#akranes

Red bike with yellow backpack #3 - Tita Secchi Villa , 2012.

Italian, b.  ?

Oil on canvas  ,  70 x 90 cm.

4th of August, 2022

After a long flight with two transfers - a busy night spent on Stockholm airport, early breakfast for two (= shared Norwegian beer) and enjoying the sight of a beautiful landscape after departing from airport in Oslo, we finally arrived to Keflavík - only to find out, that one of our backpacks was left back in Stockholm. Knowing, that we have time until the evening for the luggage to arrive, we decided to pick up our rented car and explore the surroundings. As we didn't have an exact plan for our first day in Iceland, our best option was to stay in a close proximity to Keflavík airport. And how damn lucky we were! Only one day has passed since the birth of the Meradalir volcano, and the starting point for the hike was only 30 minutes away from the airport.

Spectacular view of the solidified lava fields from previous eruptions in Geldingadalir, photo taken at the starting point of Route A to Meradalir volcano.

The hike to the volcano itself took us approximately 2 hours of leisurely walking. Vast area of the Fagradsfjall volcanic system was constantly monitored closely by scientists. We watched the volcano from a safe distance from above, nevertheless it was an experience of a lifetime. Later we noticed quite a lot of people in considerable proximity to the volcano and we considered returning back and going closer to the fissure at the end of our trip. Unfortunately, we were unable to do so due to time constraints.

Meradalir eruption, second day (4th of August, 2022).

After this unforgettable hike, it was almost time to get our lost luggage. On our way to Keflavík airport, we made short stops on the south coast of Reykjanes peninsula to observe a few swimming seals and we also took a peek at the Gunnuhver hot springs. First Icelandic word of the day was „hætta“ - danger. One has to be careful around all that lava, geothermal hot springs and pools. But the views are definitely worth it :)

We decided to spend our first night in a camp in the town of Akranes. We managed to watch the eye-flattering sunset, although the sun barely sets and the night is never completely dark in August. If you have to watch your budget, the best option is to buy a camping card at a very favorable price, which gives you access to several camping sites all over Iceland.