Ten Things I Learned About Iceland

There is something about visiting a country for the first time that is exciting and full of surprises. Here are 10 things I learned while on my first tour of Iceland:

1. Iceland is expensive.  Yes, I read all the blogs about the high cost of fuel and food in Iceland, but I have learned to take most opinions on the subject of travel costs with a grain of salt.  After all, how much something costs is all relative to each person's budget. Right? However, I did find spending $25 for one tapas dish and $7.48 per gallon for gas a bit high compared to what I spend at home.  However, there are savings to be had by the conscientious traveler. A few ideas include finding hotel stays that include breakfast in the room rate, and purchasing snacks at grocery stores for lunch. Most site-seeing in Iceland is away from the cities and small towns, so having a packed lunch is a good idea anyway!  To save on fuel costs, consider renting an economy car. A smaller vehicle will be more friendly as well when it comes to parking.  Lastly, look for hotel accommodations that offer free parking. Parking is a challenge in the cities and is only free on Sundays!
2. Gravel insurance is necessary.  There are loads of scary stories on the internet about travelers being charged enormous fees from their rental car companies for minor damage supposedly caused by gravel. Since I wasn't planning on off-roading, I really didn't think gravel insurance was worth adding on to my rental car cost. At the last minute, I decided to add the extra $80 insurance, and I'm glad I did. Gravel is everywhere in Iceland!  Once outside the city, you will traverse smaller roads made of gravel, enter gravel parking lots--even part of the Ring Road is gravel!  I highly recommend spending the extra money for the protection.
3. Rent a 4-wheel drive. I did just fine with my compact two-door, 5-speed economy car, but I have to admit, there were two reasons why I wish I had splurged for the 4-wheel drive: some unavoidable roads would have been better managed with a 4-wheel drive; and there were areas I REALLY wanted to explore that were only accessible via 4-wheel drive vehicles.  So, if your budget allows, go all the way for the upgrade!
4. If you go more than five minutes without seeing a waterfall or rainbow, your eyes are closed!  No lie. I have never seen so many waterfalls and rainbows in all my life! I even saw my first end-to-end rainbow, and it truly does look like gold at the rainbow's end.
5. The weather can change in a moment's notice.  Seriously!  When researching what to wear in Iceland, experienced travelers recommended layers and rain gear. They couldn't be more right. One minute I was enjoying a sunny 50-degree day, the next I was suffering through a blistering sleet storm! My advise? Use your weather app as a mere guideline, and be prepared for anything.
6. Heed the wind warnings when opening car doors.  Ok. I laughed aloud when the rental car guy told me to be careful opening my car doors. I thought he was joking.  Uh...let me just say...he was NOT joking!  During the above-mentioned sleet storm, the wind blew so hard it threatened to rip the car door off and required the strength of my entire body to shut. Yep, heed the wind warnings from your rental car guy--he's not joking!
7. The Icelandic hotdog is as good as everyone says it is. I'm not a huge fan of hotdogs, but when in Rome...right? So, while in Iceland, I sought out the infamous Icelandic hotdog. This "dog" is made of mostly organic lamb (with some pork and beef), served on a warm bun and dressed with onions (optional), ketchup, sweet brown mustard and remoulade (a sauce made with mayo, capers, mustard and herbs). Was it the hotdog, or the I-want-to-lick-clean-off-the-bun condiments, I don't know, but this was one incredible hotdog!
8. There is no guarantee you will see the northern lights. I visited in what is considered "peak season" for a northern lights display. So, with a prediction app in hand, I had every hope of seeing them on at least ONE of the seven nights I was there. Well, apparently the Aurora Borealis gods had it out for me. While other travelers were reporting sitings with glee, I was left in the dark--literally.  I learned that the light display is very random and conditions have to be pristine. But when they do show up, the performance is spectacular!  Maybe next time, Aurora.
9. Eating fermented shark is not a requirement. This is one time I chose to skip the "when in Rome" philosophy!  I had read that fermented shark is a true Icelandic delicacy--one that every visitor must try. Yet, it’s the dish Anthony Bourdain described as “the single worst, most disgusting and terrible-tasting thing” he’d ever eaten. It's also the food that’s so offensive, Gordon Ramsay spat it out. You see, fermented shark is a Greenland shark with toxins that must be squeezed out. Ammonia is also found in its urine and excreted through its skin. The shark is prepared pressed under gravel and stone, then hung and cured for months until a scab-like crust forms. Heard enough? I find no shame in skipping this one!
10. There are a lot of immigrants in Iceland. As someone who likes to "chat it up" with the locals, I found it hard to find a lot of "locals."  It seemed many of the people I met in the service industry were from other countries.  I learned that a little over 10% of Iceland's population are immigrants.  In recent years, there has been an economic boom warranting the promotion of immigrant workers. This has been a good thing for Iceland's continued economic success. Thankfully, English was the common language so that I was able to "chat it up" with everyone!

 

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