THE LOW DOWN
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND
Thanksgiving week spent on a road trip around the Golden Ring Road in Iceland, with the homebase in Reykjavik. I love Iceland! It's probably one of the most romantic places ever in my book. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the climate is temperate. It was actually warmer in Iceland than in New York City in November. I was trying to gather my girlfriends, Sarah and Andreea, to join me on this trip, but falling on Thanksgiving week, it's hard to pull people away. But I wasn't alone. My photographer friend, Peter, kept me company. I wish I could show you some of his photos, which are some much better than the ones I have below. I have one dreamy print of his from this trip.
The climate and terrain is so other worldly - a country of barren moonscapes, glaciers, geyers, lava deserts, geothermal springs and mossy tundras. The light is extraordinary- so sharp and so low, almost horizontal. Shadows casts four to five times longer than their objects.
The first stop before even checking into the hotel was a direct drive to Blue Lagoon from the airport. It's the place to soothe and cure any jetlag. The milk-blue phosphorescent saltwaters are dreamy. And here below, you'll see the rest of the road trip, a few of many stops.
The climate and terrain is so other worldly - a country of barren moonscapes, glaciers, geyers, lava deserts, geothermal springs and mossy tundras. The light is extraordinary- so sharp and so low, almost horizontal. Shadows casts four to five times longer than their objects.
The first stop before even checking into the hotel was a direct drive to Blue Lagoon from the airport. It's the place to soothe and cure any jetlag. The milk-blue phosphorescent saltwaters are dreamy. And here below, you'll see the rest of the road trip, a few of many stops.
DAYS: November 20-26, 2005
ESSENTIALS AND TIPS: Unless you are a skilled winter driver, I would discourage most people from driving in late November. We actually got stuck in the snow when we passed through the tundra. We had to turn back around. Some roads were fine, but the distances from one extreme climate to another are so close, it's hard to predict the climate. It could have been a freakishly scary situation, since there was no one on the road, but luckily after waiting for a while, a SVU crossed paths and pulled us out.
Also, keep in mind, November you only have a few hours of light a day, about 10am-4pm, so you have to really plan your route. But Icelandic Air had great package deals in November and I couldn't resist and loved every moment of it.
Also, keep in mind, November you only have a few hours of light a day, about 10am-4pm, so you have to really plan your route. But Icelandic Air had great package deals in November and I couldn't resist and loved every moment of it.
RECOMMENDED BOOK: Independent People - Halldor Laxness
Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.
