It's weird to think that I have been here for a week. Driving around, taking in the views, hiking, and just taking in the quiet. Iceland is very different from New Zealand and I haven't decided if I like it yet or not. Iceland is beautiful, yes but I'm not sure if this is the place I would necessarily want to come back to on a regular basis. I do know that there are people who come here two or three times a year and I could understand why. There is so much to see and honestly not enough time to see it all. When your driving on the ring road it's not so bad getting around but if you are going to other places that are off the main road then it takes some time. Some places have gravel roads. Other places have potholes for days and both of those slow you down. Not only that but you have animals that just are wandering in and out of the roads on a consistent basis so you have to be paying attention or you could hit a ram, sheep, horse, or even a cat.

I just don't know how I would feel about coming back here. It's weird saying that because most places I go to I have a sense of wanting to return but Iceland hasn't hit that mark yet for me. I think it might be because I have been a little stressed out while I have been here. There have been some days where I am just frustrated and upset but then the next day that turns around and I am loving the adventure. I don't know what it is yet and I havent made up my mind about this beautiful country but I am sure that I will know if I want to make a return trip or not before I board my flight home. 

There is so much to do and see I just wish the weather would cooperate and stop being so damn rainy and windy. It really has thrown off a few days for me here and there but I am doing my best and keeping up with my plan.

 

Here are some lessons that I have learned while I have been traveling around Iceland.

The connection here sucks in Iceland and it is not fun when you wanna write for the people who are following you. So that is a new lesson for you all. If you work from home and you are camping in Iceland, be warned that 90% of the time you won't have a connection. Sure you might have cell phone service but in terms of Wi-Fi oh no. That is not a thing around here. It's not around every corner like it is in the U.S or in New Zealand. Here it is sparse and difficult to come across. Honestly, I should have expected that but at the same time, it was not a lesson I wanted to learn the hard way.

Coffee. Good ol fashion Joe. The elixir of life and self-enhancing performance drugs. We are so used to having access to it almost 24/7 in the United States and yet here in Iceland it is almost like a luxury when you are a tourist. If you are not on the Ring road and are in the Western region of Iceland then forget getting coffee. Especially this time of the year. Most of the places that serve coffee are closed or abandoned. While I have been over here driving hours and hours I have literally been fighting the pounding headache that has come with not having access to coffee. Of course, me being me, just put up with it and powered through it the best I could. But if you are like me, it might be good to bring a coffee press and buy ground coffee here so that you don't run into the same issue I did.

Discover only works at campgrounds (most of them), some gas stations, and of course the grocery store. If you are trying to pay for a rental with them then the card will say that it is an invalid card number and it will decline. Not only that but if you go to some self-serving pumps up in the western region then you have 50-50% of it declining.

Not speaking the language isn't the end of the world but you definitely get judged big time for it. Luckily the know English but if you go to some spots in Iceland it's a little broken and it can be difficult to communicate. If you stay on the ring road though it seems to be pretty ok. Just be aware that you may get some judgment. If you know how to drive stick then this will save you thousands of dollars while you are traveling over here. Why do I say this? Well because pretty much everyone over here drives so its as common as automatic is in the U.S. When I rented the camper van I got the stick shift and it was at least 1,000 cheaper than the automatic cars and that says something when you are trying to save a few extra bucks. Not only that but most stick shifts seem to be diesel which goes a long way here. Yes, it's more expensive but if you are one of those people who wants to get a good deal and save some cash then it is worth the extra dime. Right now that is all I have for you guys. I'm gonna try and write more but like I said connection sucks here in Iceland. Tomorrow will be the halfway mark for my trip. Time sure does fly by when you're out enjoying life

Here is a picture of the first night's sunset here in Iceland

One of the things I learned quickly here in iceland is that the hiking is intense. What they call "moderate" here is actually considered difficult back in the United states. Just hiking three miles is a feat just because of how steep everything is. I learned this from my very first hike a few hours after I got my camper van. I had no idea where I was going, all I knew was that I needed coffee go keep myself going and while searching for it I ended up running into this trail. 

Of course I couldn't read the sign because it was in islandic (of whatever the language is here) and not a lick of english but I did know that the trail was at least 3 miles long. Of course they have everything in kilometers here so it was guess work on my part but I figured I would grab my camera and get to hiking. After all what was the worst thing that could happen. 

So with a more positive mindset and a cup of coffee in me I started this trek up. At first it seemed pretty normal and I honestly felt pretty good. Even though I had jetlag I seemed to be ok with the climb. About a mile in things changed quickly. The view was spectacular, sure but my legs were working to get up this climb. I stopped at a sign to see where I was and how far I had to go and which direction (I came to a fork in the trail) and after a minute of trying to figure it out I gave up. Luckily though, a women came up go me and asked if I needed help. When I asked her which way to go she explained that one was shorter but very steep and the other path was a little easier but longer. Thanking her I stood and looked at the view in front of me and the destination behind me. It looked far but I had nothing else to do so I decided to do the short cut and started going up. 

 

The trail was no joke but the view, was incredible. I ended up going 2,552 ft and I even signed a book up there to show I did it. It was a nice turn around after the craziness I had with getting my camper. I just felt so down and I had no idea what to do but stretching my legs, getting some coffee and having some time to really get a look at where I was need up making me feel better. Of course it was only the beginning of may adventure. 

 

Today is Day 3 in Iceland and do I have some stories to tell you all. So as you may or may not know I came to Iceland to celebrate my 23rd birthday. Just like last year I was pumped for the adventure and seeing a new country. This one, of course, was a little bit different circumstances though. See When I had booked this flight to Iceland I was with my ex at the time and this trip was supposed to be to celebrate both of our birthdays as well as celebrate our one year anniversary. Of course, that didn't work out and I ended up leaving him. Well even though I left him I didn't leave the idea of seeing another beautiful country. So I bought my ticket from him, paid for the campervan and was on my way. Even though this trip was supposed to be with someone else at my side I was perfectly ok with going on a trip y myself. I am one of those rare people who just don't have time to wait for others and will literally go anywhere by myself. Well, almost anywhere. Some places are not worth the risk but when it comes to Iceland or New Zealand hell yes I'm going. So The time arrives, I get to the airport and I give the lady my luggage. We chat for a bit and after we are done my Dad and I head off to the bar where I decide to have a few drinks before I take off. Of course, we are chatting about what I want to do, what I want to see, the new drone I got, and ect. It's about a thirty-minute chat and in that time I basically inhale two drinks. By the time we say goodbye and I am through the security I have a nice buzz. Of course, the entire time that I am going through this process of flying, getting off, going through security, and everything I am wondering what this trip will be like. I wonder what the differences will be between Iceland and New Zealand. Even the differences between Iceland and the U.S. There is so much to see and do and I have no idea what I am going to do while I am there. All I know is that the last four days I have planned, everything else I do not. Finally, after almost a full day of flying, I land in Iceland and when I get off and through the maze of hallways and people I get to the other side to see that there isn't anybody there for the mini campers. Immediately I feel this weird feeling in my stomach. I go up to the desk and ask for some assistance. Both ladies seemed confused by the name and give me this look of "what is that?" and for a little bit, I fumble around trying to figure out what to say to them or how to describe the company that I barely knew. Eventually, they found a number and after talking a little bit they send someone to the airport with the campervan. It is super small but I honestly was ok with it. I Don't need the luxury to be able to enjoy myself. So we go through the process of learning about the camper. He tells me where everything is. The fire extinguisher, the burner, my ice chest, the power outlet, where the maps are, the linens, and etc. TO be perfectly honest I was pretty done halfway through. I was exhausted from flying and I was running on three hours of sleep and one cup of coffee. I just wanted to get in the van and start on my journey. Finally, after what feels like forever we get in the van and start the paperwork so I can take off in this van. He goes over prices, he goes over how much I owe, and finally, he takes off the second driver. I hand him my card annnnnd bam, the card is declined. Without hesitation I panic. NO way. The card I was going to use for this transaction was declined. Holy mother of balls. He tries a few more times but the reader says that the card number is invalid. Of course, I'm not really thinking and I'm freaking out. After a few minutes, I go into the airport and I charge my Eglin Card to get the money out so I can pay. This whole process takes about thirty minutes. Of course, something would go wrong right off the bat. Why wouldn't it? With money in hand, I go back to the van and I hand it to him and as it turns out I was missing the last $100 so we charge my eglin credit card. That one goes through. To be honest, I'm frustrated at this point and a little lost. I was supposed to have that money so that I could get a tattoo and I just spent the cash I had to pay off this van. What a rip off. After a second in the car to myself and trying to calm down I begin driving. It wasn't until later that I realized what little this an had to offer.

It's my second day in Iceland and as I type this I am trying to figure out what I wanna do. See tonight im star chasing and let me tell you, its not easy. There are so many factors that make it difficult and the one I'm facing right now is the clouds. It's causing me issues and I don't know if I can get any photos tonight but I do know that I am gonna keep trying. 

So far Iceland has been a whirlwind and I have so many things to tell you guys. Iceland is beautiful, yes but it is also a landscape that is difficult to maneuver and understand. Even the people are different then I expected. It's weird to be here and I haven't quite adjusted yet. There are so many differences between here and new Zealand and it's difficult to choose where to begin. 

For now though, know that I am well and that I am alive. Things are going well and I am happy about being here. I have so many stories to tell and it's only day 2. 

Stay tuned for those stories