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Icelandic Adventures – Part 2 | East Coast and North Iceland

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May 28, 2018

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If you missed part one of my Icelandic adventures, you will want to check it out HERE.

My first post was getting a wee bit long and if I was getting tired writing the post, I’m going to assume it would have been too long for you to read too. And honestly, I may break this up into a third installment because there is SO MUCH to see and talk about in Iceland that it’s kind of hard not to ramble about all of the awesomeness we saw during our 12 days in the land of fire and ice. 

Day 4 |Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon + Diamond Beach + East Fjords

We started day four early with a morning Zodiac Boat Tour of Jökulsárlón lagoon. I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous about this boat tour as we were on a smaller, faster boat (that looked like a motorized intertube!) and I was little nervous about getting bounced off into the icy cold abyss of the lagoon, but thankfully that was not the case! We got floatation suits to wear (which we looked really hot in! haha) as well as safety vests, so it was fine. We also were able to get up much closer to the glaciers with these boats. We even saw some seals while on our 1-hour boat ride! Such a cool (quite literally) experience!

Gearing up in my floatation suit for my Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Everyone walking towards our Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland.  Tour guide holding up ice while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Ice while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. A seal sunbathing while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. A seal sunbathing while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Taking in the view after our Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Jumping for joy after our Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Cell phone panorama of laciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland. Glaciers while riding the Zodiac Boat Tour on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in Iceland.

After our boat ride, we headed over to Diamond Beach (which is on the other side of the bridge in the photo above). This is where the broken off pieces of the icebergs eventually head to sea. But some of them end up floating up on the beach and they tend to glisten like diamonds amongst the black sand beach! It’s such a pretty sight to see!

Ice remnants from icebergs from the glacial lagoon at Diamond Beach in Iceland. Sitting on remnants from icebergs from the glacial lagoon at Diamond Beach in Iceland. Sitting on remnants from icebergs from the glacial lagoon at Diamond Beach in Iceland.

After this stop, we did a lot of along “The 1” on the winding roads of the East Fjords.

Taking a photo out the window as we travel through the east Fjords of Iceland. Sheep crossing the road as we travel through the east Fjords of Iceland. Random abandoned home with sheep as we travel through the east Fjords of Iceland. Icelandic horses and mountains as we travel through the east Fjords of Iceland. Icelandic horses and mountains as we travel through the east Fjords of Iceland.East coast views along the East Fjords of Iceland. East coast views along the East Fjords of Iceland. East coast views along the East Fjords of Iceland.

Along the way there is one spot where there is a random red chair nailed into the rocks. It’s hard to NOT stop and take a silly photo with it! (Coordinates – Þjóðvegur, Iceland, 64.341729, -14.928522)

The red chair bolted to a rock along the Iceland ring road at Þjóðvegur, Iceland, 64.341729, -14.928522.

Last stop before we made it to our guesthouse for the evening was at Sveinstekksfoss Waterfalls in Austerland, Iceland. Not too many folks here so it made for some peaceful exploration.

Travelers exploring Sveinstekksfoss waterfalls on the east side of Iceland. Fisherman at Sveinstekksfoss waterfalls on the east side of Iceland. Sveinstekksfoss waterfalls on the east side of Iceland. Lil taking a photo at Sveinstekksfoss waterfalls on the east side of Iceland. Rhiannon coming to meet us at Sveinstekksfoss waterfalls on the east side of Iceland. Foss stream stencil on a rock at Sveinstekksfoss waterfalls on the east side of Iceland. Travelers exploring Sveinstekksfoss waterfalls on the east side of Iceland. Random troll homes stenciled on rocks along route 1 on the east coast of Iceland.

So as we got closer to our guesthouse in Borgarfjördur, the roads got SUPER windy and there was a lot of up cliffs and down cliffs…to say our blood pressures soared a bit on these narrow, unpaved roads is an understatement! Lol.  But we finally made it to our place – Blabjorg Guesthouse. This place was definitely different to what I’m used to. First off, our room was so super tiny that we couldn’t bring our suitcases into the room…we had to take out what we needed and bring it up to our room. Second, they included shared bathroom/showers/kitchen with the entire floor. So I totally giggled to myself as I passed a very good looking gentlemen leaving his shower in just a towel. Awkward, but yummy?? haha. But the place really grew on me. It had a community feel to it. It was very clean, the view from the shower when you got into it was fucking amazing! And the hot tubs and the views from there. Probably one of my favorites from the trip!

Relaxing in a hot tub with a gorgeous view at Blabjorg Guesthouse in Borgarfjordur Iceland. The bathroom - shower views Blabjorg guesthouse in Borgarfjordur Iceland.

Day 5 | Dettifoss + Botnstjörn + Whale watching in Húsavik

We started day 5 enroute to Dettifoss waterfalls in the northern parts of Iceland. If you haven’t been to iceland before, you find out very quickly as you drive the ring that many parts seem like you are driving around mars in the out of world experience! You will find spots where it just seems like rocks (Volcanic Ash) for days and days. So while we were headed for the waterfalls we decided to stop at one of these spots and I hopped out to do some portraits in a lacy dress because it was just such a juxtaposition with the environment around me.

Self boudoir portraits in a lacy gown in the volcanic rocks in northern Iceland. Self boudoir portraits in a lacy gown in the volcanic rocks in northern Iceland.

Now onto Dettifoss waterfalls. These were some of my favorites! I loved the angles that we were able to get with these majestic falls.

The waters leading to Dettifoss waterfalls in Northern Iceland. Dettifoss waterfalls in Northern Iceland. Taking photos atop Dettifoss waterfalls in Northern Iceland. Taking photos atop Dettifoss waterfalls in Northern Iceland. Enjoying the view atop Dettifoss waterfalls in Northern Iceland. Enjoying the view atop Dettifoss waterfalls in Northern Iceland. Enjoying the view atop Dettifoss waterfalls in Northern Iceland. Taking feet phone photos atop Dettifoss waterfalls in Northern Iceland.

After the falls we headed towards Ásbyrgi and Botnstjörn to do some exploring and to break for lunch with our sammies that we made for ourselves.

Sitting amongst the elves in woods of Ásbyrgi and Botnstjörn of Northern Iceland. Ásbyrgi and Botnstjörn of Northern Iceland. Ásbyrgi and Botnstjörn of Northern Iceland. Flowers in Ásbyrgi and Botnstjörn of Northern Iceland.

The final stop of the day was in the northern fishing village of Húsavik to do some whale watching! This quaint little town had such charm including the beautiful wooden church – Húsavíkurkirkja. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so safe in a town before. We literally saw someone leave their child in a stroller outside of a shop as they went inside to do some shopping. What the what?!! Lol. But we were excited to head out on the Icelandic sea to do some whale watching with the Gentle Giants Tour. I will admit I was nervous about spending what we did for this tour – I mean what if we didn’t see any whales?! But we saw so many of them! It was truly one of the most magical experiences ever and I highly recommend booking with them!

City of Husavik Iceland in Northern Iceland. The wooden church - Húsavíkurkirkja in Husavik Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland.Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland. Whale watching with the Gentle Giants out of the port of Husavik in Northern Iceland.

So I think this may have to be the end of part 2 of my Icelandic Trip post as it is getting long again. I’m starting to fear this may end up being a 4-5 post recap, but I seriously couldn’t help myself with all the photos and we saw so many things on this trip! So stay tuned for Part 3 as it will eventually be coming your way! 😉

If you are planning a trip to Iceland and have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email at tami@tamariephotography.com.

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