This trip is dedicated to my mother Gill who has been a keen traveller all her life and coming up to 80 years old she told me that she had come to the end of her bucket list. As a keen traveller myself I didn’t think there was any way that you could reach the end as there is always somewhere else of interest, when you tick something off the list you always seem to add 3 more things to it. So it became my mission to find somewhere that she hadn’t already been (that was the difficult part) that … [Read more...]
The Joy of Travelling Business Class
12 September 2018 This trip (Journey to the Arctic) was to celebrate my mother Gill’s 80th birthday and she very generously shouted us both flying business class. This was my first experience travelling business class and it may have ruined travel as I know it for me. In business class they address you by name. They provide almost any drink you could wish and an amazing culinary service. You have space and privacy, comfortable headset, and large screen tv. But for me the single biggest … [Read more...]
Arctic Express: Greenland’s Northern Lights
September 2018 Arctic Express: Greenland's Northern Lights Hike and cruise the wilds of Greenland on this in-depth Arctic adventure, flying in and out of Reykjavik. Taking in both the world’s largest national park and its longest fjord system, this trip makes no compromise on size as far as nature is concerned. And with return flights in and out of Greenland from Reykjavik, you’ll be seeing as much of it as possible in a relatively shorter space of time. Arriving in Constable Point, you’ll … [Read more...]
Day 1: Copenhagen to Reykjavik
15 September 2018 Today is just a travel day but is officially Day 1 of our Arctic Express trip and we get our expedition gear and instructions this evening. It has rained heavily overnight and the wind is cold so we decide not to go for a morning walk. Gill has sprained her ankle so she isn’t keen on walking anywhere. We start with breakfast downstairs and make a sandwich to take with us on the flight. Despite being very close to the Central Station, we take a taxi to save Gill’s foot. We … [Read more...]
Day 2: Reykjavík to Constable Point, Greenland
16 September 2018 Today is another travel day. Our day starts earlier than we would have liked as we haven’t adjusted to the new time zone and then we get an unrequested wake up call. Our transfer to the boat in Greenland will be done in two groups - we are in the second group so don’t have to meet in reception until 9.15. But as we are awake anyway we have showers and go down to breakfast (somewhat unadvisedly as it turned out as it was jam-packed with the earlier group (and the rest of the … [Read more...]
Day 9: Constable Point back to Reykjavik
23 September 2018 Today is a travel day with lots of waiting around. We have to have our main bags out in the hallway by 7.15am ready to be transported out. Breakfast is longer today (7.30-9.00) but we also have a lunch station so that we can make sandwiches to take with us. We have to vacate our cabins by 9.00 so that the crew can start preparing them for the next lot of incoming passengers. We all adjourn to the Panorama lounge to wait ... and wait ... and wait. We are again in the … [Read more...]
Iceland Discovery
September 2018 Iceland Discovery Visit Iceland and see glaciers, geysers and geothermal hot springs. Travel to Iceland and delve into the ancient land of Vikings and volcanoes on this 10-day Icelandic adventure. Marvel at geothermal hot springs, witness the steamy eruptions of a giant geyser, touch the tongue of Europe's biggest glacier, see lava that's still warm after 20 years and scale giant waterfalls. Travel through Iceland's desolate lands, so mysterious and ethereal that they have … [Read more...]
Day 1: Reykjavík: Blue Lagoon
24 September 2018 We had pre-booked to visit the Blue Lagoon today. This is a very popular tourist venue back out near the airport and is so popular that you have to book a particular time slot in advance. We booked through Reykjavík Excursions who had a package where they picked you up from your hotel and drove you to the Blue Lagoon and the price included your entry fee, a towel, free silica face mask, and a free drink. We had booked a pickup at 8.30am so there was no sleep in this … [Read more...]
Day 2: Iceland’s Golden Circle
25 September 2018 Today we are doing the route that 80-90% of tourists to Iceland do: the Golden Circle that takes in the site of the ancient Viking parliament Þingvellir (sounds like Thingvellir); Geysir (the geyser that all others are named after) and Gullfoss (the amazing waterfall). The weather has not improved over night - we brave the cold and rain to go to breakfast and then have to carry our bags back up lots of stairs to get back out to the main street. We have covered ours in … [Read more...]
Day 3: South Coast Iceland
26 September 2018 Today is a day of waterfalls but we have an agricultural start and a volcanic display. Before breakfast we explore the hotel grounds checking out the goats and the Icelandic horses. Then as we drive today we are passing through the fertile farmland of the southern coast. It is mostly supporting extremely woolly sheep, goats, horses and some cattle. There are lots of bales of silage being prepared for the winter too. The land mostly supports animals although some barley is … [Read more...]