{"id":6588,"date":"2019-06-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rent.is\/camperstories\/growing-intimate-with-iceland\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T11:30:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:30:22","slug":"growing-intimate-with-iceland","status":"publish","type":"camperstories","link":"https:\/\/www.rent.is\/es\/camperstories\/growing-intimate-with-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing intimate with Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"

NYE Bonfires and Booms<\/span><\/h3>\n

We flew into Reykjavik New Years Eve (NYE). Getting to our hostel was very easy after having bought bus tickets on the airplane. We did not have any checked-in luggage so we just exited the plane, hopped on the bus, and were dropped off at the backdoor of a factory, we mean hostel. KEX has an interesting first impression from the outside, but don\u2019t let that scare you away. Or else, you\u2019d miss out on a gem. Our first impressions of KEX Hostel were not quite the same.<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s first impression:<\/em><\/p>\n

It reminded me of a scene out of Hostel. As I creeped out of the shuttle bus, I checked my pockets, my bags, and my kidneys\u2026oh, and of course my girlfriend\u2026just to make sure I still had them close by and safe. From the exterior, the hostel looked like an abandoned warehouse. We opened the backdoor and climbed a flight of cold, concrete, steel stairs and entered a starkly different world that was quite different than it\u2019s exterior. It filled me with mixed emotions of curiosity and eeriness. The walls were adorned with books, clocks, candlelights, various artifacts, such as baby doll heads, arms, legs and clowns. As I let my emotions settle, I began to warm up to the place with it\u2019s unique and eclectic decor.<\/p>\n

Christina\u2019s first impression:<\/em><\/p>\n

It had a warm, welcoming, and HYGGE (cozy) feeling.<\/p>\n

For New Years Eve dinner at the hostel, we were served a 3-course buffet and were seated with two other couples at a table. It was a warm environment that fostered conversation with strangers\u2014a German couple and the Brits, neither of which were guests at the hostel. The restaurant\/bar is open to the general public as well.<\/p>\n

We heard that food and drink could be expensive in Iceland, but we were shocked to find out that our two beers before dinner had costed more than the dinner itself. Luckily, it was just a mistake that was discovered and fixed. We were not aware that the price we first paid included the dinner too. Oops\u2026Even though Iceland is expensive, it\u2019s not that expensive. It helps to learn the conversion rates, so you\u2019re not overwhelmed with the thousands you will be spending.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/span> Festivals in Iceland<\/a><\/p>\n

After dinner, we began hunt for one of the many bonfires around the city and were joined by many other tourists and locals looking to partake in a traditional NYE activity of Iceland. Meanwhile, fireworks went off all around the city throughout the night. This was, of course, one of the reasons we decided to fly into Reykjavik on the 31st and to celebrate the New Year. The search was windy and cold, but we pressed on. After less than an hour, we found a bonfire, and it was HUGE. It was the perfect way to warm ourselves. A couple hundred of us circled around in our own personal parties. It was beautiful to see all walks of life and ethnicities circle around a bonfire and just celebrate life and a new year. We must warn though, don\u2019t get too close. It gets a bit hot. If you do find yourself at the very front, you might want to try warming your butt instead of scorching your face.<\/p>\n

\"Bonfire<\/a><\/p>\n

Having our fill of the flames, we made our cold journey back to the hostel and warmed up. After much debate, we decided to bunker down at the hostel and not venture out for the countdown. With luck, we had found ourselves a private fire escape stairwell where we were able to have private viewing of 4 different firework shows, and most importantly, the church was one of them.<\/p>\n

The morning after, we found ourselves snuggled up in a window nook enjoying the KEX\u2019s delicious breakfast buffet. It was great for the both of us starting 2018 doing something that started this whole journey of us as a couple. Christina (a Dane) and Paul (an American) had met 2 years prior over breakfast in Seattle at a hostel, but that\u2019s a whole another story.<\/p>\n

For now, let us take a moment to review our adventure around Iceland in a camper van<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Messy Bus, but Not to Fuss<\/span><\/h3>\n

Van-life. It\u2019s been romanticized and dreamed of by many, but few actually choose to venture into it. Having rented our very own VW California<\/a> Bus from RENT.is, we were able to get a taste of something great. We would want to say a right of passage to life, especially as a millennial.<\/p>\n

\"Millennials<\/a><\/p>\n

This bus served as the perfect petri dish for us to watch and examine our relationship\u2019s growth. It got messy at times both literally and figuratively, but it was a beautiful thing to experience. We got close and personal. We had to, we were living in the bus. It gave us the opportunity to explore a new landscape with such intimacy to each other and the land.<\/p>\n

We only showered when we got to one of many of Iceland\u2019s beautiful, natural hot springs. Gladly, we visited 3 different ones. Ol\u00eds became a welcoming sign for our toileting needs. It\u2019s a plus that through RENT.is we got discounted gas and a free cup of coffee to fuel our adventure.<\/p>\n

\"Snowcamping<\/a><\/p>\n

This van-life gave us an opportunity to nurture our wild spirits and roam free, or at least, it gave us that feeling of free spirits. It allowed us to feed our appetite to see and explore new wondrous lands. It also gave us the opportunity to say things such as, \u201cLet\u2019s go to sleep before we get to hungry.\u201d As at times, it was tough to find food sources that were open on along the road during our winter trek. Also, the weather conditions did not always facilitate cooking. We were living the rugged life (or as rugged as a heated van with a mattress and cooler could be).<\/p>\n

Go North<\/span><\/h3>\n

We wanted an adventure, so we decided to explore the northern part of Iceland<\/a>. We were not disappointed. Yes, we had to go through some scary road conditions passing by two vehicles stuck in snow off the side of the road and a head-on collision. Luckily nobody was badly injured, but it did serve as a warning of Iceland\u2019s ever changing road conditions and to proceed with caution.<\/p>\n

Despite all of that, it also allowed us to see a wildly, untamed, beautiful world. There were less tourists and people in general. It graced us with the opportunity to feel like two solitary souls moving through a distant land. Most importantly, the location and a locked bathroom door granted us the possibility to enjoy the Northern Lights<\/a>. No pictures were taken because we were caught up in the moment. Sometimes it\u2019s better that way without gizmos and gadgets to distract and detract from the present.<\/p>\n