Thanks for sharing your memories and photos, Percy. Looks like you had very similar weather to us in Reykjavik - we started our trip in a heat wave but by the time we left we'd seen quite a lot of rain. We did "splash out" at the Blue Lagoon but your suggestion looks like an excellent alternative.

Triviata.......how tempting! Paris is always a good idea. Wine with you two even a better idea.

Ooops, sorry for the typo. Traviata, like the opera not Triviata like the bits of information.

Iceland.

I think the clue is in the name.

If the weather co operates I’d probably say that it would be a stunning place. However, when we visited the weather didn’t help, it rained constantly in February for a week and so windy. Other than on one day which we managed to have one of the best days we have ever experienced. It was depressing to be in an area which probably should have been 15oC colder for the time of year and emphasised the issue of rising global temperatures. Strangely enough, the week after we left the temperatures dropped to -5oC there was a snow storm and the images looked beautiful.

We have visited far more stunning landscapes and the excessive tourists at each location was a shame. Add to this the silly realities cost of living and the fact that some of the locals were definitely tourist weather worn, left us feeling fairly empty.

HOWEVER, on the one clear day we booked a guided walk into one of the glaciers and into the ice caves which had formed. This was simply to second best thing we ever did.

I’d say definitely go and enjoy with your friends but be aware that it is a busy, costly wilderness.

Thanks for posting all the photos. The ones with the blue skies make Iceland look very tempting, the ones with the gray skies not so much. Guess you have to wing it and hope fir the best,

Tom_mn, We jumped on the cheap Saga fares ($997 RT from Boston) when the opening was first announced, and we are going in July. We found similar costs to those you found. We are staying 5 nights at a AirBNB ($140/night all in) in Reykjavik and 3 nights at a hotel ($200/night) in Vik. Our rental car is $700 for a compac with automatic and an additional driver.

My only concern is with the COVID test that we'll need for our return flight, as we will be in Vik for our last 3 nights. Since we leave on a Tuesday and test sites are closed on the weekend, we'll have to get our test on a Monday. We will probably aim to get the tests in Selfoss, as I have not seen any indication that Icelandair accepts Abbott's BinaxNOW COVID-19 Home Test that United and American will accept.

We flew in one morning (2am) in August and found everyone asleep but the city bright from the sun. The local spas spread everywhere are very good value and make up for the Blue Lagoon

I went to Iceland in May a few years ago and had a very fun trip. I am linking my trip report here:
Trip Report Iceland trip report! - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (fodors.com)

We stayed in the city the entire trip and took day trips. When driving remember there are cameras clocking your speed on these long and lonely roads. So don't drive too fast! Never made it to the Penis museum although we did look for it. My daughter and I really enjoyed our time there. It is not like anywhere else. The shopping is all of these really itchy sweaters. I thought for sure we would buy a sweater but the wool is very itchy! The wines were awful and expensive so I drank gin and tonics mostly. I found the food could be very good or not very good. Everything is expensive and renting a car is very costly. Get the insurance on the car even if you are not off roading. Some of the main roads turn to gravel. It is a strange land with a unique landscape. People are friendly and everything you buy or do is put on a credit card. There is no real need for cash at all.

Percy - who was your guide? What did you do with the guide? Thank you!!!!!

gruezi:

First I came to Reykjavik 3 days early , so I could see all I wanted in Reykjavik.
I did not need a guide in Reykjavik as I knew where 98.2 % of all the places I wanted to see were !!

I had a small group Tour to do the Golden Circle and also Thingviller where you will walk between the European and American Teutonic Plates.

There is a flag here as this was where the World's first Parliament was.

This tour ends back in Reykjavik.

However since I came for 2 weeks I wanted to see as much of the Island as possible, so for our group of 5 we had a Private Guide.

The guide did all the driving and all the explanations and taught us the pronunciation of Icelandic words, which mean I should have extended the trip for a year !!1

Actually after a while you get pretty good at those names....Really !

We toured the whole Island including all those zig-zag fjords in the upper Eastern area of the Country.


You of course read my Trip Report of how I landed in the Iceland jail........ so please do not mention my name or that you even know me.

Also you read how embarrassed I was at the Penis Museum !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I


A few pictures to wet your whistle !!


You gets to sample Icelandic baked goods and herrings and eggs all cooked by Thermal heat underground.. My driver Kris on the right

Getting to leave Gullfoss ( Waterfall)

Walking along the path between the European and American Tectonic Plates. Zoom in to the Flag on a Pole , that is where the World's First Parliament was.

The lovely Valley at Thingviller National Park,as you look down from your path above. We walked down there.

Fountain at the Akureyri Botanical Gardens, the most Northernly Gardens in the World. Close to the Arctic Circle !

Our lunch meal Bacon Lamb Burger and Beer $ 75.00 !!

The guide and I walked the Skaftafellsjokull Trail to the end sign. That is a solid iceberg in back. We did several hiking trails.

My Buddy ( guide Kris) at the end of a hiking trail.
All 6 foot 9 inches of him !

Thanks Percy!

Anytime