Ice Iceland Baby

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It was the first summer after my eight-year relationship had ended. Everything was new - new apartment, city, friends, furniture, dishes, routine, etc. The breakup was very hard on me. I felt like I needed to escape and reconnect with myself, so, naturally, I booked a two-week, solo trip to Iceland. 

After carefully researching and talking with another friend, I landed on Iceland because it was listed as the safest place to travel as a single female. It had everything I needed in order to process grief and truly just be with myself. So, I bought the plane ticket two months in advance and immediately renewed my passport (which arrived a few days before I left). I was excited, nervous, scared, and anxious all at the same time. I knew I needed to take this trip but when the time came, I wasn't sure I made the right decision.

I originally booked the trip over Labor Day weekend with an extra day of PTO. I discussed with my friends who had visited on the best places to go, reviewed countless blogs on what to see, researched various tours, and ultimately decided a week before leaving to extend my trip another week (this becomes important later). I am so glad I did. As I mentioned, my passport arrived a few days before. After this, I had also stressed about what to pack and how to strategically pack for various temperatures. On top of that, a hurricane was coming for the East Coast, right where I was scheduled to layover. (If you have ever been to Newark, I am sorry. It was a terrible experience for me and I will avoid it like the plague). My four-hour flight turned into six-and-a-half hours, circling Newark, to ultimately land in Dulles, Washington D.C. Flights were grounded for the evening so the airline sent a hotel voucher. Once I got to the hotel at midnight, they explained that the voucher did not work and I had to return to the airport or pay my own. Since it was now 12:30 a.m. the next day, I went ahead and paid FOR THE LAST ROOM. My nightmare didn't stop there.

After checking into the hotel room, I had to stay up to call Iceland because I had booked a car, hotel, and tour for the following day that I now needed to cancel. At 4 a.m. I had rebooked the car, paid for an extra day at the hotel and had my tour to the volcano refunded. At this point, I found out that my flight to Newark wouldn't be departing until 2 p.m. I took a shower and went to bed knowing checkout was now at noon. Fast forward to getting to Newark. Flight was supposed to take off at 8 p.m. Yet, due to the flooding at the airport and the pilot timing out, we didn't actually take off for Iceland until 2 a.m. the next day. I was wearing my last pair of spare clothes and oblivious to what was waiting for me in Reykjavik. I landed only to find out that my bag was taken off the plane in Newark and that there is only one flight a day. 

I left on a Wednesday, I arrived Friday afternoon. I didn't get my bag until Sunday, and an hour before I was scheduled to drive to Akureyri, which is five hours away from Reykjavik. This trip was supposed to be freeing. I spent my own money to fund the trip that I had worked hard for and everything was going wrong. I cried alone for a multitude of reasons and I felt like I was being punished for ending this relationship. However, as soon as I received my luggage, I was ready for the rest of my trip. 

Here are the highlights and how I planned and packed for my trip to Iceland.

1. Reykjavik (2-3 Nights)

• Stayed: Reykjavik Residence Hotel
• Ate:
• Toured:
• Packed:

2. Akureyri (2 Nights)

• Stayed: Icelandair Hotel Akureyri
• Ate:
• Toured:
• Packed: 

3. Fljótsdalshérað - Iceland AirBnb (1 Night)

• Stayed:
• Ate:
• Toured:
• Packed:

4. Vik (2 Nights)

• Stayed: Hótel Kría
• Ate:
• Toured:
• Packed: 

5. Reykjavik (2 Nights)

• Stayed: Hotel Borg by Keahotels
• Ate:
• Toured:
• Packed: