Iceland Suggestions

If anyone is thinking of taking a short trip to Iceland, here's my suggestion, for what it's worth. Fly in on Saturday or Sunday. Rent a car and drive to a few different places around the island. Spend 5 or 6 days hiking and camping, there is some spectacular scenery to be found. (I saw some glaciers, as well as canyons formed by them, around the south coast and Thorsmork. See pics.) Make it back to Reykjavik for the following weekend and enjoy the wild nightlife on Friday and Saturday.

If I go back again that's what I'll do. On this short trip I was happy to spend some time relaxing in Reykjavik, which felt fairly empty during the week.

Reykjavik

Arrived in Reykjavik in the early hours of Sunday morning to an overcast sky. Took the 45 minute bus ride from the airport to the city. Amazing how good Sigur Ros sounds passing through the empty but very striking landscape.

Found an abandoned bicycle near where the bus dropped me off. Rear tire completely flat. Rode it into the city in the drizzling rain wearing a large hiking backpack. Swerving slightly because of the lack of rear wheel. City was deserted. I later found out the Reykjavik is a huge party hotspot, with a huge number of bars/clubs per capita. Who would have guessed? People stay out until the morning, so no surprise it was deserted early Sunday.

Plan to visit hot springs and get out of the city for a walk in a glacier area. Two days to go.