Leapfrog

So what do you take on a 4 month around the world trip? Not much, actually. Because everything you have with you is on your back, and you have to carry it with you everywhere you go. There is actually an amazing amount of stuff in this backpack and day bag combination. The little polka dotted bag is medicine, toiletries, and electronics. In the gray and black stuff compression sack are all of my clothes. There is also a lightweight towel, rain poncho, sleep sack, and other little bits and bobs tucked in there. I’m also fully loaded with art supplies and have a pair of shower shoes/ flats.

Bonus- my day bag is collapsible and everything can fit into my backpack.

The total weight is somewhere around 27lbs, which is 7lbs more than my ideal, but still totally manageable, especially since I won’t usually have to have my entire bag with me.

Luckily for me, my parents will be able to bring some stuff for me to switch out in Istanbul, that has really simplified matters since Turkey is a really good halfway point between warm and cool weather.

We spent three days driving around the countryside of Iceland, and it was the best possible decision we could have made about our use of time. The true glory of Iceland is its land. I took so many pictures, I didn’t think I could fit them all in one post so I made a gallery. I unreservedly recommend both Hvalfjörður and Reykjanesfólkvangur, a reserve just south of Reykjavik. Both of these places were spectacularly beautiful and fairly deserted, the perfect combo for me. The Golden Circle was very crowded, but if large groups tourists don’t bother you as much as they bother me, those sites are well travelled for a reason.

We spent the three days as follows-

Day 1- Drive around Hvalfjörður. There is tunnel that allows you to drive under the fjord, but I recommend driving around it instead.

Day 2- Golden Circle Drive. While this trip was very crowded, our early morning stop at The Secret Lagoon, a geothermal pool with its own mini geyser could not have been more pleasant.

Day 3- Reykjanesfólkvangur, focused on the mineral lake, and then to Hafnir.

I feel honored to have been able to witness this place. Iceland is very special, and I look forward to visiting it again.