ODIN WE ASK FOR CLEAR SKIES!!!!

The northern lights are spectacular and Iceland is an ideal place to search for this natural phenomenon.  Sightings are most likely in the evening hours during the months of September to March. NASA predicts that this winter the northern lights will be their most intense in over a decade. Our chances of seeing them on our June/July trip are almost nil due to the length of daylight during those months at these north latitudes. 

What are the Northern Lights?

Displays of the Northern Lights occur when solar particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere and on impact emit burning gases that produce different colored lights (oxygen produces green and yellow; nitrogen blue). The scientific term for the lights is the aurora borealis (named after the Roman goddess of the dawn). A similar spectacle in the southern hemisphere is known as the aurora australis.

Where can you see them?

The aurora borealis occurs in an oval doughnut-shaped area located above the magnetic pole. The best sightings are within the “doughnut” (rather than at the pole itself), and away from artificial light and moonlight.

The oval rotates with the sun, and it may grow and shrink in size considerably in only a matter of hours. The most spectacular displays occur in the northern parts of the following areas: the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland (including all of Greenland and Svalbard), Alaska, Canada and Russia.

Icelandair  has nonstop service to Reykjavik and they offer some interesting tours which include air, lodging, tours and transfers. We opted for the Northern Lights and Glacier Walk offering. 

We depart on March 8, from Denver and arrive Monday March 9th in Reykjavik. Our Glacier Walk will be on Tuesday March 10 and we will have Wednesday March 11 to explore Reykjavik on our own. 

Our pre-trip research indicates Reykjavik is a town easily explored on foot. There is a local bus service and if one purchases a Reykjavik Card many local attractions (hot pools, museums, etc.) and bus card are included. A three day card is about $39 US. A shorter/longer stay Reykjavik card is available. Will see if we decide to get one of these. 

Highlights of this trip will be the Northern Lights, Hotdogs (more on those later), the local cafes , the Harbor area, museums, and pools.  We will see what fates the Norse Gods have in store for us. 

Our lodging will be at the Hotel Reykjavik Marina, ( http://www.icelandairhotels.com/en/hotels/marina/about-reykjavik-marina/about-the-hotel ), not centrally located but close to the Old Harbor area. Most locations we want to visit are close within 1-2 km.  

Our fingers are crossed and we hope Odin will give us clear evening skies. 

Stay tuned as this journey progresses.

Pups were dropped at puppy camp, they pulled me in there like the start of the Iditarod.  We drove to DEN and got checked in with Icelandair. We were given passes to the UAL club so here we are waiting.