Day 2 keeps us in (and outside) of the capital city of Reykjavik, exploring hidden tunnels and hidden people.
Click here if you missed Day 1.
Lava Tunnels
Iceland’s landscape makes no sense, and it’s incredible. Half the island is full of fire and volcanic activity, while the other half is frozen solid. It’s wild! Start Day 2 by venturing just outside of Reykjavik to The Lava Tunnel, aka Raufarhólshellir (best of luck pronouncing that).
Strap on a hard hat and headlamp (which they provide), and journey into the center of the Earth to see how the island of Iceland formed. I’ve ventured into a Lava tunnel before on a trip to Bend, Oregon but this Iceland experience was wildly different. Inside that Oregon tunnel was the first time I have ever experienced pure darkness (not by choice though, my headlamp ran out of juice which was terrifying ). If you have never been in a lava tunnel or cave system, you have no idea how dark the absence of light is. I’m talking not being able to see your hand an inch in front of your face. Your eyes get very confused. But unlike the Lava tunnels in Bend, the Iceland Tunnel is brilliantly lit up so you can see the beautiful colors of the rock.
The lava tube is also massive at almost 100 feet wide and over 30 feet high. You can stand in the tunnels and imagine the power of a wall of lava erupting through space you now occupy (or don’t because that’s slightly terrifying to think about while you’re inside it.). If you do want to experience the darkness, you are still in luck. There is a special moment where your guide will turn off the lights. No need to panic, you’ll get plenty of warning before the lights go out.
Grái Kötturinn
It’s breakfast time! Or more appropriately brunch time! Head back into the city to grab a bite to eat and some coffee at Grái Kötturinn. This hole in the wall cafe is known for having the best coffee in Iceland, and after trying it, I have to agree.
Fun fact, the best coffee I ever had is in Prague, but that’s an itinerary for another day.
Mythical Walking Tour
Now that you have experienced real darkness in the Lava Tunnel, its time to learn about a different kind of dark. It’s time to unveil the shadowy figures that lurk in and around the island. The type of creatures that demand the respect of Icelanders and the countries guests. We’re talking Ghosts, Elves, and Trolls.
While the thought of hidden mythical beings roaming the countryside may seem a bit far fetched to travelers, Icelanders take it very seriously. In fact, when building roads, the Icelandic Government will consult with an elf expert to ensure they do not build over sacred ground. There are numerous stories about construction projects going horribly wrong for no apparent reason. It was later revealed these projects were disturbing the homes of the Hidden Folk. You’ll see evidence of this in some of Iceland’s roads that go straight for many miles then curve for no logical reason.
The majority of Icelanders may not directly say they believe in the legends. However, none of them would dare deny their existence.
Who are the Hidden Folk? It is said that Adam and Eve created a family of adventure-loving children. To show off their fun little family, they invited God to a dinner party. Right before the guest of honor arrived, Eve noticed some of the children were filthy and covered in mud from playing outside. To avoid the embarrassment of presenting these dirty children to the all-mighty, she hid them away. When God arrived, he noticed the missing children. He was taken aback by Eve’s poor parenting skills and decided to teach her a lesson. From this day forward, the children would remain invisible. As the children grew, they gained the ability to turn this superpower on and off. Today, Icelanders are taught you must be kind to strangers and offer food and place to stay to weary travelers. They just might be a Hidden Folk. Win their admiration, and good things will come your way. Disrespect them, and bad luck is sure to follow. The same applies to the treatment of Iceland’s landscape. Respect nature because it is the home to the Hidden Folk.
Take a walking tour and see for yourself how important these stories are to the Icelanders. You will also learn about “skin pants”. I promise it is as gross as it sounds and you’ll love it.
End your day with the local catch at Icelandic Fish & Chips. Dinner here is delicious. You pick the type of fish you want breaded and fried and your choice of sauces. If you’re with a group, ask about their family-style serving. You get to try a little bit of everything this way.
Continue to Day 3 for a journey around the Golden Circle
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
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