Fall is my favorite season. I love summer and am all about fun in the sun, but there is something so special about the fall season. The colors, the crisp air, the wardrobe and all the tasty seasonal treats (pumpkin I love you!) fall is just the best season in my mind.
Growing up in Oregon I never truly appreciated the fall, until I experienced fall somewhere else (aka Iceland) and realized how perfect fall in Oregon is. The weather is still warm and sunny, the colors are just amazing, and I have unlimited access to all my favorite treats. The falls in Oregon, they spoiled me, and I know have a serious problem of comparing the fall in Iceland to the fall in Oregon.
This is an evil game my friends. Fall in Iceland, it is nothing like fall in Oregon.
When my first fall came around I pictured me and the Viking enjoying many crisp afternoons walks around Reykjavik taking in the colors, all warm and cozy in our Icelandic wool sweaters. And I couldn’t wait to take a trip out to Thingvellir, where I was told is the place to go to see the best display of fall colors in Iceland. When the leaves started to change colors and the first crisp day rolled around last year I was ecstatic, the time had finally arrived.
Now here is what actually happened during my first fall in Iceland.
Storm after storm hit this little island taking most of the leaves with it before the colors could really change. Trying to stay positive I kept my mind set on the beautiful colors I was sure to see at Thingvellir. Well, the night before the Viking and I headed out to Thingvellir it snowed, meaning much of the fall colors that I had dreamed of seeing where covered in a coat of snow.
Not exactly how I pictured my first fall in Iceland.
Last “fall” at Thingvellir. I need a redo this year, minus the snow!
On a positive note I did get a glimpse or two of those beautiful Icelandic fall colors peaking through the snow so I knew the possibility was there. And so, I marked year one as a fail and kept my hopes up for this fall.
The seasons are funny in Iceland. They seem to literally change over night and fall this year was no different. When we left for our trip to Prague the fall colors were slowly appearing around Reykjavik but they weren’t really out yet. During our 5 days away though Iceland completed shifted to fall and Reykjavik was covered in beautiful fall colors when we arrived back home. I spent all last week just dreaming of the weekend so we could get out and explore the colors more, fall had finally arrived!
Then we heard threats of snow in the forecast.
Snow, in the beginning of October, I kid you not, this may or may not have caused a little break down. I don’t know how that Viking of mine can not be fazed by the weather, or put up with my meltdowns over it, but really snow at the beginning of October, that is too soon!
And, true to the weatherman’s word (why must they be right about snow!) Saturday morning we woke up to our first taste of winter with a dusting of snow on the ground. Thankfully the sun came out and melted it right away, but I took this as a warning that we better enjoy the fall colors while we can and wasted no time in dragging H out of the house to get to exploring.
One of our favorite places to go for walks is Elliðaárdalur, a hidden gem in Reykjavik if you ask me, and just a short drive from our house making it perfect for a quick walk before the rain comes back. Elliðaárdalur is a beautiful place in every season but I had yet to see it during fall. I am happy to report that Elliðaárdalur in the fall was just as beautiful as I thought it would be, and I finally got to see the fall colors of Iceland with my own eyes, fall really does exist here!
Mushrooms and berries were all over the place!
Look I’m a tree:) Some little kids ran past me while I was standing on the tree stump. As soon as I got down they were trying to figure out how to get up there before their parents came and told them to get down and I heard them tell their parents, “but she was doing it.” Opps, bad influence for the children.
An adventure in Iceland isn’t complete without a waterfall or two.
This red jacket, I am in love with it. Like I have a whole post gushing about it to come, so if your a fan of finding the perfect outdoor jacket be sure to check back in later this week!
Iceland, you had me worried after last fall, but you are more than making up for it this year. Keep those gorgeous Fall colors coming, and the snow away for at least another month or two pretty please.
Question of the Day?
What is your favorite season? What is your favorite thing to do in the Fall?
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