50,000 Words And Some Midnight Sun
This summer has been all about Iceland for me. I did make a couple of quick detours—to Barcelona and to Edinburgh, but I’ve been mostly in front of my computer writing up my contributions to the forthcoming Lonely Planet Iceland guidebook.
I did spend a chunk of the summer experiencing the midnight sun in Iceland. I didn’t see darkness for over a week, and I didn’t miss it at all. I even stayed up to watch a summer solstice sunset … which happened around 12:04 AM June 22.
I love long summer days as it is. It’s one of the things I enjoy most about visiting northern cities like Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and London. There’s something about it that’s just so energizing, and I love being able to sleep in without thinking about the daylight I’m wasting. The photo below is a sunset just before midnight one night.
On this trip, I spent most of my time on the south coast and in Reykjavik, where a lot has changed over the past few years.
There’s a new collection of caves open in Hella where you can learn about Viking and Celtic history, see a tiny bit of Icelandic railroad track or host a destination wedding with a local whiskey tasting.
Brimketill, a naturally carved lava pool that looks like a mermaid paradise, has a new parking lot and walking path that makes it significantly easier to find. Brut, the seafood restaurant inside the Radisson Blu 1919 hotel in Reykjavik, has a shiny new Michelin star, and menus across the city offer many more vegetarian and vegan options than they used to.
The rental car market also seems to have evened out. I was able to rent a car last- minute for around $90 per day.
I didn’t have trouble sleeping despite the constant daylight, but I did bring an eye mask.
I missed the recent volcanic eruptions by just a few days, but I get the distinct feeling there will be another one. If you go, follow safe.is for crucial safety information.
For now, I’m about 50,000 words lighter, and I can’t wait to share the new Lonely Planet Iceland guide with you in the spring.
For Condé Nast Traveler, I wrote about an upcoming Seabourn luxury cruise through Kimberley, Australia.
For A Different Leaf, I wrote a stoner’s guide to Portland, Oregon. You’ll have to buy the magazine to read the story, but you can listen to the podcast here.
Steal my itinerary for Basel, Switzerland or Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.
Or figure out what to pack for a pyramids and Nile River trip with my guide on what to wear in Egypt.