Last night, we set an alarm to catch some Northern Lights. We were successful. Not a crazy showing, but none the less, we saw them. We are going to try again tonight to see if we can get some photos. 

On our last day here. We wanted to find a great hike. We set out with a couple in mind, but the map failed us and we couldn’t find them. After a quick Google search, we decided on Reykjadalur. Are we ever glad we did. It was a 3.5 km hike in (7 km round trip) with 300m of elevation and spectacular views. The best part was the reward at the end. A natural hot spring river. It has been built up over time with boardwalks and semi-concealing changing areas. We went to the top of the river, but the water was too hot (can’t regulate nature) so we went downstream a bit. It was perfect. It was a little busy, but in our little area there were only a couple of people. We could have brought a picnic and just stayed all day, but we had other things in mind. 

When we were here before, we had heard about a restaurant, Kjot and Kunst, that specializes in geothermic cooking (using the natural ground heat and water to cook the food). We went and it was closed for the season (we found pizza instead. Icelanders make a good pizza). We noticed the hike to the hot pools was in the same town (Hveragerdi) so it was fate. We had to go. Oh my god was it good. They have a buffet with various meats, cheeses, geothermic breads, and three different soups. I passed on that and went straight for the Icelandic fish stew with Iceland geothermic rye bread, Greg had meatballs. I recommend you go with a friend so you can get both and share. We bought a loaf of geothermic banana bread to go. 

Today is a day I would recommend to anyone coming here. Start with a good hike, hot pool, hike back out, then treat yourself to some GOOD Icelandic cooking (this was only the second meal we dined out while here, if you don’t count the hot dogs from the gas station. Seriously, you need to do that too). 

We were planning on camping in Grindavik, so we headed South. GPS kept trying to lead us down highway 1, but it’s boring and we’ve seen it, so we ignored it and took the coastal route. Much better views. Stopped at a UNESCO site and the stinkiest hot pool of life (it’s haunted, so we had to). 

Grindavik campsite wasn’t what I wanted. It was in the “city”, busy, and you were assigned a spot (seriously, all other sites, you park where you want in a field). I convinced my most loving and patient husband to bail and drive back 50km in the opposite direction to a free campsite with a hot dog stand on the premises. It is perfect. Some how it is not busy at all, and the views are perfect. BBQ’d Icelandic goldfish (I don’t know either, it’s what Google translate says) and potatoes for dinner to end this perfect last day of our trip. Oh, and beer. 

Skal!