Ice, Ice, Birthday! Celebrating Year 29 in Iceland

Following a single night at home after our amazing Labor Day Weekend in Ireland, Bryan and I were off to the Sevilla Airport once again bound for Iceland! Yep, we returned to Rota to wash clothes, love on our fur babies, and so Bryan could go to work on Tuesday, September 5 just to turn around and head back to the same airport a little over 24 hours later.

Looking back on it, we don't really recommend an 11:20 pm flight to London for a 5-hour layover and then a 6 am flight to Iceland...the version of myself who booked that flight was not the same version who tried napping on an airport lobby floor while waiting for baggage claim to open up... NOT a highlight of the trip. BUT it did save us quite a bit of money on the flight to Iceland. So I started my 29th birthday by being reminded that I am no longer 18 and I do, in fact, need a comfy bed and warm blanket to sleep well!

Wednesday, September 6: Reykjavik, Iceland

Once we were able to shake some feeling into our lower halves after that long tile-floor sitting venture, we checked in our suitcase and headed into Gatwick Airport's Priority Lounge right as they opened for a quick bite to eat. Oh, and of course a champagne toast for the start of the birthday trip! (Ignore the fact that, yes, it was 5 am and we were having a (free) drink. The bar was open. And it's my birthday.)

evening drink in Sevilla Loung

beyond happy to drop our bag!

5am birthday drink in London

Here we come, Iceland!

Our 3-hour flight to Reykjavik flew by with both Bryan and I sleeping the entire way. Good thing too, because the moment we landed, we rented a car and were off for a full day of exploring Iceland's capital city!

But first: Bookstore. Bryan and I started collecting the first Harry Potter book in local languages during our travels. Sometimes finding a bookstore isn't the easiest task, so when Bryan found a bookstore in the nearby town of Keflavík that opened at 8 am, we made that our first stop of the day! Thanks to Penninn Eymundsson Keflavík Bookstore, we have an Icelandic version of Philosopher's Stone to add to our collection- even if it did cost us over $35...

With not many food options at 8 am, Bryan and I swung into a diner for a quick bite. After our overnight adventure, nothing sounded yummier than a nice greasy burger and that's exactly what we got. This burger tasted good, but for a local fast-food option, we were shocked with a $33 tab.

We realized people weren't lying when they said Iceland was expensive! While our rental car was fair, everything else in Iceland is very overpriced! (Just wait til you see our hotel later!) We are still adjusting to European pricing after all our Asia travels...and Iceland took the cake for the most pricy location we have ever visited!

Þingvellir National Park

With something on our tummies, we were off for our road trip day adventure! As we left the southeastern coast, we headed inland towards Þingvellir National Park. While the weather was overcast and quite gloomy, seeing Iceland's scenic landscapes was quite beautiful. Zero trees, lots of mossy ground covering, and volcanos in the distance.

Once we arrived in Þingvellir National Park, it was time for the main attraction. Snorkeling!

Yep, it's 55 degrees outside and we are going to snorkel in glacier waters and experience the fault rift between the North American and Eurasia tectonic plates from underwater!

If you asked me just two months ago how I planned on spending my start of year 29, I NEVER would have said "in Iceland," let alone saying "snorkeling in a dry suit in freezing waters!" For a girl who loves her warm weather and beaches though, THIS was an experience to last a lifetime and will never be forgotten!

So what's the big deal? Silfra Fissure is a 4.5-mile fault separating North American and Eurasia tectonic plates. Silfra originally formed from glacier waters that filtered through the volcanic rock for 40 years before rising to the surface in Thingvellir National Park to form the current lake we snorkeled in. Due to the tectonic plates' continual movement, Iceland forms roughly 1" of new landmass every year and the fault rift in Silfra continues to expand and get deeper & longer. Back in 2010, Iceland experienced an earthquake that formed a new fault in the snorkeling lake where we literally got to see geology at work!

So as we donned drysuits for the first time in our lives, Bryan and I got a quick little geology lesson about the area and realized how hefty dry suits are. Since we aren't dry suit certified for diving, our only option was to snorkel. At first, I was a little disappointed, but after dressing in the thermal layer suit, then the dry suit, then the (not waterproof) gloves, hood, and flippers, I realized how much heavier this gear is than normal dive equipment. The final step before entering the water was adding a neck strap around the neck seal to *attempt* to keep water from leaking into our dry suit. This neck strap was a piece of rubber that was tightened around our necks and really did feel like a noose...but all in the name of staying dry in the 35-degree waters!

Did I mention how, after this swim, Bryan and I agreed we NEVER want to don a drysuit again in our lives? We decided we are only warm water divers.

BUT this experience was beyond amazing. As we entered the waters, our lips went numb and our toes and fingers eventually lost all feeling as we took fresh sips of water from Silfra. Due to the natural volcanic rock's 40-year filtering process, this water is crystal clear and some of the safest waters to drink in the world. Divers from all over the world travel here to swim in these teal blue waters- it's known as one of the top bucket list dive spots in the world!

Just wait til you see the views we experienced:

If those photos weren't enough (because they weren't for us!) then here are a few clips from our swim. No filters. No editing. The water was truly that clear. Just remember that our heads, fingers, and toes were numb the entire time we swam. But hey, our bodies stayed dry!

Öxarárfoss waterfall

After our amazing swim, we warmed up with a cup of hot chocolate that our tour guides provided! It worked miracles on those numb fingers and our hats came in handy with warming up our noggins!

As we made our way back to the car, we saw Öxarárfoss waterfall from a distance and paused to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Þingvellir National Park one last time. As we left the park, we stopped at the tourist center for a pin and to try a local Collab caffeinated collagen drink. (Hey, we needed caffeine and this was an all-natural Icelandic soda-water thing, so we had to try it!)

Icelandic Street Food

With a few hours to kill before our next timed entry, we decided to go into Reykjavik for linner (for those of you who aren't a Kimble, that is a real word for "lunch/dinner combo meal.") I had heard great things about Icelandic Street Food Restaurant, so we found a parking spot and headed in! The soup was delicious and we tried all three of the Icelandic options: the traditional lamb soup, the tomato soup, and the fish soup and all three were spot on! Remember how I said Iceland was expensive? Well, Bryan and I each got a bowl of soup and a beer for $67. Now it was all-you-could-eat soup refills, but still!!!

It warmed our souls while freezing our pockets, if you know what I mean!

With a little more time to kill, we walked around downtown Reykjavik and spotted the famous church, Hallgrimskirkja.

Sky Lagoon

By 6:30 pm, we had warmed up from our "ice" part of the day, and it was finally time for the "fire" half at Sky Lagoon! Iceland is famous for its geothermal baths, most notably the Blue Lagoon with its milky blue waters and face masks. During my research, I learned that the Blue Lagoon, while being the most famous geothermal bath in Iceland, is also notorious for being overly packed with people and not quite as relaxing as some of the lesser-known spa options.

So instead I opted for the Sky Lagoon, where Bryan and I spent a few hours soaking in the volcanic waters and enjoying the 7-step ritual inside that Hobbit Hut behind us in the pictures. Inside there we did a cold plunge, then sweated our asses off in a sauna before freezing our asses off in a mist shower, then enjoyed a nice body scrub before sweating it all off again in a steam room. It doesn't sound relaxing at all when I write it, but dang it felt good!

Also that infinity edge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean was a sight to behold! Especially since it's the first time I've been able to look out at it without a hat and coat on!

Feeling all relaxed and toasty, we weren't quite ready for this birthday to end, so we drove back downtown to do some night shopping and exploring. Of course, I had to snap a few more pictures of Hallgrimskirkja with the famous Rainbow Street Art! I also enjoyed all the other less-known street art around town! Despite the price tag, Reykjavik was a stunningly beautiful town and full of adventure for us!

Igdlo Guesthouse

But that adventure wasn't over! Our accommodation for the night was a hostel because (as I have stated many times before) Iceland is expensive. For $125, Bryan and I enjoyed a night on twin beds with a shared bathroom down the hall.

Now, because I am good at trip planning, Bryan and I took our showers at the Sky Lagoon, so we didn't have to brace ourselves for the shared bathroom shower. Overall, the hostel experience was fine and we were relieved later when we met a wealthy couple who unknowingly booked a similar hostel experience for $250 a night! (So who's the bargain-booker now!?)

Thursday, September 7: Cruise Bound

On the morning of the 7th, we checked out of our hostel (see my message to the desk guy who wasn't in the office above) and headed back to the airport to return our rental car. It was a little inconvenient to drive back to the airport, but without that one-day car rental, there's no way we would have been able to fit in everything we did in Reykjavik, so we agree it was well worth the added hassle.

Skarfabakki Harbour

After returning the car, we hopped on our Reykjavik Excursions bus which took us to the city center bus station, where we caught another bus to the cruise terminal. Not the quickest option, but using city buses instead of the Norwegian transfer buses saved us $100!

Then it was time to board our cruise!

After an eventful morning, we were ready to indulge in our all-inclusive meal plan with brunch aboard Norwegian's newest ship: Prima! Fresh salads, soups, pastas, and Philly Cheese Steaks filled our plates as we dined in Hudsons, the main dining room.

As we waited for the ship to disembark for our next Iceland port, we enjoyed a few drinks while exploring the ship! Built in 2022, the Prima ship was stunningly modern! By every elevator were these giant touchscreen computers that allowed you to look at the daily schedule, upcoming events, weather in the next port call, and even mapped-out guides to help you get where you wanted to go around the ship! It was awesome!

While we splurged on the drinking plan ourselves, there was a coffee plan that included unlimited Starbucks drinks at the TWO fully-stocked Starbucks coffee shops on board. Yep, two full Starbucks- baristas in the green aprons and everything- were built into the ship's plans! Now THAT is a way to cruise the Norwegian Sea!

Bryan lost our bet: those huge slides going off the side of the ship are not water slides- they are regular slides that go from deck 18 to deck 7! We will definitely be back to check those out once they open!

Eventually, our room was ready and Bryan was happy to see our suitcase and backpacks made it safely to our 10-day home! The rest of the day was spent exploring other areas of the ship, playing in game shows, winning the first round of trivia onboard (go Bryan! I was just there for emotional support), and finding all the Romero Britto art for Cindy Kimble!

Friday, September 8: Eyjafjörður & Akureyri

Our cruise was originally supposed to stop in Ísafjörður for a day of small-town exploring, but due to tides, we weren't able to port and instead continued to Akureyri for an overnight port. Little did we know that the tides that hindered our Ísafjörður stop would also cause porting issues in Akureyri as well, so today turned into an almost full day at sea!

We didn't mind too much: the food and drinks were good and the views outside were stunning as we made our way up the Eyjafjörður fjord. We passed the day on a quiet daybed overlooking the breathtaking views of Iceland's famous fjords that were carved out by icebergs and melting glaciers in the mountains. During this time, we had cell service too, so we called family and then spent several hours just sitting, talking, and reading our books! Today was not a wasted day!

After all that sitting and reading, Bryan was ready for some action so it was time to hit the slides! While the twin slides were fun to race (I beat Bryan by a ton!) the Drop slide was by far the best! Similar to water slides we have experienced before, the bottom of this slide drops out from under you, where you then fall into a clear tube over the side of the ship! Talk about an adrenaline rush!

Watch Bryan on the Norwegian Slide "The Drop!"

After an unsuccessful attempt at docking in Akureyri, it was time for dinner. The waves were too harsh for our first docking try, so we headed back into the fjord to wait for another ship to leave so we could take their calmer spot.

Eventually, we successfully docked and were allowed off the ship at 7:30 pm. Bryan and I weren't missing out on any time on land, so we scurried off the ship for a few hours of shopping and walking the downtown portion of Akureyri. This city wasn't very big, and the wind was fierce, but it was nice to snap a few pictures without all the crowds that were sure to disembark tomorrow with us for our full day in Akureyri.

Saturday, September 9: Akureyri

With a full day left in Akureyri, we took our time eating breakfast and leaving the ship. With the changes in our port calls and the prices of Icelandic excursions, Bryan and I decided to skip out on touring the fjord (since we really did that yesterday from the ship deck) and instead walked around and explored the city.

Akureyrarkirkja

Like Reykjavik, Akureyri is famous for its modern church. At the time of our visit, they were redoing the stairs out front, so we had to climb the hill behind the Akureyrarkirkja Church to reach the viewpoint!

Akureyri Botanical Garden: Lystigarður Akureyrar

The next stop on our city walking tour was the Botanical Garden, where we enjoyed looking at all the Icelandic houses along the way. Reminding us of colonial America, these homes were quaint and colorful!

As we headed back into the small town, we did some more shopping: mainly to warm up in the toasty shops and brace ourselves for the windy conditions outside.

Having seen all that Akureyri has to offer, we boarded the ship to prepare for departure! Knowing we had another chance at spectacular views, we threw on our suits and enjoyed the hot tub as we left Akureyri and entered back into Ísafjörður fjord!

Bryan may have lost the bet earlier about the other slides, but the Prima DOES have a waterslide...and it's FREEZING cold! Kind of like the cold plunge back at Sky Lagoon, the waterslide drops your body temperature so you can dive back into the hot tubs for warmth!

After leaving the fjord, we enjoyed some more bundled-up reading time, exploring more of the ship (hey look Mom! An entire Thomas Kinkade display by the art gallery!), and then a dinner at the rear of the ship!

Not a bad way to end a day in Iceland!

Sunday, September 10: Day at Sea

After experiencing Iceland, it was time to hit the Norwegian Sea to continue our journey! We spent this day eating, drinking, playing mini golf, and watching racers zip around the 18th-deck racetrack. Yep, Norwegian Prima is the first (and currently only) ship with a go-cart track on board. I tried to talk Bryan into giving it a go, but he didn't want to spend the $15. I just wanted him to race so I could use the laser guns above to shoot at him as he flew by!

I gotta say, this ship is pretty amazing!

As you can tell, this day wasn't going by without another round of The Drop Slide! I have to admit, with the windy conditions at sea, this slide was EXTRA fast!!! We flew down it so quickly I couldn't help the giggles that escaped as my head bounced along the back of the slide! It was AWESOME.

We ended our day at sea with a delicious dinner back in Hudsons with an amazing view of the Norwegian Sea!

And don't worry, Hugo and Reynolds weren't missing us one bit! Miss Jessi was back dogsitting for us and her daily photos and videos reminded us that our babies were in good hands! I mean, just look at those faces!

Stay tuned as the Norwegian Prima continues our journey to Norway!

--Katie