Iceland: Kerid Crater, Rental Return, & Reykjavík
After a whooping good time the previous night courtesy of the whooper swans, we decided to cram in one more natural attraction before returning our camper van. In the flurry of activity on the day we toured the Golden Circle, we missed Kerid Crater. Technically, the crater is not part of the Golden Circle, but many tours include it as an additional perk.
We pulled into a red gravel and dirt parking lot where we saw other camper vans. We had been slowly returning to more populated tourist areas since we left the Snæfellsnes
Peninsula, and this location near the Golden Circle definitely brings in the visitors. Kerid Crater is on private property, and unlike all the sights we’d seen so far, we paid a small entry fee. Graham took this opportunity to use some of the cash he took out at the airport. Iceland is a virtually cashless country, and the Kerid Crater attendant was not expecting to handle cash. Oh well, we were happy to pass it along! We prefer a cashless lifestyle as well!
At Kerid Crater, you hike up the side of the crater, walk around the top, hike down to the lake, and then walk around the lake. It is a nice little workout, and we enjoyed taking in the views. Like everything else in Iceland, it is hard to imagine the scale just from photos.
We hiked down into the crater. The owners of Kerid Crater do a good job of maintaining the trails, stairs, and platforms.
After checking out Kerid Crater, we searched for a proper lunch. I had hoped to go to the famous tomato restaurant and greenhouse, Friðheimar, but it was all booked-up. Lots of Golden Circle tour companies include a stop at Friðheimar so it was not surprising they had no availability. We ended up at Þrastalundur. It is a beautiful restaurant! Their specialty is pizza, but Graham ended up getting seafood soup with rye bread and onion rings. I got the fish and chips and regretted it. The dish was fine. I just realized that I was so done with fish! Iceland serves up some of the freshest fish in the world, and I more than ate my fill, but you just have to know when to throw in the towel. My palate was ready to explore Reykjavík, and all its wonders!
As we walked to the parking lot after lunch, we noticed the thickening clouds. We hopped in the camper van and set our navigation to our hotel in Reykjavík, Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre.
We planned to request early check-in or luggage storage so that we could unload our camper van before returning it to Happy Campers. Our plan worked beautifully! The hotel desk clerk not only allowed us to check-in early, but we got to pick what floor we wanted. We asked for the most privacy and a good view. They put us on the fifth floor (top floor) with excellent views.
With a fifth floor location, we did have to navigate a slanted ceiling on one side of the room. Unfortunately, Graham hit his head twice! It is amazing how your body automatically expects certain dimensions in a room. We are not slanted ceiling people!
Our hotel room also featured heated bathroom floors. We are heated bathroom floor people!
After dropping off our luggage, we headed to Happy Campers near Keflavík. Along the way, I saw a sign for Taco Bell and KFC.
From Happy Campers, we tried to catch a bus to return to Reykjavík, but we went to the wrong bus stop. We returned to Happy Campers and caught a ride to the airport where we had more options. At the airport, we took a packed bus to Reykjavík. We listened to the new arrivals talking about their planned adventures and felt like seasoned travelers.
Once in Reykjavík, we had a bit of a hike to get back to our hotel, but we did not mind at all. We enjoyed our first encounters with the city.
Back at our hotel, we looked up restaurants. In my research, I discovered Himalayan Spice, a well-reviewed Nepalese restaurant. We both wanted a cuisine change, and something spicy fit the bill. I booked a reservation online and off we went!
Cozy! Warming! Even romantic! Himalayan Spice brought it all. The dark restaurant and candlelit table for two made our first night out in Reykjavík even more special. We ordered momo for an appetizer and curries for entrees. Everything tasted like heaven!
During dinner, we overheard some loud Americans seated a couple of tables away. The noise seemed out of place given the restaurant’s atmosphere, but I am sure they were having fun. We had been so far out there in the country that more than a few people seemed like a crowd and any noise amplified as something louder. That night we’d hear all the whooping and hollering of people, instead of swans! The bars in Reykjavík do not close until very late, anywhere from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m.
As we settled down to sleep, our thoughts turned more and more toward home. Part of me wanted to be home in bed with our kitties with no place to be and nothing to do. I looked at photos of our kitties on my phone that Mom sent me a few days prior. I think they’re ready for us to come home too!
