? Only when a person is traveling can he hear his own voice, and it will tell you that the world is wider than you imagine. -- Hayao Miyazaki "Kiki's Delivery Service"
What I want to say is: In my world, life without travel can only be called survival.
? As summer vacation approaches, my dream of traveling around the world begins to bloom again. I have driven the east-west route of the United States and the blue coastline of France. I have encountered hurricanes, desert storms and heavy rains. I have driven dilapidated French manual transmission cars and brand-new American luxury off-road vehicles. I have traveled more than 30 years. After accumulating rich self-driving experience in this country, I began to look forward to self-driving in the mysterious country-Iceland.
? Iceland is a mysterious country where the midnight sun can travel through outer space in one second. In a world of ice and fire, a world of moss, volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and canyons, we feel like we are lost. Just like humans on a lonely alien planet, driving to the end of the world every day, the feeling of excitement, joy, loneliness, and even fear has never been experienced before. The cool beauty of Iceland, the astonishing and suffocating black sand beaches, the roadside boulders that are about to fall down at any time like flying from the sky, the green grasslands, the glaciers that have not melted for thousands of years, the majestic Gullfoss, the hot spring water of the Blue Lake with pink and blue colors, and the large and bizarre moss landforms that make your whole body tingle at the sight are all amazing and shocking! Walking in such a mysterious country with ice caps on active volcanoes, I instantly felt that nature is really beautiful and wonderful!
Seljalandsfoss is a very popular waterfall on the south coast of Iceland. It is narrow and high, with a drop of 63 meters. The most special thing about Seljalandsfoss is the secret inside it. There is a path at the lower level of the waterfall. You can walk along it to the back of the waterfall and take photos of the spectacular scenery from a unique perspective. It feels a bit like a water curtain cave!
"Gullfoss" is the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. It is located 125 kilometers east of Reykjavik, and the waterfalls sparkle in the sunset. The name of the famous tourist route "Golden Circle" comes from this waterfall. It, along with Geysir and Parliament National Park, are the three most famous attractions on the Golden Circle.
I have seen Old Faithful and various geothermal and landforms in Yellowstone National Park in the United States. This place is the same but different from it. The same thing is that it is caused by changes in crustal movement. The difference is that the beauty of the place is different. , needs to be savored carefully.
? This trip was originally planned to be self-driving around Iceland for half a month. Due to visa reasons (Iceland visas must go to Beijing for an interview, which is time-consuming, laborious and cumbersome) and my husband’s limited holidays, after repeated selections, the final decision was made : 11-day itinerary in Iceland, Denmark and Sweden. The hotel check-in time is to choose three days in each of the three countries, and the time is evenly distributed, so you can choose to apply for a Swedish visa to enter, and Chengdu can apply for the visa! This not only solves the visa problem, but also prevents the whole journey from being too tiring. Iceland is a particularly interesting and mysterious country. I have always been fascinated by it. In addition, my husband is a fan of "Game of Thrones". Iceland is the filming location of the show. Especially after the movie "Daydreamer" was broadcast, how many people People yearn to ride a skateboard and slide carelessly on Iceland's Route 1, all because they are too addicted! Ha ha! In fact, Highway 1 is very rough and riding a skateboard is very dangerous, so don’t follow suit! My daughter likes handsome Icelandic guys and is a semi-qualified football fan, so the whole family hit it off. Based on past experience in independent travel, we generally choose different travel modes according to the specific conditions of different countries, striving to achieve freedom, convenience, economical and reasonable travel.
This time the three countries chose a three-day self-driving trip in Iceland (because there is almost no public transportation in Iceland and the distance between scenic spots is relatively long, so it is convenient to choose a self-driving one. In addition, the sun almost never sets in summer, The days are long and the nights are short, and you can still drive on the road at ten o'clock in the evening, which is especially suitable for self-driving). Sweden has very developed public transportation, and the subway line happens to be one of the most beautiful and unique attractions. The distance between the main attractions in the old town is not very far, so I choose to travel by taking the subway and walking. (By the way, many guides have recommended cycling tours in the old city. I don’t recommend this because the handsome Swedish guys are so tall. I feel that their bikes are so tall and big that it may be inconvenient to ride.) Denmark chose a rickshaw charter for one day. For the distant castle and Andersen Museum, you can take the subway and hike in the city to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
We spent 100rmb to buy a 24-hour pass for the Stockholm Metro. We went back and forth for two hours, taking photos in various internet celebrity poses! Hahaha, if you are passing by, don’t miss it!
The commentator humorously said that the sunken ships in the Vasa Shipwreck Museum are exquisitely crafted and magnificent, but they are beautiful but useless. They sank on their first maiden voyage, which is equivalent to what China calls a face-saving project! Hahaha, it seems that any place with stars is the same!
Fairy tale world - Denmark, what impressed me most was the simple and elegant Nordic style architecture, and the various colors are fascinating.
A special note here is that many attractions in Iceland do not require tickets. This part-time job is very different from some of the sky-high-priced scenic spots in China. The Danish Tinderbox Fairy Tale Experience Museum is very fun. After entering with tickets, you can get dozens of princess costumes, cloaks, and mermaids. Wearing tails and the like casually and taking photos casually can completely satisfy the princess dream needs of beauties of all ages! Hahaha, all clothes are free! Cool!
I plan to go there for a day next time. The scenery here is beautiful and there are many interesting sports activities. Both adults and children can find something to do!
The hotel we stayed in in Copenhagen this time is the Bella Sky AC Hotel, a subsidiary of the Marriott Hotel Group. It is very close to the airport and there is a direct bus to the hotel, which is very convenient! The entire hotel has a slanted design and won the Nordic Design Award! The breakfast is very rich, simple and stylish, I like it very much!
My daughter is a qualified Lego enthusiast. The Lego pieces she has built are incredible to me. Her works are already displayed in every corner of the house! Hahaha
There is no direct flight from Chengdu to Iceland, and you can only transfer from Frankfurt, Beijing and other places. In order to save time on this trip, we flew 6 times in one *** and stayed for 9 days. The itinerary is: Chengdu-Frankfurt; Frankfurt-Stockholm; Stockholm-Reykjavik; Reykjavik-Copenhagen; Copenhagen-Beijing; Beijing-Chengdu. Don't get dizzy, hahaha! It’s okay to actually sit down! (Here I would like to remind everyone that there are limited seats on flights from European countries to Iceland. You must try to book in advance. It is also best to book your luggage in advance and pay together when booking the ticket. Baggage must be paid separately. Book the ticket. It will be much cheaper to buy luggage when traveling, but it will be more expensive temporarily. This must be planned in advance to save wasted RMB.) It should be noted here that you can book air tickets and hotels separately with Ctrip through booking.com, Ctrip, Mafengwo and other websites. ?Compared with hotels, Ctrip’s flight and wine package is more cost-effective, and because there are too many transfers and few seats on overseas flights, booking with Ctrip saves trouble and money compared to booking alone. In order to increase the degree of freedom, the rest of the itinerary is all arranged by yourself!
? In Sweden, I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Stockholm Kings Island. The hotel environment is good, cost-effective, typical Nordic style, and the sea is just a few steps away.
? It’s better to choose a day than to hit it. The second day we went there happened to be the World Gay and Lesbian Congress held in Europe. It is said that it is rare to meet once. The handsome guy who picked us up at the airport asked us humorously if we were coming to attend. From the meeting? Hahaha
The gay parade included a parade of teachers, police, doctors, and consumer workers. It was an eye-opener!
Regarding car rental and insurance, there are two ways to rent a car: one is to rent a car directly from a foreign car rental website, and the other is to rent a car from a car rental website. I have been renting cars and purchasing full insurance on car rental platforms many years ago. It is very convenient. Every year before I go abroad for a self-driving trip, I rent a car, choose the car model in advance, and buy insurance. Renting a car will also provide a certified translation of your international driver's license for free. When picking up the car, be sure to remember to bring the certified translation and your original Chinese driver's license (it should be noted here that China has not yet joined the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic, so China Mainland citizens are currently unable to apply for IDP and must bring their original driver's license to drive normally. It is important to note that each country's traffic regulations are different. You must study them thoroughly before traveling to Iceland. I chose the car rental website. AVIS rented a medium-sized SUV. When we picked it up at the store, the store temporarily provided a Range Rover Sport. The car was in good condition. We purchased the super comprehensive insurance from the car rental company before the trip to ensure that everything was safe (about purchasing insurance for self-driving abroad). , I recommend purchasing comprehensive insurance. Once you encounter a traffic accident, the claim settlement will be very smooth. I once drove on US Highway 1 and stopped at a red light intersection in a small town. A Dodge pickup truck driven by the California Forest Fire Department rear-ended me. We immediately called the police and the other party's insurance company paid all the compensation, and there were no obstacles when returning the car.
In 2015, I drove myself in France. Due to the shortage of vehicles during the summer, I only rented a dilapidated manual transmission car. When returning the car, the rental company found scratches around the car. We recalled that it must have been when we parked in the parking lot and went to eat. The person was injured. There were old scratches all over the car. We didn't pay attention. It seems that there are dishonest people abroad. Because we purchased full insurance, we only signed to confirm that the repair fee of 1,400 euros was fully covered by the insurance. The company is responsible for it, so I emphasize that insurance is very important.) For this trip to Iceland, I purchased super comprehensive insurance before the trip. When I arrived in Iceland, I received a warm reminder to rent a car in advance. I was very touched (I want to say here, the car rental platform It is very complete at present. It not only provides overseas car rentals and driver's license translations, but also provides various insurances and bookings for tickets wherever you go. The service is very nice, especially for self-driving enthusiasts who are not good in English.) Reminder that I have purchased Super Full There is no need to buy insurance anymore. If the car rental company sells insurance, you can refuse it! However, after careful consideration, I spent an additional US$70 to purchase a type of insurance that is only available in Iceland. It is said that if sand gets into a car in Iceland, it will be scrapped, and the maximum compensation can be up to US$90,000! Hahaha I think this kind of luck will probably be zero, but I am still afraid of being too lucky. Spend a little more money to buy safety when you go out. Safety is always the most important thing! Another thing about self-driving in Iceland. When I picked up the car, I saw the screen reminding me that the wind in Iceland is very strong. You must hold the door when opening the door, otherwise it will blow the door. I thought at the time: How strong the wind can destroy the Range Rover. Such a door blowing off? The next day, while driving on the Golden Circle of Iceland, I realized how powerful the wind in Iceland was. I couldn’t even pull it when I opened the car door. In an instant, my arms were black and blue, and I couldn’t even pull it, hahaha! Very magical!
? When renting a car and driving in Iceland, it is best to rent the car with a full tank of fuel and return the car with a full tank of fuel. This is both convenient and cost-effective. We went to the airport to return the car at four in the morning. We filled up the tank in advance the night before. We were worried about being fined if the tank was not full when the car arrived at the return place. As an experienced driver, we acted like a gas gun when we went to the airport to return the car for the last time to refuel. After that, you add a little more oil manually, so that the extra oil can allow you to reach the return place with a full tank of oil (this is my personal experience as an experienced driver). The service of Avis Car Rental Company is really good. There is free coffee at the return desk, and a special car will take you to the airport entrance after returning the car. The service is attentive!
? Finally, I would like to warmly remind everyone who has the dream of self-driving in Iceland that you cannot have your cake and eat it too. If you want to see more beautiful scenery by car, it is best to go in summer, as the safety factor is higher. The locals told us that it is best not to drive by yourself easily in winter. The nights are long, the roads are icy, and the weather in Iceland changes too quickly, making it very dangerous! (It is said that several compatriots drove themselves to Iceland in winter last year and did not return to their hometown.) It is safer to choose to travel with a local tour guide in winter! My ideal plan is to first drive to Iceland to explore the road in the summer, and then find a happy winter to experience the scenery of the glacial lake. This not only satisfies the dream of self-driving but also satisfies the experience of the glacial lake and the Northern Lights in winter. Great! Hahaha
? Most of the self-driving roads in Iceland are regulated at 90 kilometers per hour, and the speed limit in some places is 30/40 kilometers. When driving on mountain roads, in some places if you are speeding, there will be electronic road signs with a smiley face to tell you the current speed. speed, reminding you to pay attention to safety, very user-friendly. Don't try to speed in Iceland. Don't think that you can hardly see the police and surveillance equipment. It is said that the maximum fine for speeding in Iceland can reach about 15,000 yuan. I checked the information before leaving. If you speed, you will be punished three days after leaving Iceland. You receive emails from car rental companies every month to six months. The car rental company will deduct your fees through your credit card, and some even notify the traffic management bureau across borders to deduct points. In this regard, after I completed the procedures for returning the car, my credit card showed that part of the prepaid rights were unfrozen. I think the unfrozen prepaid rights are probably just waiting to find out whether you have any speeding tickets that will be issued in a few months, so it must be Pay attention to abide by local traffic rules! Read the guide before traveling. Many people say that the rain in Iceland comes at any time and the wind is very strong! But we were really lucky. Except for the level 5 strong wind on the second day, the sun was shining brightly! It often rains heavily when we go to the restaurant to eat, and the sun shines brightly after the meal. It rains on the way to the Blue Lagoon Hot Spring, but when we arrive at the Blue Lagoon, it clears up immediately. We are happy all the way, and our character really explodes. ah!
? Internet celebrity attractions and Internet celebrity photo poses, these are the essential travel knowledge for young people that have become popular in recent years, hahaha! This time we went to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and booked Blue Lagoon tickets and restaurant meals online a month in advance, but we still only booked tickets until 7:00 pm. I read the guide before traveling and said that it is very close and convenient to drive directly from the airport to the Blue Lagoon in the morning. After soaking in the hot springs, you can also enjoy internet-famous delicacies at the Blue Lagoon Restaurant, but it’s a bit deceptive and expensive! We first picked up the car at the airport, returned to the hotel to check in, and then started walking to the Reykjavik Cathedral area to enjoy the Icelandic scenery.
We calculated the time accurately and drove to Blue Lake at 4pm. From 5pm to 7pm, we had a leisurely meal in the restaurant. It was delicious. Although the price per person was more than 500 yuan, we all felt that the product was genuine and not a scam. Good quality and great taste! I took a closer look at the Blue Lagoon celebrity photo poses recommended by netizens. I posed sideways with a cup of free drink in the lake, and posed with Iceland’s unique volcanic mud mask on my face. Various poses, so happy! My husband simply took a GoPro and filmed the whole process, hahaha! (I would like to emphasize here that you must prepare a waterproof bag when taking pictures with your mobile phone. The clearest picture will be taken at the beginning, but it will be blurry when there is more water vapor later. It is best to bring a GoPro for sports shooting, which is great!)
The black sand beach in the town of Vik in Iceland is also a popular wedding photography spot. The waves on the black sand beach are very big and high. Don’t get too close. It is said that tourists are swept away every year. Tourists posing for various photos on the basalt pillars next to the beach instantly feel that humans are very small among the universe! You can step on a few footprints on the black sand beach first, and then walk to the farthest footprint. The effect of the photo can definitely compete with Internet celebrities! Haha
Also, sit on the roof of the car and pose for a photo in the strong wind of Iceland. There is a grassland in front of you and a glacier next to you. It feels so good to move forward bravely!
Nearly 90% of people in Nordic countries can speak English, so as long as you can speak a little English, you should be fine! There’s not much of a language barrier.
Nordic countries have different currencies. There is no need to exchange local krona before going abroad. You only need to bring an international credit card with the visa or master logo. It is very convenient to use! In Sweden, you can swipe your card to use the restroom, take a taxi, or take the subway, which is very convenient and fast.
? During this trip to the three Nordic countries, each has its own unique cuisine. My basic principles for eating every time I travel are: first, try to eat all the local specialties; second, consume reasonably on the basis of fully enjoying the fun brought by the food.
? Food in Iceland: Iceland is famous for its high prices. The first meal I ate when I arrived in Iceland was an affordable small noodle shop - there were only beef noodles, chicken noodles and vegetable noodles to choose from. The most pleasant thing was There is chili noodles in it, it tastes so good! The specialty desserts of the Lawa restaurant in Blue Lagoon Hot Spring are particularly delicious steaks, and the cod, which is abundant above 60 degrees north latitude, is tender and delicious; the hotel has authentic Icelandic yogurt for breakfast; and the delicious Icelandic lamb soup in Wik Town, but unfortunately I did not eat it Go to Sheep Face, hahaha, leave some regrets and try it again next time you see the Northern Lights!