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Iceland 2019

By Glenn Charles Photography

Winter Wonderland

In January of 2019 we headed back to Iceland for our second trip to this amazing Island. Two years prior, at essentially the same time of year, we saw Iceland with virtually no snow, and largely bright skies. That is, until the rains came and washed away our goal of exploring the great Blue Ice caves. So, what would our second trip have in store for us? We watched the news, checked the weather, and it looked like Icelanders were full on in winter weather. Little did we know, how much snow we were about encounter. Not only did it create driving challenges, but it also affected our ability to capture some of the more magical vistas that this beautiful land is known for. None the less, we did the entire ring road in a matter of days.

All I can say is wow, this place never ceases to amaze me; thank goodness for studded tires; and I have the two best friends any person could hope for!! What follows is more pictures than words in an attempt to share the parts of this land that captured my eye and moved my soul. Enjoy!

Coffee and Pastries

If you are planning a trip to Iceland, then what is most important is that by the time you get your car rental (yes, take the window insurance, trust me), then you must immediately head into Reykjavik and go to Reykjavic Roasters for coffee and the nearby pastry shop for warm goodies. After that, you may commence exploring this beautiful land.

Morning Drive, Day 1

Vik all dressed in white

A classic stop, we looked for ways to photograph the scene differently than the last time we were here. Driving up to higher ground and then a little walk got the view that I was hoping for.

Searching for little black churches

We love finding these little churches and thus we began a windblown, snow covered road quest to find one in the middle of nowhere. We never found it, but the journey was great, if not a bit harrowing, due to the crazy snow covered roads and the fact that we seemed to be a bit lost.....

Frozen Wonderland

The Blue Ice Caves

Two years earlier the rains forced us to cancel this part of our trip. This year, we made plans to go early in our trip thus providing us with a bit of flexibility should the weather impact our plans. To get to the caves, you mount up in the vans with massive tires and literally drive out across the ice, snow, and get up to the base of the glaciers. Then you put on your crampons and set off on one of the most majestic winter hikes I have ever taken.

The Frozen Lagoon

Northward Bound

We turn north and drive along the rugged coast. It is a long day of driving with little opportunity to take pictures. Overcast, extremely windy, ,with bouts of snow and a winding road make for a long day. Still, I think that these next two pictures capture the scale and sense of remoteness found on the east coast of the country.

Its Just What We Do

Hot Springs

To the north, as we work our way to the to Akureyri, we drive through the most incredibly active geothermal area I have ever seen. The valley viewed from up high shows the amount of activity. I take the chance to pop up the drone, and the scene is surreal as you can see we are clearly surrounded by the remnants of massive volcanic activity.

The word Massive does not do it justice

Akureyri

We spent several days based in this lovely town. Incredibly beautiful with some of the best food of the trip.

Horses

I could post an entire story just on the horses. They are everywhere and simply incredibly beautiful animals. It is so interesting to have seen how they dealt with the harsh conditions we encountered on the trip.