please…” You gasped, needing so much more than what he was giving you.

“That’s my girl,” Cale mumbled, his eyes twinkling as he looked up at you. “I want to hear you, sweetheart.” The feeling of his breath blowing hot over your core made you shiver and your back bowed off of the bed toward him. Pinning your hips down under the weight of his forearm, Cale kissed your stomach one more time before sliding down, his tongue licking broadly through your folds.

Squirming under him, your brain attempted to process whether that was a good or a bad sensation. It settled for the word different as you felt waves of heat roll through you when Cale’s mouth latched onto your clit, sucking gently.

“That…more of that.” You pleaded. Following your direction, Cale focused in on your clit, sucking it between his lips again. Slowly things started to go hazy as he pressed soft kisses and little licks to your heated flesh before returning to the suction. There was no rush to his actions, and you reached down, your fingers tugging at his hair as he lapped lazily at your core.

A grunt spilled from Cale’s mouth in response to your tug and the vibration rippled through your body, sending sparks across your skin. Sliding his other arm around your hip, Cale drew your leg over his shoulder. The change in angle must have allowed Cale better access because you felt his tongue press inside of you, your hips attempting to jolt out of his grasp at the feeling.

The feeling of his tongue fucking inside of you made you whimper and when Cale pulled back to breathe, you could feel the growing confidence rolling off of him.

“You doing okay?” He questioned softly, waiting for your answer as he pressed gentle kisses to your thigh again.

“More Cale please…” You whined. Smirking Cale sucked at your clit harder than he had before.

“More of this…” He questioned quickly before sliding his tongue back inside of you, flicking at your slick internal walls. “Or more of that.” He asked, pulling back once more to breathe. Your chest was heaving, your breath hitching with the feelings Cale’s mouth on you created.

“Both...god both Cale…” You pleaded.

“Okay...just relax and let go for me okay sweet girl…” Cale resumed his easy pace, switching between sucking your clit and pressing his tongue inside you. As your body responded to his actions, he adjusted speeding up and slowing down until you were crying out his name, your body shaking with the strength of your orgasm.

Coming down, you shoved at Cale’s head as he licked over you slowly and carefully, cleaning you up. When he finally crawled up the bed, the grin on his face was a mile wide and his thumb brushed against your cheek.

“Was that okay?” He asked, nerves showing only in his gaze.

“If I didn’t know that was your first time...I wouldn’t believe it.” You said, voice slightly hoarse. Cale’s cheeks flushed even deeper and you leaned up to kiss him, tasting yourself on his tongue.

“It’ll be better next time,” Cale promised, laying flat on his back again, pulling you into his side. Snuggling against him, you certainly felt calmer than before, a yawn spilling from your throat. As you drifted back to sleep you heard Cale whisper ‘thank you’ in your ear and the butterflies in your stomach fluttered at being able to give Cale an experience he’d never had before.

Everything with him was new and different and you couldn’t ask for anything more. Just like this was only the start of your relationship, it was only the start of your vacation and you could only see both getting better with each and every day.

#cale makar #cale makar imagine #colorado avalanche imagine #colorado avalanche #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #hockey imagines #hockey imagine #hockey smut #nhl smut #cale makar smut #nws #lemon #038

181 notes · View notes

ineffable-writer · 5 years ago

Text

New Year’s Eve: Aziraphale gets a wild idea about a question he’s wanted to ask for a while and Crowley does not understand why they’re going on holiday to Iceland.

I’m in Iceland for the new year (I’m posting this from 2020!) and of course I spent the last day of 2019 writing ridiculous fluff. Everywhere the Husbands go is real, and places I’ve been (though I did not get a luxury suite at the Blue Lagoon, I’m sad to say).

Previous installments are sweet but not necessary to read to understand (and can be found under the tag #PlaceWithoutPlot, although that’s not 100% true after this excerpt?). Excerpt here, full on AO3 or below the break.

The best crepes in Scotland were, undoubtedly, in a small café near the Meadows, which quickly became a regular spot for lunch on the days they wandered about separately. It was covered in tartan and old records, owned and operated by one man. The drinks were good and the crepes were divine.

“I was thinking, you know,” said Aziraphale, sipping a hot chocolate and relaxing into the tartan, “we don’t need to go back right away.”

“No?” asked Crowley. “Plants will miss me.”

“Oh, the Devices have nowhere to be,” said the angel. “Anathema will keep them alive and I’m sure they don’t mind a little reprieve.”

“You’re scheming,” Crowley lightheartedly accused, fighting to keep the smile off his lips. Aziraphale didn’t laugh or shoot Crowley a disapproving look, which meant he was legitimately nervous about something. The effort of hiding something distracted the angel, which meant Crowley could always tell when it happened. Crowley sat forward a bit: I’m paying attention. I know this is important. I’m listening.

“It’s just, well. We know Edinburgh. The whole island, really. We’ve lived here a very long time.”

“Understatement.”

“Yes. Well. So. I thought perhaps—if you wanted—we could go somewhere new.”

“New?” Crowley raised an eyebrow. “Everywhere’s new, angel. World keeps changing. That’s what we like about it. Remember?”

“I know! But it’s so easy to get around these days. No more horses, no more ships…”

“What’s wrong with ships? I like ships.”

“You never went on a trireme, if I recall,” said Aziraphale.

“No more triremes, I’ll give you.” Crowley raised an eyebrow. Aziraphale was avoiding talking about whatever he wanted to talk about, now. “Where did you want to go?”

“Iceland.”

“Iceland?”

“Iceland.”

Crowley bit back the why, the what in the world is in Iceland that makes you want to go there, the what has gotten into you lately, you’re always such a homebody, I literally moved right down the block from you because we both hate putting in more effort to go places than absolutely necessary. Aziraphale had something in mind, and Crowley had the sense that the wrong reaction would absolutely shatter the man. Besides, Crowley trusted him.

“All right,” said Crowley. “Iceland. What about New Year’s, then?”

Aziraphale insisted on being mysterious about his plans once they got to Iceland, so Crowley demanded the right to do the same.

“If you get a mystery,” he said, “I get a mystery too. And mine’s near the airport, so unless you’ve got a fantastic reason, I get to go first.”

They arrived in Keflavik—not Reykjavik, not on an international flight—and Crowley’s reasoning became apparent quickly. The flight didn’t exactly get in early, but this time of year the sun didn’t rise until noon, so it was the middle of the night when they landed at nine AM. They still didn’t have the Bentley (Newt was not to touch the car back in Sussex, and he was terrified enough of Crowley that Aziraphale suspected he’d form a permanent bond with the houseplants) but Crowley had managed a half-decent rental car. He convinced Aziraphale to get in before breakfast—“Trust me, angel, there’s food where we’re going!”—and they set out into the night. The weather was somewhat warm for the season. It was cold, but not freezing.

Iceland was famous for its stunning scenery and dramatic landscapes, but in darkness like this all they could see were black shapes against gray sky. As the sun rose, it cast long shadows over a broken landscape. The earth had cracked and crackled after centuries of volcanic activity, leaving fields that looked like the ruined cities of ancient giants. Trees here were short and grew in sparse copses—it had once been a forest island, but not after the Nordic settlers arrived—and the tumbling rocks were covered in silver-gray lichens and mosses. Here on the southwest corner, the mountains were mostly distant, framing the horizon.

Crowley peeled off the main road and drove towards an alpine cluster, and the sky grew lighter. He was sure Aziraphale would guess immediately—apparently the angel had been reading about Iceland—but it wasn’t until they drove past the first pools that Crowley saw his eyes light up. He’d picked this place for stupid, indulgent reasons, one of which was that the color of Aziraphale’s eyes matched the water exactly. (He also liked the idea of getting out of the chill for once, warming his serpentine bones, and that played into it.)

Hot springs. Deep-earth saltwater, heated by the volcano and pumped into what was essentially a fancy swimming pool by these brilliant, stupid human beings that they both loved so much. It was indulgent and warm and frankly good for their corporations and souls alike, and after doing things the Human Way for a bit he could use a little pampering.

There was a resort. Crowley had picked the top package, the one that came with free breakfast and facial treatments and daily yoga and guided hikes in addition to everything you could ask for at the hot springs. He’d booked a room for two nights, one with a view of the lagoons. It only came with a single king-sized bed, but honestly, so had every other place they’d stayed. Crowley was the only one who used it. Aziraphale just stayed up reading. Aside from a comment on the décor—“Clearly you chose this place, it looks just like the flat in London with a bit more natural light.”—Aziraphale didn’t mention it at all.

Aziraphale immediately ran off on one of the guided hikes, spouting something about history and geography. Crowley did yoga, taking a moment to try and guess what the angel was getting at with this trip in the first place. He was done first, and was relaxing in their suite with a silica mask when Aziraphale got back (grumpy from the physical activity, but excited about the geological history). Then there was dinner at the restaurant—a great wall of glass built next to the natural volcanic stone, with a table for two right next to illuminated volcanic pools and a plate of Icelandic cod for the angel—and a quick change into suits before they went into the main pool.

Public baths were familiar to them both—they had been around since the moment humans had discovered the delights of warm water—but there was something mystical about hot springs. The vivid water, as opaque and blue as a settled fog. The mist that rose and danced in the air as wind whipped around them, eddying in the rocks and around bridges. The open air, cold and wet with rain against the heat of the water.

The pool was an expanse. The far borders were lost in the mist, and patrons drifted through the water in various masks: mostly white silica, ghostly, with their laughter and conversations muted by the open space. The resort provided towels and bathrobes, so the bridges around the pools were inhabited by patrons in white as well, exploring the intricate landscape of the baths.

Crowley and Aziraphale hung their robes on hooks outside and darted to the water, laughing. They had both slicked back their hair with conditioner—the salt and silica stuck and dried it out—and Aziraphale looked ridiculous, his characteristic curls stuck flat to his head. Someone took someone’s hand and they ended up drifting like the dead in the water, looking up at the darkness and locked together, holding tightly, refusing to ever let go.

Crowley washed his hair in the private shower of their suite. The conditioner had done little to protect it, despite the spa’s claims that it had been specially designed for the water here. He could just miracle back the keratin, but some deep-down part of him liked the feeling of Aziraphale seeing him as imperfect. He slathered it in a keratin treatment instead, slicking it back against his head, before drying off and wrapping up in a robe. He’d get some rest and in the morning—

The demon’s wandering train of thought was jolted off its track as he came into the bedroom. Aziraphale was sitting on the bed. The angel was wearing pyjamas, silk beige ones with a gold trim, which was a sight Crowley had not ever thought he’d see. His hair was frizzy with silica and salt. He looked nervous. He jumped when Crowley closed the bathroom door.

“Ah. Hello.”

“Hello,” said Crowley, waving his hand in Aziraphale’s general direction. You’re in my bed, the gesture said. This is a new turn of events, please tell me what is happening.

“Yes. Well. I thought perhaps—so much has happened, lately. So much has changed. I’m… I’m tired, I think.” Aziraphale swallowed. “I’m quite tired. And I’ve never been much good at…” At trusting anyone, the pause said. At relaxing enough to let my guard down. Relaxing invites attack. Relaxing means I cannot avoid conflict once I see it coming. “…At sleeping. I thought perhaps I’d try it.”

“Am I on the couch, then?” asked Crowley, perhaps a bit more snidely than he meant it. It wasn’t so much that he was opposed to seeing the angel in pyjamas. He just assumed, at this point, that it was part of the Agreement that he was entitled to any bed in a room they shared, and he’d been looking forward to this one.

He’d give up any bed in the world for Aziraphale, but that was beside the point.

“No,” said Aziraphale.

“Oh,” said Crowley, surprised.

It was utterly impossible to sleep. The bed was warm and soft, and the rain pattered outside in a gentle white noise. Crowley rolled over, restless, assuming he’d see Aziraphale as a knot of blankets with a little angelic cloud of hair sticking out. Not the case: Aziraphale had turned to look at him, too.

Their eyes met. Gold to blue. Crowley breathed.

“You’re not very good at this,” said Aziraphale. “I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

“Sometimes it’s difficult.”

“Clearly.”

“You’ve messed with my usual routine,” said Crowley. “I don’t usually have distracting angels in my bed.”

“Distracting?” Aziraphale’s voice was prim. “So sinful.”

Crowley hit him with a pillow.

The second night was clearer, and the private lagoon that came with their suite produced less steam. Crowley, who was beginning to doubt that he would ever sleep again, floated in the water and watched the stars for a while. There was some small light pollution from the spa and a nearby geothermal plant, but for the most part the sky was clear, and he could see the galaxy.

Aziraphale joined him. Crowley hadn’t bothered with a suit—no one could see them here and he still felt a little weird dressing up to get in a bath. Neither had the angel. He laid back in the water and joined Crowley without a word.

Crowley pointed. “Helped build that one,” he said.

“I know,” said Aziraphale. He pointed at a nearby cluster. “And those. And most of the structures around Ursa Major, didn’t you?”

“You kept track?”

“It’s not hard,” said Aziraphale. “You tell me every time we go stargazing. We’ve done quite a lot of stargazing.”

Crowley laughed. “Humans say, when they get old, their friends know all their stories.”

“And their partners,” said Aziraphale, and then he seemed like he was going to say something else, but he hesitated.

Crowley elbowed him. “Why are you so nervous?”

“It’s my turn tomorrow,” said Aziraphale. “You’ll find out then.”

It was New Year’s Eve. They didn’t leave early, not until the sun was up. They needed to arrive after dark, Aziraphale insisted, and the drive wasn’t too long.

Bullshit, in Crowley’s opinion. Not too long was about seven hours from the resort, at the speed limit and with no stops. They drove north, touched the edge of Reykjavik, then swung east on Route 1 and took the Ring Road into eternity. And Aziraphale kept stopping for nibbles and photo opportunities. They took a detour north because he simply had to see Þingvallir National Park, and then he kept taking pictures out of the car window rather than just waiting for the lookout points, and then there was this lovely little farm-to-table place in Reykholt where they had to stop for a late lunch. It had a stunning mountain view, although it also had views into the actual barn and Crowley felt a bit odd eating a hamburger next to its still-living friends.

“Is this the thing?” Crowley asked, every time they stopped. Þingvallir was spectacular, great sweeping hills absolutely spattered with snowcapped mountains and boiling, broken earth. The barn food was good. The landscape was beautiful. But each time, Aziraphale shook his head. He was stalling, the bastard. Wherever he wanted to be, Crowley suspected he wanted to be there at midnight.

It was eleven-thirty when Aziraphale told him to pull over into a nondescript parking lot. They were a third of the way around the Ring Road. They weren’t even close to a town. (Hof didn’t count, it had a total of six intersections and five roads.) It was as godforsaken as Crowley was, and that was saying something.

“Just pull in,” said Aziraphale. Crowley was grumpy and tired. “I promise you, it’s worth it.”

Crowley obeyed. Wherever they were, Aziraphale had dragged them to the ends of the earth for it. Demons trusted no one, but Crowley trusted his angel. Always.

They parked and Crowley stepped out onto black sand. It was gritty and volcanic and nothing special, exactly: it covered the entire island like a blanket. It even pooled up at the bottom of the hot springs. They hadn’t traveled all this way to see sand.

Crowley turned around.

It was a minor miracle, he was sure, that the sky was still so clear and the beach was so empty. They were the only sentient creatures present for miles, and the stars spilled above them in a shining display that was almost as clear as the day Crowley had made them. They looked like diamonds, spilled across a sky of black velvet. And in front of him, in this perfect place, the beach—

“Behind us—they call it Glacier Bay. It’s full of icebergs that break off from the glaciers, and they all exit the bay through that small opening there. They break up and smooth down in the ocean, then get caught in the tide and pulled back here.”

“Angel…”

“They call it Diamond Beach because the ice is so clear and smooth, and the broken ice looks like diamonds on the black sand. One of the employees at the bookshop in Edinburgh went here, they showed me pictures. They do look like diamonds, of course, but I saw the pictures and I thought it looked more like—”

“Stars,” Crowley breathed.

Some of the shards were the size of Crowley’s hand; some were the size of Crowley. They were scattered along the sand like glass on ink, like stars on the sky, like diamonds on velvet, and it was freezing but it was beautiful, and this time Crowley knew exactly whose hand reached for whose. He’d taken Aziraphale’s and grasped it tight.

“I thought we could go for a walk here,” said Aziraphale.

“You brought us to Iceland for a walk?” He’d already started, tugging the angel along behind him. Down the slope to the beach, careful not to slip. Aziraphale cleared his throat and caught up.

“One could put it that way.” The angel extracted his hand from the demon’s in favor of tucking into Crowley’s arm instead. He was clearly trying to be romantic, to cuddle a little, but he was too nervous and his back had gone stiff. Crowley kissed the top of the angel’s head.

“I saw it and it reminded me of you,” said Aziraphale, clearly trying to segue into something. “You helped make the stars. It’s silly, thinking you’re older than me. I wasn’t around yet, not for that part.”

“Didn’t think I was older than you.”

“Not by much.”

“Not by much,” Crowley mimicked in a posh accent. He was teasing. Time as a concept didn’t really apply to angels.

“Hush, you. It made me think, well. You talk about them so much, and I think it was a happy time for you. I hope it was a happy time for you.” Complicated topic. But Aziraphale was building up to something, and Crowley wasn’t going to stop him. “And because, well, because it seems like a memory of a safe place, something important to you—a beginning, really. Not our beginning, not The Beginning—oh dear, maybe I should have done this in a garden—”

“Angel.” Crowley laughed. The sand sunk under their footsteps and the ocean—pure Atlantic, powerful and deep—beat steadily in the background. “Keep going.”

“It just seemed like a good place to ask you a question, that’s all. I didn’t have a diamond. This isn’t very well thought-through.”

Crowley paused. There was a feeling like warmth spreading through his chest.

Aziraphale took the opportunity to let go of Crowley’s arm and turn to face him. They stood there, eyes locked, twin points of light and darkness in a line parallel to the ocean. The angel breathed deeply, and the demon forgot to breathe at all.

“I need you to know what it is that I am asking,” Aziraphale said. “I don’t… There’s so much of this, of our relationship, that I never want to change. I enjoy our independence. I will never stop you from running off to see Bond Films at the cinema or saying unforgiveable things to your plants. I know that over the years we have both developed—ah—close relationships with humans on occasion, and I do not expect that to stop for either of us. I think those relationships, whatever they might be, are important to us.”

“Aziraphale…”

“I think our freedom, however we use it, is important to our dynamic. I don’t want anything to change between us, except perhaps for each of us to… to know. Crowley—Anthony—earlier this year I said something truly horrible to you, and I need you to know it wasn’t true. It has never been true, not really. I’ve been lying to myself. I think I’ve been lying to myself for quite a long time.”

The angel took the demon’s hand.

“I am on our side. Anthony Crowley—”

“Anthony J. Crowley—” It was a reflex.

“Anthony J. Crowley, I have chosen you for six thousand years. I have done so bucking and—and fighting, on occasion. But I have done so. And I know that you’ve done the same to me. In fact—in fact, I think I’ve lied to myself more than you’ve ever lied to me.”

“I’ve never lied to you,” said Crowley, holding that hand like it was the end of the world.

“What I’m asking you,” said Aziraphale, “is simply to… make it official, as it were. Say to each other, directly, that we are on our side and no one else’s. That we will choose each other over all future sides. All future… er, choices. All future loves.”

He removed his signet ring.

“When I say marriage—”

Crowley finally broke down. He wasn’t sure if he was laughing at Aziraphale’s monologue—was this a proposal or a contract?—or crying at the sudden rush of emotion, but he closed one hand around the ring and the other around Aziraphale’s waist and kissed him. Kissed him under the stars and among the diamonds, hours away from civilization, at the stroke of midnight.

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, you idiot, always yes.” Crowley’s hands cupped his angel’s face, drinking in the love that poured from Aziraphale like a fountain. “You’re right. I’ve always picked you above everything. Everyone. Always. Easy to be ourselves and still do that. It’s natural.”

Natural didn’t always mean easy—especially to Aziraphale, who could be loyal to a fault to all the wrong people. But they were free to be themselves. Free to live however they wanted. Free to choose each other. Crowley put the signet ring on his finger, already mentally sketching out a serpentine ring to match it.

This time it was Aziraphale who kissed him.

#Ineffable Husbands #ineffable husbands fanfic #ineffable partners #spoilers in the tags #marriage proposal #new years eve #good omens #aziraphale #crowley #aziraphale and crowley #crowley and aziraphale #Place Without Plot

28 notes · View notes

bomberqueen17 · 5 years ago

Photo

Well I don't remember what yesterday's eaten update was supposed to say and I can't find the one nice long scenery video that was supposed to be in it but whatever. I drove us through the lovely resort town of Borgarnes, across a causeway over a fjord, past some truly amazing scenery and a road I extremely well understand why it was closed the day before even compared to the dicey ones we'd been over, ate lunch in a charming cafe with Live Laugh Love signs in an array of languages (that was back in Borgarnes I'm not editing this caption), and made it without incident to Keflavik where we returned our rental car to a slightly startled clerk (it was supposed to be returned WHERE?!) but they rolled with it because they are with us on Team Roll With It, and they dropped us off at departures and we gave all our luggage to the nice people and then we flew to Canada and it would be really nice to say The End but that's not the end! No, we don't live in Toronto. So we had to repeat last week's epic journey but in reverse and tired, it being 3am Icelandic time by then. So shuttle train to the other terminal to the other train that goes to the real train station where we can get the third train but we were super lucky and barely missed the local so we only had a short wait for the express and the express goes all the way through to Niagara Falls,so we didn't have to get a bus from Burlington to NF like we had on the way out (in reverse of course). So after a long enough trip that I forgot where we were going, the train spat us out directly into the parking lot where our car miraculously still was. So we drove home in a horrid snowstorm but we're used to that and the US and Canada are fans of guardrails so it was great. Our house is still standing and even seems to be in the condition we left it in. Today we have to get our cat and try to dig out from snow and put our lives back together. And maybe later I can write a more concise summary but for now my brain is cheese, devoid of wit. Tl:dr: Home safe! Thanks for following along on this adventure! https://www.instagram.com/p/B6-qATthWe3/?igshid=8ckpt5lim9py

11 notes · View notes

fireflyiceland · 3 months ago

Text

Stay Safe with These Key Driving Rules in Iceland

Planning a self-drive rules Iceland? Make sure you're familiar with the essential driving rules, safety tips, and important guidelines to stay safe on Iceland’s roads. From understanding road signs to adapting to changing weather conditions, being prepared will ensure a smooth and secure journey. Whether you're navigating gravel roads or highways, these must-know tips will help you drive confidently across Iceland’s stunning landscapes. Stay informed, stay safe, and enjoy your trip! Read more for detailed insights and important driving regulations.

#vehicle rental iceland #car rental iceland keflavik #rent a car in iceland

0 notes

johnandsarah · 5 years ago

Text

Honeymoon Day One: The Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik, and Driving at Night

We arrived in Keflavik Monday morning around 8:30 AM Iceland time. John and I both managed to sleep for the entire flight, which is par for the course for him and incredibly unusual for me. I guess the combination of a wedding weekend and a red-eye flight made my plane-snoozing dreams come true.

Getting off of the plane onto the runway was cold and windy enough that we started to wonder whether we had brought warm enough clothes, but we decided to make lemonade out of lemons—more on that later, though.

Our first stop was to pick up the rental car, where a very kind worker gifted us a mobile hotspot (hence my blogging from the wild), and then directly to the Blue Lagoon. I did get to check Iceland goal #1 off the list: touch some moss.

The Blue Lagoon itself was, as we were told, very touristy, but it was also, as we were told, really lovely. We got drinks from the swim-up bar (a Gull beer for John, a smoothie for me), experienced some allegedly pore-purifying minerals with mud masks, and got an incredibly aggressive shoulder massage from a waterfall—all while soaking in the warm waters.

(This photo was taken for us by two lovely ladies named Holly and Barb who were braver than we were when it came to taking their phones into the waters.)

After rinsing the silica off, we had a stunning lunch at the Lava Restaurant, where I finally got my first tea of the day.

Our next stop was Reykjavik, where my first goal was cutting off all this damn hair that I’ve been growing out for months and months. We found a very cool barbershop staffed by some very cool lesbians with very cool hair. They hardly spoke English and I don’t spoke Icelandic at all, but it turns out there’s a lot you can accomplish with hand gestures and a can-do attitude. Ultimately, cutting off about 10 inches of hair took 15 minutes, no product except misted water, and $30. Worth it, I say.

We really liked Reykjavik. The street art is gorgeous, and many of the houses downtown are colorful row houses.

We did, however, have a plan: get some handmade Icelandic clothes so we could stay warm in peace and style. We found a beautiful artisanal wool sweater store called The Handknitters Association of Iceland. I got a beret and scarf made by a gentleman named Philip with wool courtesy of his sheep; John got a lovely cardigan.

After a really great dinner at a vegan place called Gló, we began our long drive northwest to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. This drive started out with achingly lovely scenery at twilight, but as is the way of rural highway driving, it quickly became utterly inscrutable landscape in total darkness. Our GPS worked great, but we honestly had no idea what we were driving past.

Spoiler from the next day: we missed some pretty good stuff in the darkness, but here’s to second chances on the drive back 😆

We arrived at our AirBnB near Hellissandur around 11 PM. It was, again, very dark, but we could hear crashing ocean waves and were fairly certain we’d wake up to another stunning vista. The partly cloudy skies tempted me to stay up late looking for the aurora, but it had been a very long day, so we called it a night in a cozy nest of blankets, unbelievably ready for some rest.

1 note · View note

mileheitcity-blog · 5 years ago

Text

Three Days in Iceland

Pre-Trip

I had planned on hitting Iceland on my way to Europe for some time. It was around 2012 that I first heard of the extended layover on Icelandair, but never really thought to look much into it, at least until I had a reason to. Study abroad finally gave me that reason. Turns out you can stay up to seven days in Iceland on your way to wherever you want to go without incurring extra service fees. Combine that with relatively cheap airfare and it seemed like the easiest way to beat jetlag and see somewhere new. I figured a place like Iceland would be a little expensive, and not wanting to blow my entire wallet before I even hit Amsterdam, I decided on a three day layover. It seemed like enough time to see some of Western Iceland and maybe get a feel for the place. I made sure to pack for some outdoors: raincoat, hiking shoes, swimsuit, sweatshirts. When researching places to stay, I found my hunch about price was correct: Iceland was more than a little expensive. Staying in Reykjavik was out of the question, so instead I found a guesthouse in the village of Akranes, about 45 minutes up the road. After the quarter ended in early June, I flew to Denver to see my parents and tie up some important loose ends before my trip. On June 17, I caught my first flight from Denver International Airport and tried to sleep on the seven hour flight to Keflavik.

Day 1

Our flight was a little late getting out of Denver, so we landed at around 9:30 local time in Iceland. Running on about 3.5 hours of sleep, I got my rental car and headed straight for my 11:00 appointment at the Blue Lagoon. I was running about an hour late, of course, but they didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, it was one of the best customer service experiences I’ve ever had. If I went down the wrong hallway, they immediately pointed me in the right direction or let me through with my wristband anyway. The sushi I had was nourishing after all that time in the air. The water was nothing short of spectacular: milky white, warm and relaxing. Two steam baths and a sauna were open and accessible in the corner and both were quite necessary. One kiosk on the left hand side sold mud masks, like the Dead Sea, and offered a silica one for free. Two rounds of the silica mask made the skin on my face feel as happy as it had been in years. Another kiosk in the corner sold beer and drinks, so I got the Icelandic national brew: Gull. Drinking and driving in Iceland is strictly forbidden, so I wanted to make sure to limit myself to only two drinks on my trip, this being one of them. I’ll get to the other one later. Gull isn’t too bad, but not too great. Something of a standard macro lager, a few shades better than Rainier. Enjoying my drink slowly allowed me to make friends with some folks around me from the Pacific Northwest, which definitely made the transition to a foreign land a little easier. My only regret from a place like this is that eventually you’ll have to leave. But I’ll be back...

Feeling refreshed, relaxed, and sobered up from my one beer, I hopped in the car and went to Reykjavik. It’s a fairly small city: you can see much of the main areas in a day. The main landmark in the city is Halgrimskirkja: the cathedral of the Church of Iceland. It’s fairly impressive, with a really cool looking pipe organ and a statue of Leif Erikson in front. I had forgotten he was of Iceland, that his father was Erik the Red. Not far from Halgrimskirkja was the Laugevegur, the main restaurant and shopping district. It was along this street that I knew where to find my second and final drink in Iceland. Many of the hot spots along this street carried oddly American names: the Chuck Norris Grill, a pub called Boston that looked like it was taken directly out of Cheers. I finally came upon the one I wanted: Lebowskibar. It was absolutely kitsch, sure, but I’m a sucker for anything to do with The Big Lebowski. I had to have my White Russian, and a “hell of a Caucasian” it was.

About 3000 ISK later, I took a short walk to the Icelandic Punk Museum to sober up a bit, but it was nothing special. The coolest thing there was a little joke at Hitler’s expense, which is never a bad thing. After the Punk Museum it was time to head on up to Akranes. There was no one at the desk, but my key was waiting for me inside, with the sun still shining at around 10pm. I took a walk down to the lighthouse at the end of town to catch the closest thing Iceland has to a summer sunset, and caught the midnight sun as I got back to the guesthouse for the night. A solid day one.

Day 2

Got a late start after sleeping off the jetlag and went right for what I really came for: Hákarl. I knew that fermented shark was pretty gnarly, but I wasn’t gonna miss it. The spot to go find shark is on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula at the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum. The museum is located pretty well out in the middle of nowhere, about two hours up the road from Akranes. I didn’t get on the road until almost noon, so I thought I was out of time. I quickly grabbed a cup of coffee and a full tank of gas (around 250ISK per litre!) found my way. I found out later I had quite a bit of sunlight to work with. The Shark Museum itself is a small house on a windswept headland on the northern side of the peninsula. A spectacular view. Undaunted, I paid my 1000 ISK to see the place. The museum itself is a rather eclectic collection of maritime memorabilia and Icelandic antiques. The collection seemed almost unorganized, but I wasn’t there for the collection, I was there for the shark. The presentation was short, but interesting: a burly Icelander explains how the shark is poisonous when eaten fresh because it doesn’t process urine, so they have to basically let the thing rot in wooden tubs before letting it dry out back for a while, leading to its notorious smell. The smell can best be described as a mix of ammonia and urine, which makes sense, and though it is indeed quite foul it’s not nearly as strong or permeating as I expected it to be. It tasted much better than it smelled: like a slightly buttery fish, nothing too offensive. After a short peek at the collection, the burly Icelander directs you to the drying house out back. That’s where the magic happens, and the food gets its stinky reputation. Where the fish was pretty mild, the drying house is extremely pungent and stings your nose. The visual appearance of the shark as its cured is no more appealing: brown, crusty, and oozing with liquid. Overall though, the shark wasn’t too bad. A man in need could almost make a meal out of the stuff, and definitely could make a side dish.

Next stop was Kirkjufell and the town of Grundarfjörður about 30 minutes further out along the peninsula. Kirkjufell was featured on seasons six and seven of Game of Thrones, which was totally why I wanted to see it and not because it was a symbol of Iceland. But that was a nice perk too. I grabbed a hot dog in Grundarfjörður and found a nice little cafe that was also a small library, a great find along the trail. The mountain itself is impressive, and the nearby stream is fed by a sprawling waterfall across the highway. Very picturesque.

My third and final stop was the Vatnshellir Cave on the far end of the peninsula, about another hour out. I pull in at around 17:50, about ten minutes before they close for the day, and this place is remote. I mean even the WiFi router I brought in the car with me, the one that worked for my entire Iceland trip, couldn’t find anything out there. If there was an “end of the Earth”, this was it. The cave itself is an experience onto itself. They fit you with a helmet and a flashlight, and a friendly guide takes you down a long spiral metal staircase made slick by constant water dripping through the soil. The cave was created by a volcanic explosion, like pretty much everything else on this island, and is layered with eons of nature’s bidding. Afteer some time exploring the worn lava rock, you go down another staircase: this one even longer (about 40 meters) and slicker. At the end of the cave tour, the guide has us all close our eyes and turn out our lights. When we open them, all language barriers between the tour group disappears with a loud “whoa!” in relative unison as we all process the complete lack of light. Pitch black has new meaning there. The darkness is absolute, whole, enveloping. There really isn’t a way to describe just how dark it is with absolutely no sunlight whatsoever. After a few meditative minutes we all climbed back up, glad we had made the trek down. On the way out, I happened upon what looked like the keeper of the lighthouse at the end of the jetty lowering the Icelandic flag for the night. Felt like the perfect symbol to cap off a truly Icelandic day.

Day 3

My final day in Iceland I wanted to pack in anything else I missed before I took off to Amsterdam. I got up and headed straight back too Reykjavik. The Alþingi building is beautiful from the outside, and claims to be the oldest active parliament in the world, however, they had no tours for the day. Undaunted, I stumbled to the Settlement Exhibition up the street, colloquially called 871+- 2, in reference to the probably year Iceland was first settled by Vikings, within a range of a year or two. The Settlement Museum is very interactive, and contains replica models of some of the houses the original settlers built. The Settlement Exhibition is part of a museum network with two others, of which I only went to one: the oldest extant house in Reykjavik. The house held a small photo exhibition of Icelandic life in 1918, and was fairly well curated.

My second stop of the day was...shall we say a little different: the Icelandic Phallocalogical Museum. This guy, for some reason, had a large curated collection of animal penises, and somehow found it within himself to mount and display them in a complete museum dedicated to his collection. There are large penises, like that of a blue whale, and small penises, like that of a hamster. He even has a couple of bronze casts of human penises. The voice on the audio guide never explains why he has such a collection, and why he decided to display it on the wall for everyone to see, but boy does he go into detail about each penis. Far more than I wanted to know, but still worth a chuckle.

The Icelandic Rock and Roll Museum was only 30 more minutes down the road in Reykjanesbær , and contained a well curated mix of materials dating back to the early days and some bands I had never heard of. I mostly just went to geek on bunch of Björk and Sigur Rós and Of Monsters and Men. The collection did not disappoint. The museum was interactive, and even had a karaoke booth (that wasn’t soundproof, as I found out later). I was able to get my fill of guitars and strange costumes and even a band made out of wood. Fans of MoPop in Seattle (formerly known as the Experience Music Project) might be a little underwhelmed, but this was a fun tribute to the fascinating music history of such a tiny place. I may have spent a little too much time and energy in the karaoke room singing some of my favorites; the woman working at the desk barged in about halfway through song six (I think?) to tell me the room wasn’t soundproof. Oops.

My next two stops were a bit far away, and it was already 3pm, so I needed to hit the road. Only about nine more hours of sunlight. Reykjadalur Hot Springs got some rave reviews on YouTube, and was only about 90 minutes up the road. Or so I thought. The parking lot sits down at the bottom of a steep mountain pass near the town of Hveragerði. A little coffee shop greets visitors, but it had shut down for the day. It was pretty chili outside so I grabbed my sweatshirt for what I thought was a short walk to the river. Turns out the springs itself is a three kilometer walk up the hill. And people swim in the river. I immediately regretted forgetting both my hiking shoes and my swimsuit. The hike up to the springs is stunning. Sweeping valleys and steep canyons give way to open fields full of sheep. So many sheep. They graze in the valley, drink some of the colder water downstream, and even walk right up towards the trail for the freshest grass. Off in the distance steam literally billows out of the earth. The only time I’ve ever seen anything like it was at Yellowstone, but this was different. It was....quiet. Peaceful. The smell of sulfur carries with the wind. Near the end of the hike, you walk right through one of those steam vents, which was somehow simultaneously refreshing and blinding. The hot springs themselves are more like a spot in the river. Something in the soil is volcanic, so the ground heats the water to some naturally balmy temperatures. The bathing area is nearly the opposite of the Blue Lagoon. There are no amenities, there is no one bringing you a drink or offering you a mud mask. There are no saunas or steam baths, or any real facilities of any kind for that matter. Not a roof in sight, not even a restroom. Only a few privacy barriers indicated a potential spot to change out. I wasn’t exactly prepared for a full swim, so I took my shoes off and soaked my aching feet a while. The hot mineral water was quite soothing, really softened up the calluses.

The hike up and down created quite an appetite. I saw a sign on the road back to the main highway for a pizza bar and geothermal brewery: Ölverk. Good enough for me. The place was a little fancier than I expected, but the food and service were both really delicious. Got a pizza with dates, bacon, and blue cheese on it, and it’s probably the only pizza with fruit I’d do again. I passed on the beer: around 2700 ISK for a taster flight of four, 4000 ISK for a draft pour. Makes the ballpark seem cheap. Turns out the geothermal thing was just how they generated their power anyway, which is kinda cool I suppose, but that’s how they generate much of their electricity there. That’s like saying a brewery in Seattle is hydroelectric powered. It was getting late in the day at this point, but my friend recommended I hit a spot a little further up the road: Kerið Crater. It’s a sinkhole, but an impressive one. The parking lot backs right up to the crater, and there’s a short hike around and a staircase to the bottom. At the bottom is a pool of clean, cool groundwater. Like everywhere else in that country, it was created by volcanic activity. Some kind of sinkhole type process. I took the staircase to the bottom, took a drink of the water (tasted great!), and had a lovely conversation with some folks from Russia. A chat with some folks from the other side of the world seemed like a good way to transition to the next portion of my trip. I took a windy route back through the southern portion of Þingvellir National Park, but it was around 10:30pm at that point so I knew I needed to drive the couple hours back to Akranes to make my flight. The back roads were wide open and peaceful: for kilometers on end I might have been the only person. There was also some gravel, but some experience living in the Colorado mountains served me well. I cranked up the tunes and thought wistfully of the summer ahead of me. Amsterdam, I’m ready.

Final Thoughts

Iceland is a place unto itself. My only regret is that I didn’t allow myself one more day. More than that though, oof. It gets expensive. Outside of Reykjavik is extremely rural and provincial, and Reykjavik is indeed lovely, but not exactly the most cosmopolitan or bustling city. I would go back, and would recommend it to almost everyone, but unless you plan on doing some hardcore expeditions you can see pretty much everything in three to four days. For me, it served its purpose: I relaxed at the Blue Lagoon, ate Hákarl, slept off the jetlag, and adjusted to some of the differences of European culture. Overall, a lovely experience. Oh, and be aware the tap water smells like sulfur.

1 note · View note

fosscarrental · 24 days ago

Text

Top Destinations for a 4x4 Rent A Car Road Trip in Iceland

Iceland’s rugged landscapes, dramatic scenery, and unpredictable weather make it the perfect destination for a thrilling road trip adventure. If you're planning a journey through this magical land, opting for a 4x4 Rent A Car in Iceland is essential. With a 4x4 vehicle, you'll have the freedom to explore the country's diverse terrains, from volcanic craters and glacier lagoons to waterfalls and geothermal springs. Here are some of the top destinations you can explore on a road trip in Iceland with a 4x4 rental.

1. Golden Circle Route

The Golden Circle is one of the most popular road trip routes in Iceland and a great way to kick off your adventure. Starting in Reykjavik, this route covers about 300 kilometers and takes you to three iconic Icelandic landmarks: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. While the roads on this route are mostly paved, having a 4x4 car hire in Iceland provides peace of mind during unpredictable weather conditions, especially in winter.

2. The South Coast and Vik

The South Coast of Iceland offers an extraordinary mix of black sand beaches, waterfalls, and glaciers. As you drive your 4x4 car rental from Keflavik Airport, head towards Vik, a charming coastal village. Along the way, make stops at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the Solheimajokull glacier, and the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach. The 4x4 capability allows you to confidently navigate Iceland’s changing road conditions as you explore these breathtaking locations.

3. Landmannalaugar in the Highlands

For those craving a true off-the-beaten-path experience, Landmannalaugar in Iceland's Highlands is a must-visit. Known for its colorful rhyolite mountains, hot springs, and rugged terrain, this region can only be accessed by a 4x4 vehicle. Driving a 4x4 rent a car in Iceland through the Highlands gives you the freedom to explore the area's untamed beauty, including hiking trails, volcanic landscapes, and geothermal pools. Make sure to plan ahead, as the Highlands are only accessible in the summer months.

4. Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Often called "Iceland in Miniature" due to its diverse landscapes, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is another excellent road trip destination. With a 4x4 vehicle, you can explore hidden beaches, lava fields, and the famous Snæfellsjökull glacier. The rugged backroads on this peninsula make a 4x4 car hire in Iceland the best choice for accessing all the stunning sights, such as the Kirkjufell mountain, Vatnshellir Cave, and Djúpalónssandur beach.

5. The Westfjords

The remote Westfjords are known for their dramatic cliffs, narrow fjords, and small fishing villages. Due to the region’s rough and unpaved roads, a 4x4 rent a car in Iceland is highly recommended for navigating this area. Highlights include the towering cliffs of Látrabjarg, the stunning Dynjandi waterfall, and the hot springs in the village of Drangsnes. The drive can be challenging, but the 4x4 vehicle ensures that you can enjoy every part of this secluded paradise.

6. Vatnajökull National Park and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Head to the southeast of Iceland to explore Vatnajökull National Park, home to Europe's largest glacier. A 4x4 car rental from Keflavik Airport allows you to venture to lesser-known areas in the park, such as Skaftafell and its beautiful waterfall, Svartifoss. Don't miss Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where massive icebergs drift across a serene lake, creating an unforgettable sight.

Conclusion

Choosing a 4x4 rent a car in Iceland for your road trip will open up opportunities to explore Iceland's most breathtaking destinations with ease and comfort. Whether you're sticking to popular routes or heading into Iceland's remote Highlands and Westfjords, a 4x4 vehicle is the ideal companion for navigating the country’s varied terrain. Start your adventure with a 4x4 car hire from Keflavik Airport, and get ready to discover the wonders of Iceland, from towering waterfalls and volcanic landscapes to serene glacier lagoons and hot springs.

#4x4 car hire from Keflavik

0 notes

scandiengbergs3 · 2 years ago

Text

A full report on Tuesday

Here are a few photos from Tuesday (two of our rad apartment in Reykjavik and one of a box of graham cookies that we love!), which was a travel day, so I didn't take many snaps!

So, I'll write a bit here about our journey to the airport Tuesday morning in Oslo, our plane flight, our experience getting to the Reykjavik Airbnb, and our evening just settling in (in the rain).

Our Uber was a tight fit! We ended up fitting all of our luggage in, but it made for a bit of a cramped backseat ride for the kids and me. Now, I don't know if you've ever flown from a large European airport, and I can only speak to this phenomena at airports in a few major European cities and to how it was in Chile, but when you check in in the main departures lobby, there are dozens of numbered check-in counters and a big board that tells you which one to go to. It's not like the airlines always have set ones, like at U.S. airports. And historically, we have found ourselves on the wrong end of some very long lines at these Euro check-in counters!

Anyway, this is a story of one of those times ;)

What happened with us is that I checked us in online and had to only print our baggage tags, but apparently there was an error (and I later discovered what it was) and we actually had to get in one of these massive queues... and it was so long it appeared we'd miss our flight to Reykjavik if we didn't find some intervention.

So, I went to the SAS help counter specifically for asking for help and the lady was very flat and firm that she could do nothing nor even look into any matter concerning baggage. So, back we went to the long line, and we waited a bit longer and the clock was ticking down. Then after a while I went back to the baggage tag printing area and tried again; I got the error again. Ugh! Another customer was asking for help and this other roving help lady was very helpful and recommended we ask some guy at a desk near the massive queue for help since our plane was leaving soon...and help he did! We made our way after a relatively short wait to a desk and the agent there revealed my error: I'd accidentally checked all four bags to Cece's name. So it was due to my hastiness that we ended up with the stressful situation of line-waiting and nail-biting. Anyway, we got through security, got to our gate, had still to wait a bit, and then got on our plane. It was a smooth and easy 2.5-hour flight to Reykjavik with relatively non-bumpy air, which I still contend is more common than in the U.S. which, and I have no idea why but I stand by this theory, has more dramatically bumpy air space.

We landed at Reykjavik, got our bags without event, and called Thrifty car rental and waited for their shuttle. Now, we'd really struggled finding a car booking that wasn't a million dollars a day 😆 ... prices had been so high for daily car rentals in Reykjavik! But so too are they everywhere!! So, one day a few weeks ago I was looking on Expedia, *again*, and we saw a listing that was $17 dollars a day through Thrifty!! Soooo, this was clearly an error, but we snatched it up and took a bunch of screenshots.

Well, within two days, we got the fateful email from Thrifty that said, well, we've caught our error, but too bad for you! It continued, we will give you a discount, mobile wifi, and an upgrade. We felt frustrated, but had no option but to accept. As I said, rental car rates in Iceland are insane.

Ok, so we got our rental car on Tuesday when we arrived and made our way, 45 minutes, from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik. But, you know where we stopped? Somewhere we've always been a bit curious about in Iceland. Don't laugh. Costco! This may seem like a really American thing to do, but, really, we were so curious. Turns out, and this might be very unsurprising to you, it is very similar to a U.S. Costco -- same muffins even ;) The kids were transfixed by the lady decorating sheet cakes behind plexiglass so they watched her for about twenty minutes while Eric and I got some skyr (Icelandic yogurt), milk, soy milk, berries, and, for Eric, beets. After Costco, we tried --unsuccessfully-- for like thirty minutes to find our Airbnb! This was these folks' first time Airbnbing out their place and they didn't have the address input correctly on their Airbnb owner’s side so when Airbnb populated the directions, it took us to the wrong place :( Ugh! We called them in Italy and we ultimately found it!

Ok -- and here is where I am picking back up after ending here before . . .

So, the couple, and their two daughters, that live in this apartment are in Italy right now, so they’re Airbnb-ing their place out; their parents/parents-in-law live downstairs and one of the sisters lives below that in another apartment. This row house is really a family thing! The Grandpa-aged guy-- so, the father/father-in-law of the people whose apartment we’re staying in-- is the contact for us. And we met him when we checked in. Such a cool Icelandic dude! He introduced us to the keys which, unfortunately, did not work. He said his son and daughter-in-law had had them cut right before they left, but didn’t check them. So, he couldn’t even get the apartment door key to work. But since it is basically all family up and down in this house, except for the top-floor apartment, which has a renter in it, we have just had to resort to leaving our apartment door unlocked. We can, after the Grandpa-aged guy used WD40, use a key to open the door that goes to the street. So that is a success ;)

Since we are the first people to stay in this apartment as an Airbnb, they did not have everything figured out -- like, they did not have an instructions sheet, with wifi and laundry information, on it ready for us when we arrived. We got all of that figured out within a few hours, though. As you can see in the photos, this apartment is beautiful and it is so large! Now, we are staying a bit out of the real city center, where we’ve stayed before; we are a bit east. But, we can still walk to the main drag -- Laugavegur -- in about 25 minutes. This apartment, since it is home to a kindergartner, has a lot of toys, so the kids really would happily just stay in the apartment during our whole time here and play ;) We have tried to create time for them to do just that.

One fun tidbit: the Grandma-aged woman of this house has actually been to Albuquerque! Of all people, it is the Unsers who she worked for as an au pair many years ago!

I will write again tomorrow to fill you in on our Wednesday when we did SO MUCH sightseeing and adventuring. And now, Thursday has come to a close, so I have to find time to write about that too, when we did SO MUCH MORE!! I have oodles of gorgeous photos to share, so I will pop a few of those up on the blog soon. Bye!

0 notes