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Another one of those "I'm going to such and such a country" threads...

Started by Neville Chamberlain, January 11, 2019, 11:07:14 AM

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Neville Chamberlain

...in which I pretend to request information from fellow travellers, but really just want everyone to know that I'm going to such and such a country.

ICELAND edition!

Well, Reykjavik, to be precise.

I'm doing my first Iceland trip (wanted to go there since I was a teenager, but only finally getting round to it now I'm a 42-year-old man) on the stringiest of shoestrings, so I won't be venturing far outside Reykjavik. For a total of €77, I've booked six nights in a very central 14-bed dormitory (which will no doubt be overrun with schoolkids and drunken 20-something backpackers with no sense of responsibility or consideration for fellow room-mates such as old twats like me) located opposite Iceland's famous penis museum.

I plan on doing lots of walking around Reykjavik and suburban Reykjavik, which I find fascinating enough without having to venture into Iceland's outback (I'm saving that for another time), taking in lots of food (I've researched the vegan scene, but contributions always welcome) and some nice stops for a beer or something.

But seriously, recommendations/suggestions/advice/warnings/experiences welcome.

Buelligan

I know bugger-all about Iceland but it sounds very exciting, give my love to Damon Albarn and Bjork.

thenoise

Iceland has really gone downhill in the past 5-10 years, such a shame.

Shoulders?-Stomach!

You'll be relieved I can't be of any assistance here beyond what you already know/couldn't be gleaned from a two minute TripAdvisor browse.

Judgemental bit: That seems like a long time to be solely in Reykjavik, and an interestingly pointed choice for a shoestring budget holiday considerating the cost of living out there

Cuellar


Shoulders?-Stomach!

Quote from: Cuellar on January 11, 2019, 11:12:59 AM
Would love to go Iceland and just drive around.

Do it every weekend down Kirkstall Road mate

(That's that joke done now)

Buelligan


Cuellar


Buelligan


Neville Chamberlain

Quote from: Shoulders?-Stomach! on January 11, 2019, 11:12:27 AM
Judgemental bit: That seems like a long time to be solely in Reykjavik, and an interestingly pointed choice for a shoestring budget holiday considerating the cost of living out there

That's not judgemental at all - in fact, it's a perfectly fair question. Basically, I'm just trying to realise a childhood dream within a pretty tight budget. You should have seen my other choice - the Faroe Islands!

As for it being a long time to be solely in Reykjavik, I guess it is - on the other hand, as I said, I'm as fascinated in ordinary suburbia in extraordinary places, so once I've seen the main tourist sights, I'm just going to head out into the rest of the city to see what life's like. I've done that sort of thing in quite a few European cities already!

Shoulders?-Stomach!

I agree it (probably) beats spending six days walking around the suburbs of Torshavn, unless you are incredibly in to grass roofs.

Neville Chamberlain

There's more to Torshavn than grass roofs - there's the whale slaughter, too! A lovely occasion for the whole family, I understand!

Shoulders?-Stomach!

Quote from: Neville Chamberlain on January 11, 2019, 11:22:26 AM
There's more to Torshavn than grass roofs - there's the whale slaughter, too! A lovely occasion for the whole family, I understand!

I can just imagine you camped outside while they haul the blubber and carcasses up those big ramps.

Neville Chamberlain

#13
Quote from: thenoise on January 11, 2019, 11:10:32 AM
Iceland has really gone downhill in the past 5-10 years, such a shame.

Gone all touristy, you mean?

Or are you referring to all the landslides caused by volcanic activity?

dr beat

I've been to Reykjavik a couple of times in 2013 and then 2015.  I did notice something of a marked difference the second time, particularly a massive Dunkin Donuts which had opened on the Laugavegur where previously there had been a charming bookshop/cafe bar place.

One place we really loved both times was a place called Tiu Dropar, lovely old cellar bar dating back from the 40s which did massive breakfasts during the day, good beer and local music in the evening.  Gutted to find out a couple of years back it had been taken over in what seemed rather opaque circumstances and turned into a noodle bar.  So yeah I am concerned about Reykjavik and I am not inclined to go back any time soon.

Quote from: Neville Chamberlain on January 11, 2019, 11:22:26 AM
There's more to Torshavn than grass roofs - there's the whale slaughter, too! A lovely occasion for the whole family, I understand!

Don't understand what the Faroese have got against Hobo Humpin Slobo Babe - banging tune that.

Neville Chamberlain

Quote from: Buelligan on January 11, 2019, 11:17:17 AM
Probably still dodgy.  I'll get back to you.https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/Themes/default/images/bbc/move.gif

The thing with electric cars is that, while obviously great at a local level for contributing to lower emissions, they're ultimately only as clean as the source of the electricity from the charging stations. So in Iceland, where almost 100% of the electricity is generated renewably, they're great, but in other countries where fossil fuels are still burned at power stations, they're ultimately not so great. Still better than a combustion engine, though. Probably.

Neville Chamberlain

Quote from: dr beat on January 11, 2019, 11:32:15 AM
I've been to Reykjavik a couple of times in 2013 and then 2015.  I did notice something of a marked difference the second time, particularly a massive Dunkin Donuts which had opened on the Laugavegur where previously there had been a charming bookshop/cafe bar place.

Oh dear, that's shit.

Quote from: dr beat on January 11, 2019, 11:32:15 AMOne place we really loved both times was a place called Tiu Dropar, lovely old cellar bar dating back from the 40s which did massive breakfasts during the day, good beer and local music in the evening.  Gutted to find out a couple of years back it had been taken over in what seemed rather opaque circumstances and turned into a noodle bar.  So yeah I am concerned about Reykjavik and I am not inclined to go back any time soon.

Oh dear, that's shit an' all.

Dex Sawash

I think all the cars in iceland are steam cars and they have nationalized steam service or something like that and you can plug into a steam outlet for recharge at your parking spot.

Shoulders?-Stomach!

Hasn't it become a very popular layover for transadlandik flights? Perhaps that may have resulted in excess commercialisation. Maybe it was anyway, I just seem to read and hear about it more.

king_tubby

We went for new year 2016. It was great, if dark. Two weeks is a huge amount of time though, it's very small. EDIT - where the hell did I get two weeks from? I am a fool.

Get yourself on to the Golden Circle coach tour. Geysers, waterfalls, Game of Thrones, tomato farms - the lot.

You're going to have a hard time with the veganing unless you're self catering. My partner is vegetarian and she struggled. Even the most highly recommended vegan restaurant did chicken.

Also you can't buy booze at a normal supermarket, you have to go to a special shop.

If you can get to the Blue Lagoon do so, it was lovely.

Neville Chamberlain

Quote from: Shoulders?-Stomach! on January 11, 2019, 11:54:46 AM
Hasn't it become a very popular layover for transadlandik flights? Perhaps that may have resulted in excess commercialisation. Maybe it was anyway, I just seem to read and hear about it more.

Probably since the launch of WOW Air - Iceland's very own budget airline - back in 2011...

king_tubby

Also don't forget to visit the museum of cocks - which includes a cock from the most dangerous animal on earth. Man.

Neville Chamberlain

Quote from: king_tubby on January 11, 2019, 11:56:10 AM
You're going to have a hard time with the veganing unless you're self catering. My partner is vegetarian and she struggled. Even the most highly recommended vegan restaurant did chicken.

I've done a bit of research and I don't think I'm going to starve. I guess things have changed in that respect since 2016. By the way, what was the name of the "most highly recommended vegan restaurant", if you happen to remember...?

Brundle-Fly

Quote from: Buelligan on January 11, 2019, 11:09:38 AM
I know bugger-all about Iceland but it sounds very exciting, give my love to Damon Albarn and Bjork.

Damon's part-owned bar, Kaffibarinn is still quite popular, apparently. I bet he came up with the bar sign design.


Neville Chamberlain

Quote from: king_tubby on January 11, 2019, 11:56:46 AM
Also don't forget to visit the museum of cocks - which includes a cock from the most dangerous animal on earth. Man.

My hostel is right opposite the cocks :-)

dr beat

QuoteHasn't it become a very popular layover for transadlandik flights? Perhaps that may have resulted in excess commercialisation. Maybe it was anyway, I just seem to read and hear about it more.

IcelandAir have gone big on that angle, offering cheap flights from Europe to North America via a stop-over in Keflavik airport.

king_tubby

Quote from: Neville Chamberlain on January 11, 2019, 11:59:18 AM
I've done a bit of research and I don't think I'm going to starve. I guess things have changed in that respect since 2016. By the way, what was the name of the "most highly recommended vegan restaurant", if you happen to remember...?

It was this place: https://glo-restaurant.business.site/

I should have said vegan friendly, rather than actual vegan, sorry. Hence it serving chicken.

bgmnts

I've had a stopover in Rek on the way to a real country -worst flight of my life so far, Wow Air can fuck off - and it looked proper fucking desolate. I think I saw a village somewhere but just looked like Hoth with an airport.

Also, they eat sheep's brains.

Neville Chamberlain

Quote from: king_tubby on January 11, 2019, 12:05:37 PM
It was this place: https://glo-restaurant.business.site/

I should have said vegan friendly, rather than actual vegan, sorry. Hence it serving chicken.

I knew it would be that place, funnily enough ;-)

My Icelandic vegan friend says avoid that place like the plague! Apparently it's where Gwyneth fucking Paltrow goes whenever she's in Iceland.

king_tubby

Yeah, every single recommendation for vegans/vegetarians says go there. And it was alright too.

Not like Juicy Jones in Barcelona, which also has the distinction of being the vegan/vegetarian recommendation of all websites/guidebooks, and was frankly the worst food I have ever had in a restaurant.

We didn't see Gwyneth in either place.