Into the Westfjords!
Our ride is here!
5/23/25
I’m still recovering from jet lag so I’ll be brief tonight.
Our flight from Nashville to Iceland was uneventful. I was lucky to sleep more that not which made arrival day much easier. We picked up our rental car, did a bit of shopping (a cooler for our travel food) and headed north.
I’m still recovering from jet lag so I’ll be brief tonight.
Our flight from Nashville to Iceland was uneventful. I was lucky to sleep more that not which made arrival day much easier. We picked up our rental car, did a bit of shopping (a cooler for our travel food) and headed north.
Pizza donuts....these people are next century!
We went around Reykjavik on the bypass and stopped at a town about half way to our first stop. We did a bit of grocery shopping in our favorite grocery store called Netto. We saw such local delicacies as “pizza donuts”. They also had a huge yarn section as so many people knit here.
We spent the night at Hotel Fransiskus in Stykkishulmur. Nuns move to the area many years ago and started a hospital. The hotel was either the first hospital or where the nuns were housed. The nuns cared for patients and ran the hospital.
We spent the night at Hotel Fransiskus in Stykkishulmur. Nuns move to the area many years ago and started a hospital. The hotel was either the first hospital or where the nuns were housed. The nuns cared for patients and ran the hospital.
Hotel Fransiskus
The hotel was either the original hospital or the convent. A newer hospital is attached to the hotel but separate. The hotel even had an active chapel where many people came to pray during our visit. We ran into a couple of nuns and the priest while there so it’s still an active church/chapel.
A standard Hotel Fransiskus room
We had a lovely breakfast at our hotel. It is usually a lot of fresh breads and fruits, cold cuts and cheeses, and of course coffee and juices. After breakfast we loaded up and drove around the small town for a while. We shared an Icelandic hotdog from a food truck, and decided we should head for our next mode of transportation.
From the stern of Ferry Baldur
We took the Ferry Baldur from Stykkisholmur to the West Fjords. It rocked a little but wasn’t bad at all. We had beautiful views of all the islands and even stopped at one called Flatey. The crew unloaded supplies from the ferry and onloaded huge flats of fresh fish to be brought to the mainland.
Flatey
We started chatting with a Canadian traveler named Makayla. She had just graduated college and was treating herself to an Icelandic adventure. She starts to work soon and wants to travel before beginning her career. She’s obviously the adventurous sort, heading out on this journey alone.
The car deck of Ferry Baldur
After leaving the ferry we drove around a bit and decided to check out the nearby hot spring that is right on the ocean. Sadly, I had a bit of an accident before leaving home where a chainsaw grazed my leg. It is healing but we didn’t think it wise to get in the hot spring until it healed a bit more.
Makayla and other ferry passengers
We walked down to find our new friend Makayla in the spring with a couple from Colorado and another couple from NYC. We all arrived on the same ferry. We asked about taking a photo as the hot spring looked so awesome! I wish we were able to use it. Maybe in a couple days.
First waterfall of the trip!
We did a two mile round trip hike up to our first waterfall of the trip then headed to our hotel. Hotel Flokalundur is just lovely. Nice rooms, a nice staff, and an excellent restaurant. Laurie had fresh cod and I had a lamb steak sandwich on fresh homemade bread. The food was excellent.
We headed back to the room to download photos and work on the blog. I’m gonna turn in now….but tomorrow holds more amazing adventures!
Be sure to check out the slide show for extra photos! Click on each photo for a larger view as well as a caption!
We headed back to the room to download photos and work on the blog. I’m gonna turn in now….but tomorrow holds more amazing adventures!
Be sure to check out the slide show for extra photos! Click on each photo for a larger view as well as a caption!
