Iceland was calling, aka This is not Africa....

[Denali]

Hello! We arrived yesterday so I'll be updating this as I go but there'll be more pics than words (as this done on my phone) but here I go....



AFFer has taught me many things and one is to be flexible with my connections so when I started looking for routes to Africa but ended up in Amsterdam, told hubby 'Well, they both start with an A!"

11 months ago scored 2 x J reward seats with SQ, mine I transferred VA points to KF and Hubbys was a VA redemption.

But what to do once we got to Amsterdam? A quick look at the map and deciding our age is becoming a factor so seized the moment to dive the tectonic plates at Silfra in Iceland. Why age is an issue? Well, once 60 (hubby is 57) he would need medical clearance to dive it but little did we know at time of booking that a last minute issue would have us do all the medicals anyway.

So here's the plan, SYD-SIN-AMS-KEF, all J.

 

[Denali]

So finally the day arrives and our driver Bruce takes us across the bridge to the airport.



This time, after speedy check in and immigration, we used the tax refund corridor to avoid all the duty free shopping but they are sneaky B's that still get you because if you are making a claim you are forced funnelled back into the duty free shops. This is also when I found out that the "it was about one hundred dollars" purchase hubby made was really $400 and he bought another gopro plus some other gadgets!



Headed to the SQ lounge and finally our flight.

4pm SQ222 was the a380 and she's tired and in need of refit. I couldn't use my drinks tray thingy as it was being held together with sticky tape





We both had window seats so I said farewell to the husband and I will see him in 8hrs.

 

[Denali]

Changi J lounge was like a dammed zoo and on our return I'm paying money for a transit hotel room to avoid it just so I can get a proper shower but it was only a two hour transit and soon we we're on our way again, this time it was the 359.



Thanks to a generous AFFer, hubby was comfy.



These seats are not terrible but I do wonder how they come about the design to get little things wrong that combine into uggg. At some point, just after waking with excruciating leg cramps, I hobbled to the empty bulk head seat I was eyeing off and moved myself.

This flight menu


I skipped first meal as body clock was saying 3am is too late for dinner so was looking forward to breakfast but again, what's happened to you SQ? The frittata was watery and chewy, potatoes bland but thankfully the sausage was awesome.



We arrived about 7.30am and Amsterdam was a dream to clear immigration and get our bags, where we had a 5hr layover.

I felt good but strangely hubby, who usually is the strong one holding me together on long hauls, was snarky so guessing he watched movies instead of sleeping took him across the road to the Sheraton where we paid way too much for a day room but sent him to the restaurant for second breakfast and then a nap.

Our Sheraton view

 

[ellen10]

Looking forward to following along. Sounds like a mixed start to your adventures.
But many great experiences to come.

 

[Denali]

After a few hours rest and a hot shower we headed back into the airport... And walked and walked and walked until the very end of it to check in with Iceland air. At this point my fitbit decided that I had died and someone else was wearing it. It was a bloody long way.

Security was chaotic and eventually we found our way to lounge no# 26.... This is when I began to suspect that Iceland's national airline might be low cost.

Walking up to it I see Star Alliance but that was not our lounge, ours was next to it, the Aspire lounge. Heineken on tap and all the cheese you can eat, a long as tasty slice cheese is your thing. It was freaking depressing. If heaven has a waiting room for old people, this would be it. Even the staff were blah as I had to ask for clean glasses to get a water

 

[RooFlyer]

I gotta say, I think SQhas come off a lot in the past few years. Used to be my 'dream' ride in Business, now little attraction at all.

Mainly because of their lie-angled beds but also meals, whilst still usually good, seem to have more frequent 'misses' , like yours.

 

[Pushka]

Looking forward to more.

 

[Denali]

But Iceland is calling and we must go! And yep, Iceland is on the low cost side but considering WOW Airlines collapsed only days earlier, I'm glad I booked them. The tickets I bought months ago doubled after the wow collapse.

Our gate was a zoo of heavy parkers and hiking boots, more standing than sitting and 40 mins late but then . . Ta dahhhhhh, she arrives in all her retro splendour





Boarding is strictly controlled, row 1-6 row first, as I heard them refuse entry to some based on their number and we turned left.

Seats are like VA and soon we we're swilling our glacier water.



Usually the flight is about 3hrs but we departed 40mins late so we did it in about 2.5hrs

Hubbys seat


My seat


Menu although we pre ordered


Lots of booze on offer inc local gins


Hubbys meal was yummy


My chicken that hubby had


And after two hours I look out the window and see land ... And think WTF is all that white stuff



At this point I realise how unprepared I am for this

 

[VPS]

Love your TR and honesty @Denali - what did you say to hubby when you realised he'd overspent

 

[Denali]

I actually didn't take photos here but we arrive at a remote stand (remotes for anational carrier? ) and bus it in and then you walk and walk and walk and walk..... And walk. And walk. My fitbit was so confused and wondering if it's new owner was a health freak or running from the police



No immigration as we entered via Netherlands and no declarations and straight to the baggage hall. Via duty free where they give you full sized shopping trolleys as this is the cheapest place on the island to buy booze and people were buying up big.

Fun fact. Alcohol was only made legal here in 1989.

Through a door and that's it. Hmmmm, kinda like Launceston airport back in 1996.

But first, to the small 7-11 type shop to pick up my prepaid Trawire mifi with unlimited data up to ten devices. Show them my voucher and that's it, super easy and includes postage return.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ha Wait till you see where the airport actually is (I know, you arrived yesterday, but I'm in the TR time zone ...) ! It used to be a US air force base, so quite a ways out of town .... unless, you landed at the old airport, which is almost downtown, but I think they closed that?

 

[RooFlyer]

Are you going to Geysir?

 

[tgh]

hmm …..trawire eh, ….$9 us a day ….hmmm…. my booked rental has wi fi .. who runs the Internet in Iceland ? . can they do 'Oz too…...

 

[Mattg]

After a few hours rest and a hot shower we headed back into the airport... And walked and walked and walked until the very end of it to check in with Iceland air. At this point my fitbit decided that I had died and someone else was wearing it. It was a bloody long way.

Security was chaotic and eventually we found our way to lounge no# 26.... This is when I began to suspect that Iceland's national airline might be low cost.

Walking up to it I see Star Alliance but that was not our lounge, ours was next to it, the Aspire lounge. Heineken on tap and all the cheese you can eat, a long as tasty slice cheese is your thing. It was freaking depressing. If heaven has a waiting room for old people, this would be it. Even the staff were blah as I had to ask for clean glasses to get a water

View attachment 159223

Believe it or not, that Aspire Lounge is just a couple of months old and is a vast improvement over the previous Aspire 26 lounge which was downstairs from the current location. The Aspire lounge is also less crowded now that Star Alliance elites are being redirected to the Star Alliance lounge next door, which only opened last month. The food is rubbish, but at least they do have Heineken on tap and spirits available.

But yes, the lounge situation at AMS is rather dire unless you have access to the non-Schengen KLM lounge.

Looking forward to the rest of the TR

 

[AisleSeat]

And walked and walked and walked until the very end of it to check in with Iceland air. At this point my fitbit decided that I had died and someone else was wearing it. It was a bloody long way.

This is exactly my memory of Schiphol. So much walking and wondering if my gate was at the end of the earth.

Looking forward to dive pics

 

[kermatu]

Enjoying the TR and the humour!

 

[Denali]

Our airbnb has wifi but we have some trips planned north and south so wanted independent wifi.

As Roo said above, the airport is 45mins out of town and its bloody far and expensive.

Fun fact. Buses are banned in the city circle.

Most get the tourist bus that takes you to Central and then mini buses to designated bus stops dotted around the city and you then walk with bags to your accommodation.

Unless you are us and $230aud later, door delivery

Out of order photos but we wandered from our accommodation for breakfast and currently enjoying breakfast


Shakshuka with sausage


Looking forward to the battle of the bakeries. Sandholt v Braun & Co, both a short walk from us

 

[tgh]

How is the weather ?

 

[love_the_life]

How is the weather ?

Looks like they have broken out the polar fleece.
Forecast is for about 6C but clear so not bad at all.

 

[Denali]

Right now, the weather is fantastic. I'm not even wearing a jumper so we're taking the opportunity to see the city from the observation deck at Hallgrimskirkja Church. The organist music is beautiful

Went to the Knitters assoc store as hubby wanted a new beanie ($70aud but priceless in memories)