Posted by Lorna on July 04, 2001 at 20:40:33 on Dirk Pepperd's Space-A WWW Board:
Space-A Trip - Iceland 6/22/01 - 6/30/01
ANG Flight on a KC-135 Refueler plane out of Meridian, MS
Showtime -
6:15pm Takeoff - 8:15pm Took 3 hours driving there from N'Awlins
..
Fri., 6/22: We took off
headed for Iceland
(Brrrrr!) at 8:15pm. We
sat (and laid down) on the side canvas/webbed seats. They aren't too bad, but
it's a good idea to have either a sleeping bag or nice quilt to lay on and
cover with to soften the seat and keep warm, 'cuz this plane gets pretty cold.
It's a good idea to layer, because for the first 45 minutes it's hot on the
plane & gets cold when you get up in the air. Another good idea is to
take along an eye mask as they leave the lights on. They gave everyone
earplugs, and we did wear them, but this plane wasn't nearly as loud as a C-
141. We arrived 6-1/2 hours later, at 2:45am, US time --- so, they're 5 hours
ahead of us. The temperature was 52 degrees, and the money exchange was 1 US
Dollar = 105 ISK (Kronurs), so, for example: 4,000 Kronurs = $40. USD
(approximately) --- Fairly easy to decipher ---
The Navy Lodge was
extremely handy, simply on the other side of the parking lot, so we went and
checked in and were able to go to our room about 30 minutes later. I had
reserved this 30 days ahead @1-800-Navy-Inn, $55./night for one double bed,
one chair, refer, coffee pot, hair blower. No billeting was available as an
exercise was going on for the week. We called Hertz at Keflavik Airport, 354-
50-50600, and they came and picked us up to go and pick up the car
15 minute
ride from the Navy Lodge. I called Hertz from home 2-4 weeks prior to
leaving, for best rate @1-800-654-3001. I shopped around a lot and this was
the best rate @$330.00 total (with taxes included) for the week. All others
were $550. - $600./wk. It ended up they had a military special going on for
$120. 00 for 3 days, so that was even better! Iceland is not a cheap place to
visit, but thank goodness we have all these great bennies, like the Navy Lodge
& Galley and of course the "best" deal was the freeby flight.
After
settling in, and a couple hour nap and supper at the galley we went to MWR to
check out "things to do" and bought a map and took off to do some sight
seeing. We drove in and around the little town of Keflavik and to Hafnir,
Reykjanes (and drove to the lighthouse) and Grindavik. It was such an
interesting ride with such varied terrain - gorgeous snow-capped mountains
& the ocean & large cliffs & then barren land with large clumps
(mounds) of dirt/mud everywhere! We were out playing tourists 'til 11:00pm.
It felt like it was only about 8pm 'cuz it never gets dark here --- not in the
summertime anyway. Great for sight-seeing, but NOT for sleeping!!
Sun.,
6/24: Temp. 53 --- Ate breakfast @Galley ($1.60) and then went to spend the
day at Iceland's capital, Reykjavik - free parking on Sundays. We went to the
Hallgrimskirkja Church, a city landmark that can be seen for miles. We took
the elevator to the top and the view was awesome. We also had an Iceland
famous, thin waffle with blueberry jam & whipped cream on top with "Kaffe"
(coffee). We parked and walked around and went to a woolen store where they
make Iceland famous wool sweaters, etc. We also went to the Pearl, an
observatory with fantastic panorama of the city. After that we went to the
Botanical Gardens and walked around there. Headed back and ate at the Galley
and went to the movie on base.
Mon., 6/25: Temp. 52-56 - Long touring day
in our little bitty cute Toyota Yaris. We did the "Golden Circle" which can
also be taken with MWR Tour for $54. Each. We opted to do it on our own
as
follows: 1) Pingvellier National Park, which is the site of the ancient
parliament - also saw where the earth is splitting apart. 2) Kerid, a huge
volcanic crater turned lake 3) Geysir, a world-famous geothermal area,
bubbling with hot activity 4) Gullfoss, Iceland's most famous and
picturesque waterfall. An added excitement here was getting to see the Prime
Ministers of Iceland and Ireland arrive in a Coast Guard helicopter! We did
lots of walking up & down & all around the waterfalls, as it truly is
magnificent and on the "not-to-be-missed" list! 5) Hveragerdi, a flowering
town of greenhouses heated by geothermal energy. Went to Garden of Eden here
back on base at 9:30pm and went to galley at 10:00pm for very late supper.
They serve 4 meals a day, last one being from 10pm-0100 - due to the special
exercise that is going on at this time. Food is pretty decent
but nothing
to write home about.
Tues., 6/26: Went to the USO (in the small air
terminal right next door to Navy Lodge) and did some e-mailing back home.
They have 4 computers readily available. We also can use the Navy Exchange
and Commissary, so we did some shopping. Tonight we went to the Blue Lagoon,
20 minutes from the base. This is a unique natural wonder
a pool of mineral-
rich geothermal seawater where you bathe and regenerate inside a cave-like
area. The water is around 102 degrees, and the outside temp. was 52 degrees.
The Blue Lagoon is known for its beneficial effects on skin and is also known
for its healing power against psoriasis. Scientific studies have confirmed
its health-giving properties. It's a neat experience. Take your own towel
along if you don't want to pay $3. 00 for one.
Wed., 6/27: Took a South
Shore Adventure today
Southeast from Reykjavik, over the mountains. It was
a long day
from 9:30am 'til 11pm and 500 kms. On our car, but a great trip
to take. Another one that could be taken with MWR for $70/ea. We got to see
two great waterfalls today - the 1st one was Seljalandsfoss; take raingear
with you as you can walk behind the falls which is lots of fun. The 2nd falls
was Skogarfoss - this was a wide falls and also very beautiful. After doing
that we went into the little town of Skogar which was down the next road,
turned right and went all the way to the end and toured a museum where they
had lots of little grass-topped houses and an old church. Back to Hwy. 1 'til
we saw the sign for Dyrholaey, Rt. 218, a dirt road; when it forks, keep to
the right and go up a steep hill 'til you come to a lighthouse. On the right
side cliff are lots and lots of those cute little famous birds called Puffins -
they look like miniature penguins and are black & white with orange webbed
feet. Take lots of pictures and then walk out past the lighthouse, out to the
point and see the large natural sea arch, "Blow Hole" and a needle rock and a
tunnel rock covered in birds. This was all a gorgeous sight, as you're high,
high up overlooking the ocean below --- scary too! Oh yes, after the 2nd
waterfall (Skogarfoss), you can see a large glacier off in the distance. We
ventured on down Hwy. 1, to our destination, "Vik", the southern most town in
Iceland. We stopped at a nice little cafι (next to the Puffin Hotel) for a
bite to eat. After that we took a short hike to a gorgeous black sandy beach
and then headed home --- with the sun shining in our eyes at 10:30pm! What an
awe-inspiring day!!
Thurs., 6/28: Thursday is base orientation on
Iceland - we signed up at the base chapel on Wed. This is a "free", 8 hour
narrated tour of Reykjavik, the capital, and surrounding areas. There were 54
of us on the nice big tour bus. It's a really good trip and certainly worth
doing!
Fri., 6/29: The day before "Leave Day", so lots of last minute
things to do --- like making sure we filled up our rental car with gas on the
base before they closed --- $1.59/gal. US
$4.50/gal. On the outside. We
went to the USO and Navy Exchange for a couple of souvenirs for our family.
We took a ride with our new Space-A friends, Clarence and Wayne and did a
little hiking close by; found some of those cute little Puffins on the side of
a high cliff overlooking the ocean, only 4 or 5 miles from the base. No
galley found tonight --- we treated ourselves royally to a great restaurant in
Keflavik called "Rain". It has a great ovean view and terrific food. I had
reindeer salad with strawberries
very tasty, even tho' our waiter told me I
was eating Rudolph! I tried the lamb for my entrιe --- what Iceland is famous
for. This too was very good. Went home (to Navy Lodge) and packed
up.
Sat., 6/30: "Bon Voyage Day" - Boo Hoo! I hate to leave this most
beautiful "Island". That is how Icelanders spell Iceland.
Oh - I forgot
to tell you about the bunches and bunches of sheep and horses there were
wandering around in the countryside
and everywhere
even had to stop in our
car for them more than once. That is a very awesome sight.
Showtime was
6:00am, with a 7:45am take off; no problem getting manifested, thank God! We
actually took off at 9:15am. We landed at Wright-Patterson for customs check -
-- didn't even have to get off the plane and were only there 45 minutes. We
landed safe & sound at 12:45pm, US time.
GREAT TRIP --- Can't wait to
go back and spend TWO weeks going all around the island !!!