ICELAND’S RING ROAD – The travel

An introduction to Icelandic language and a tour on Iceland’s Ring Road, or Hringvegur

Are you a schedule breaker? Do you prefer to have everything worked out before you leave? and drve the road

Iceland may not be for you, though. When they see your plans, this rumbling island country, which is located on top of volcanic mountains in the North Atlantic just beyond the arctic circle and is battered by polar winds and hail from the Gulf Stream, they laugh out the phrase “etta reddast.“

This Icelandic proverb, which is sort of the country’s slogan, roughly translates to “It’ll work out.” It advises you to return inside, drink some strong coffee, share some tales, and then try again later. When visiting Iceland, this is a wise maxim to remember because the country is actually subject to the whims of the weather.

What to Pack for the Icelandic Weather
I’m from New England, and although it’s true that we’re somewhat weather obsessive, it’s nothing compared to the devotion that Icelanders have. It is an essential fixation. Any time of year, the weather in Iceland may quickly change from tolerable to downright dangerous.

I brought three jackets, three different pairs of shoes, two swimming suits, light socks, wool socks, a thick hat, gloves, t-shirts, tank tops, sweaters, shorts, leggings, and a dress when I packed for a two-week trip to Iceland in August.

The daily highs and lows varied from 52°F with light drizzle to 82°F with bright sunshine. Generally speaking, the northeastern region of the country experiences better summer weather than the southwest, with more sunshine and higher temperatures, but don’t let a little drizzle or cold stop you from experiencing this amazing nation.

Pick up one of the lovely hand-knit Lopapeysa sweaters made of Icelandic wool if you want to endure the storm like a native.

Icelandic waterfalls

I’m fortunate to have local contacts in Iceland, and having a guide allowed me to see some less-visited locations. We started our trip of the southern waterfalls with Seljalandsfoss, a fairly approachable waterfall that you can stroll behind.

Nauthsagil Waterfalls and Ravine

The Nauthsagil ravine and waterfall was our next stop. It is a wonderfully stunning location that does need some hiking skill and bravery to go through, but the reward is worth it. A tall waterfall with branching rowan trees on the ledges above, all set in a deep, fern-lined canyon.

The term “bull house ravine,” which roughly translates to “bull house ravine,” comes from an old barn that once housed bulls next to the ravine. This highly precise naming practice is widespread in Iceland and occasionally humorous since names often appear more romantic than they actually are to non-Icelandic speakers.

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano

You might remember Eyjafjallajökull from the volcanic eruption of the same name in 2010 which disrupted air travel across Europe for weeks in 2010. The name is notoriously difficult for foreigners to pronounce as contains the double L sound.

To pronounce it you need to place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your teeth and puff some air around the sides of your cheeks while saying a sound like “tlah.” It requires a lot of practice.

The name Eyjafjallajökull translates literally as “island mountain ice cap.”

You might remember Eyjafjallajökull from the volcanic eruption of the same name in 2010 which disrupted air travel across Europe for weeks in 2010. The name is notoriously difficult for foreigners to pronounce as contains the double L sound.
To pronounce it you need to place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your teeth and puff some air around the sides of your cheeks while saying a sound like “tlah.” It requires a lot of practice.
The name Eyjafjallajökull translates literally as “island mountain ice cap.”
Restaurant on the Ring Road of Iceland
We made a pit stop at Gamla fjósi, also known as “Old Cow House,” a quaint roadside eatery, because we were hungry after all that driving.

Another unique letter may be found in the word “fjósi”: the e, or eth, which was once used in Old and Middle English but is now only present in Icelandic, Faroese, and Elfdalian, a Swedish dialect.

Spending some time in one of the several magnificent hot springs, such as the Blue Lagoon, is one way to unwind after a hard day of hiking and exploration. However, I also suggest going to one of the many nearby heated swimming pools called sundlaugar.

s. To survive the lengthy, very cold, and gloomy Icelandic winters, inhabitants rely on these social gathering places. Just be ready to take off your swimwear and get dressed in your birthday suit when you change.

Vestmannaeyjar, Westman Islands

After spending a few days visiting the mainland, we boarded the ferry to the magnificent Vestmannaeyjar, often known as The Westman Islands. With a population of about 4,300, Heimaey, or “home island,” is the largest island in Vestmannaeyjar.

Only sheep, puffins, and the sporadic hunter live on the other island. In actuality, the Eldfell volcano erupted in 1973, destroying a significant portion of the town and necessitating a protracted evacuation of Heimaey’s entire population to the mainland.

The island’s harbor was in danger of being sealed off by the lava flow, but it was rescued thanks to the valiant efforts of engineers who poured 6.8 billion liters of saltwater into the area.

Puffin Rescue in Iceland

Residents of Heimaey’s largest town, Vestmannaeyjabaer, take part in a month-long nocturnal ritual of puffling rescue every August. Lunda is the Icelandic name for puffin.

Puffins nest on the cliffs above the town, and when it’s time for fledging, the parents leave the pufflings in their nests to tempt them to finally jump from the cliffs and into the water below where they may catch fish and mature.

Normally, the light of the moon beaming over the water draws the pufflings, but sadly, the presence of people has impeded this natural process. The lights coming from town confuse the pufflings, and they go to the streets.

They are my all-time favorite hot dog, so get yours the Icelandic way with crispy onions, remoulade, and special hot dog mustard.

Next, we returned to Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, which is a darling city if a bit more bustling with tourists than other parts of the country.

Reykjavík is formed of two words reykja meaning “smoky” and vík meaning, “cove.”
When in Reykjavík, make sure you stop at the Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur stand, otherwise known as “The best hot dog in town,” and get yourself a wonderful Icelandic hot dog. They are my very favorite hot dog in the world, and you’ll want to get yours the Icelandic way with crispy onions, remoulade, and special hot dog mustard.