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Iceland & French Escapade: A Whirlwind Adventure!
Chapter 1: Iceland - Aurora Hunting... Or So We Thought!
For a year, we'd been planning this – a legendary aurora hunt! February 16th marked our departure date, ready to chase those elusive Northern Lights!
Our crew? A diverse bunch from all over the US: CA (1), CT(2), MA(1), VA (1), TX (9), MD(2), FL(1). Seventeen strong, we were ready for anything!
Ten days. That's all we had. Four and a half in Iceland, five and a half in France. Buckle up, because things got wild.
Aurora? More Like "Arduora"! The Pre-Trip Chaos:
- One unfortunate couple got stranded stateside! Expedia sold them tickets from an airport that hadn't seen a flight to Iceland in months! They battled Expedia through the night, barely making it to Iceland with two days to spare.
- The Texas squad faced a luggage lockdown! TSA baggage check-in closed early, forcing two members to sacrifice their tickets and stay behind to guard the nine suitcases. Ouch!
Day 1: Icelandic Arrival - Sleepy, Shaken, But Still Going!
- After a grueling flight, bleary-eyed but determined, we all met at the Iceland airport at 6:00 AM. The hunt was officially on!
- We rented four cars initially, then two more for the delayed couple, who had to rebook flights to catch up.
- The forecast for our four-day Icelandic adventure predicted a high chance of aurora borealis activity on the first night (Friday night into Saturday morning). The rest? Rain and snowstorms, naturally.
- Exhausted after visiting Skógafoss waterfall in the afternoon, we grabbed a quick nap at our hotel in Kalfafellsstadur. Then, at 11:00 PM, backpacks loaded, we set out to hunt.
- 11 PM -> 12 AM -> 1 AM -> 2 AM... We prayed to every celestial body imaginable, but nada. Just pure, unadulterated frustration. We were in southern Iceland, allegedly a hotspot, but zip. Apparently, the lights were putting on a show up north, despite the thick cloud cover! (according to a local).
Day 2: Ice Cave Exploration... And a Whole Lot of Slipping!
- Today, we braved the Ice Cave.
- Around midday, the weather turned fierce. Our car skidded, veering into the snow. Luckily, my Massachusetts winter driving skills kicked in, and we escaped unscathed.
- Another car in our group wasn't so lucky. A spin so dramatic that the driver refused to get behind the wheel again! (Bless his Texan heart; hopefully, this trip earned him some winter driving points!).
- We travelled from Kalfafellsstadur back towards Norðurfoss for the night.
Day 3: Blizzard Blues!
- The weather gods weren't on our side. A full-blown blizzard raged, complete with blinding snow and relentless winds.
- One car decided to head back to a hotel near the airport, seeking refuge from the storm. They drove straight into the heart of it! Visibility was near zero. Miraculously, they made it back to Reykjavík.
- The rest of us fared a bit better, managing to glimpse a tiny bit of scenery on the way back to Reykjavík.
Day 4: Adios, Iceland! Bonjour, France!
- Seven of our group had to fly back to the US.
- The remaining ten prepared for the next leg: France!
- We squeezed in a sunrise trip to Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall for some epic photos, followed by a relaxing soak in the Sky Lagoon's geothermal waters (a little pre-flight pampering!).
>>> Iceland felt like a hardcore boot camp! Thankfully, on our last night, against all odds, we FINALLY saw the Northern Lights! Up to that point, it was more "extremely tiring" than "extremely awesome."
Chapter 2: French Follies - From Nice to Paris and Back Again!
Day 5: Nice, France - Coastal Charm and... Pickpockets?!
- Our ten-strong crew jetted off to Nice, France, to soak in the architecture and coastal beauty.
- TSA drama struck again! A Rolex watch vanished at airport security. A couple in our group followed protocol, placing all valuables (purses, watches, belts, etc.) in the tray. The wife cleared security without issue, but the husband was repeatedly pulled aside for additional checks.
- By the time he made it through, the watch was gone. The wife vaguely remembered being bumped by a young couple, but didn't realize anything was missing. Security footage showed a person in a red jacket snatching the watch. Unfortunately, yours truly and another member both happened to be wearing red jackets! We were questioned as suspects. Seriously?!
- The plot thickened! Airport security recovered the watch before the thief could board a plane. The thief's excuse? "I was just looking for the owner to return it." Seriously?! Nice try, buddy.
- We finally made it to Nice via a layover in London.
- More bad luck awaited! As we drove our rental car out of the lot, it started smoking! The rental company claimed we didn't know how to drive a manual transmission and had messed up the clutch. Impossible! No one can destroy a clutch in ten minutes.
- They refused to rent to us, forcing us to cram into an 8-seater van from another company at double the price. I was speechless.
Day 6: Nice Sightseeing - Local Guides and Perfume Dreams!
- Thanks to my tour connections, we linked up with a fantastic local guide in Nice, specializing in historical tours. Everyone loved her knowledge!
- (Keeping the details vague at her request)
- We visited GALIMARD perfume factory, where we crafted our custom scents!
- Lunch in the ancient hilltop village of Villefranche sur Mer, Nice City, France. (I'm clueless about French cuisine, so good luck identifying the dishes! :D)
- Explored the Trophy of Augustus, a Roman monument in Monaco, France.
- Visited the Musée océanographique de Monaco.
Day 7: Paris - A Whirlwind Romance!
- Paris wasn't originally on the itinerary, but on a whim, we hopped on the earliest train from Nice.
- I connected with a local photographer who gave us a whirlwind tour. We weren't walking; we were *sprinting*! :))
- Most major attractions are concentrated in western and central Paris, within the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 15th, and 16th arrondissements. Given our limited time, we only managed to hit the 16th, 8th, 1st, and 4th.
- Pro Tip: In Paris, keep your eyes on the ground to avoid "landmines" (dog poop)! :)). Not a huge problem, but caution is key.
- The Parisians are such affectionate people! They're always right behind you, hands around your waist, casually reaching into your pockets to warm their frozen fingers. Sometimes, they accidentally grab your phone or wallet! :)). If you're a first-timer in Paris, like us, bring anti-theft devices like pepper spray or tasers.
Day 8: Relaxation and Retail Therapy in Nice
- Back to Nice to relax and shop in the downtown area.
Day 9: St Paul de Vence - The Village of Artists!
- We visited the medieval village of St Paul de Vence, a haven for artists. Galleries showcased various styles, and the surrounding scenery was breathtaking. A peaceful contrast to the bustling beauty of Paris.
- Our adventure culminated in a local festival in Nice, complete with fireworks!
We planned this whole trip ourselves! We had four unofficial tour guides, six "main" photographers + eleven "assistant" photographers.
There are so many other places we didn't get to visit, like the Mimosa Route, the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 16th arrondissements, etc.
P.S. I've tried to arrange the photos chronologically. The French photos have a vintage filter to emphasize the history and tradition of Europe!
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