Headin' Home
Hangin' out in the land of Dunkin' Donuts (Boston)
6/2-6/3/23
We finished our stay at our tiny cabin in Stykkisholmur. It was very serviceable and did what we needed. We headed out after checking out for our last leg on this journey. We go from Stykkisholmur to Keflavik, the main Iceland airport.
Our trip is more utility than scenic, passing through areas that lead into Reykjavik and more populated areas. We stop in one of the “suburbs” of Reykjavik to grab something for lunch at the Netto grocery store (known for baked goods).
We finished our stay at our tiny cabin in Stykkisholmur. It was very serviceable and did what we needed. We headed out after checking out for our last leg on this journey. We go from Stykkisholmur to Keflavik, the main Iceland airport.
Our trip is more utility than scenic, passing through areas that lead into Reykjavik and more populated areas. We stop in one of the “suburbs” of Reykjavik to grab something for lunch at the Netto grocery store (known for baked goods).
Our little cottage in Stykkisholmur
During one of our nights in the north country/Myvatn area several nights before, we met three travelers I would guess were in their 20’s. We chatted with them at our guesthouse where they were staying as well. They were from Italy and we discussed travel and we shared some of our photos with them. One was a fellow drone pilot and I remember his name was Luka.
On our way south today, a Jeep Cherokee passed us, then immediately pulled off the road. We passed them and then they passed us back….with the windows down and all passengers waving. It was Luka and his travel companions, nearly 300 miles from where we met them! We of course waved back and tooted the horn.
On our way south today, a Jeep Cherokee passed us, then immediately pulled off the road. We passed them and then they passed us back….with the windows down and all passengers waving. It was Luka and his travel companions, nearly 300 miles from where we met them! We of course waved back and tooted the horn.
A little shopping for something to eat
While in the Netto to buy baked goods, who do we run into? Luka and friends! Sometimes fate causes us to run into people repeatedly…..although I’m unsure why. We chatted a while about our travels and Luka told me he had been reading our blog. It was nice to connect with them again. I know they’re flying home on 6/4 and I wish them a safe trip.
We arrive at Keflavik a few hours later and stay at probably the nicest place we’ve been. It’s called Ace Guest House. It was a huge room with a kitchenette, kitchen table, TV with lounge chairs, and a huge bathroom. It was delightful and a great place to stay!
We arrive at Keflavik a few hours later and stay at probably the nicest place we’ve been. It’s called Ace Guest House. It was a huge room with a kitchenette, kitchen table, TV with lounge chairs, and a huge bathroom. It was delightful and a great place to stay!
Garður Folk Museum
We explore Keflavik, which was our first introduction to Iceland in 2012. We had dinner at Kaffe Duus, a restaurant where we had dinner in 2012….and the food was still exceptional. We went to the lighthouses in Garður, repeating our travels of over a decade ago. It was still beautiful.
We visited a Icelandic culture/history museum at the lighthouses, The Garður Folk Museum. The museum is owned by the town and the curator gave us a tour of their collection. It was such a pleasant surprise and we learned about life in that area of Iceland through history, with a concentration on the 20th century.
We visited a Icelandic culture/history museum at the lighthouses, The Garður Folk Museum. The museum is owned by the town and the curator gave us a tour of their collection. It was such a pleasant surprise and we learned about life in that area of Iceland through history, with a concentration on the 20th century.
Garður lighthouses
The museum had a winch truck that one man used to help install a water pipeline from Reykjavik to Keflavik in the 70’s if I recall. His name was Guðni Ingimundarson and he used the truck for 50 years, until his death in 2004.
He also used the winch to pull broken motors from boats. The fishermen would tell him to throw the dead engine on the beach to rust. He decided he would try to fix one of the broken motors. Apparently he was quite good at it and the museum now has his collection of 60 repaired engines, all of which still run.
He also used the winch to pull broken motors from boats. The fishermen would tell him to throw the dead engine on the beach to rust. He decided he would try to fix one of the broken motors. Apparently he was quite good at it and the museum now has his collection of 60 repaired engines, all of which still run.
A boat at the museum
We were also told he was very kind and never seemed to charge people full price for any of the work he did. He did all matter of work and was a very well known local figure. From what the curator said he was a local hero and loved by many.
He also would often be seen with a crowd of local children happily riding with him in the cab of his old winch truck. When he did blasting for the pipeline, he would round up the local kids who loved to watch it go boom! Often times he would let one of the children actually push the plunger on the detonator.
He also would often be seen with a crowd of local children happily riding with him in the cab of his old winch truck. When he did blasting for the pipeline, he would round up the local kids who loved to watch it go boom! Often times he would let one of the children actually push the plunger on the detonator.
Small shelter with a glass front in a park looking over the ocean in Keflavik. So you and a friend can sit and chat, out of the wind.
We didn’t expect to have such a lovely time in the museum….but we did. It was so enjoyable and gave us a look into the lives of the locals and their history. I also got to fly the drone out by the lighthouses!
Keflavik has grown so much since our visit in 2012. There are apartment buildings, new businesses, so much more than we saw on our past visit. Our 2012 visit was just as Iceland tourism was starting to ramp up. It’s huge now. What used to be a sleepy 4 gate airport is now massive, handling 9.8 million passengers in 2017 (pre-Covid). They’re handling 350k-450k a month right now.
Keflavik has grown so much since our visit in 2012. There are apartment buildings, new businesses, so much more than we saw on our past visit. Our 2012 visit was just as Iceland tourism was starting to ramp up. It’s huge now. What used to be a sleepy 4 gate airport is now massive, handling 9.8 million passengers in 2017 (pre-Covid). They’re handling 350k-450k a month right now.
Keflavik terminal
We rose this morning at an unholy 5:30 a.m. Iceland time. We had to drop the rental car and then get to the airport to clear security. Once this was complete, we sought out breakfast and sat for quite some time before we could board. Our flight was uneventful and we’re currently on layover in Boston.
We’re one JetBlue flight from Nashville, and will have been up nearly 24 hours when we get to the house....with the exception of an occasional nap. We rose at 5:30 a.m. Keflavik time (12:30 a.m. Nashville time) and hope to be home by 11:00 p.m. Laurie had a little nap in the airport and I'm shooting for a nap on the plane to Nashville.
We’re one JetBlue flight from Nashville, and will have been up nearly 24 hours when we get to the house....with the exception of an occasional nap. We rose at 5:30 a.m. Keflavik time (12:30 a.m. Nashville time) and hope to be home by 11:00 p.m. Laurie had a little nap in the airport and I'm shooting for a nap on the plane to Nashville.
KEF to BOS flight. Yes, the line goes all the way down.
In a week or so we’ll post a recap as we always do, with more photos, our observations, and our thoughts about the trip. This is usually one of the most popular posts on our trips, and I’ll let everyone know when we post.
Thank you all for following along. We’ll do our final post….then start planning our next one. I also have some incredibly stunning videos that I’ll edit and post in the next month or two. Your interests in our travels humble us and we’re so happy we could share them with you.
Be well. See this world.
Thank you all for following along. We’ll do our final post….then start planning our next one. I also have some incredibly stunning videos that I’ll edit and post in the next month or two. Your interests in our travels humble us and we’re so happy we could share them with you.
Be well. See this world.
