Helicopter flight to Mt Esjan
Saturday last week was a stunning day. There was not a single cloud in the sky and not even the slightest breeze. Iceland is generally a pretty windy country, so it's great when you get those fresh and clear autumn days.
I was at the office, working, when I got a phone call asking if I could join a last minute helicopter tour to Mt Esjan. I didn't hesitate and said that of course I would come - and got told I had 2 minutes to get down to the domestic airport in Reykjavík.
That's the beauty about the helicopter tours, even if you book them for a certain day, if the weather isn't co-operating on that particular day, the tour operators will give you a call when they will be able to go and try to adapt the times according to your schedule. That was the case for my travel companions, a mother and a 9 year old son from the UK that had been hoping they could go on this helicopter flight for a few days.
The mother was scared of heights and the little boy was beyond excited, so the flight consisted of a lot of 'oohs' and 'aahs' and 'AAAAAAAHS' along with the panoramic views. The boy kept telling his mum that this was the coolest thing he'd ever done in his life and he was really happy that her fear of heights wasn't getting in the way. They were having a fantastic time, and so was I and the pilot.
It's such a satisfying feeling to take off on a helicopter, much more satisfying than on a plane where you need to accelerate down a runway first. It's a feeling that can't really be explained, it's just like someone has literally picked you up and lifted you into the sky. And off you go.
The views over Reykjavík are stunning, as well as the neighbouring Viðey island and Mt Esjan. We flew to the top of Esjan and landed there, admired the stunning sunset and had a great conversation with the pilot. He had some great insights into the landscape and current affairs going on in Iceland and we also had time to enjoy the still and quiet on the mountaintop.
Flying back down the pilot took us for a little spin in the helicopter, giving us an even better sense of feeling like a bird that's being carried on air instead of flying through it. The sun had set, there was a beautiful glow all over Reykjavík and the surrounding area, we could see all the way to Snæfellsjökull glacier as well as along the Reykjanes peninsula and up to Bláfjöll mountains. Four faces with big smiles on them emerged from that helicopter when we landed.
There's nothing quite like seeing Iceland from above on a clear day, and this was the easiest ascent and descent I've ever made up to and from Mt Esjan! I even got some pretty decent pictures, for a total photography amateur, it isn't hard when the views are this spectacular :)
Next time I want to fly over the highlands :)
기타 흥미로운 블로그
요쿨살론부터 비크까지, 꽃보다 청춘 5화
드디어 하늘씨과 쓰리스톤즈가 합류했는데요! 설원을 달리는 모습에 저도 아이슬란드가 엄청 그리워졌답니다. 빙하와 빛나는 요쿨살론 첫번째로 향한 요쿨살론(Jokulsarlon)은 아이슬란드의 대표적인 명소 중 하나랍니다. 영어로 Glacier lagoon 이라고도 하는데요. 방송에 나온 것처럼 눈 앞에 보이는 빙하는 빙하수가 흘러서 녹았다 얼었다를더 보기스코가포스 폭포부터 오로라까지, 꽃보다청춘 4화를 따라서
여행 5일째, 포스톤즈가 처음으로 향한 곳은 아이슬란드 남부에 있는 스코가포스 폭포(skogasfoss)입니다. 아이슬란드 남부의 대표적인 폭포 중 하나에요. 방송에서는 들르지 않았지만 스코가포스 거의 바로 옆에 위치한 셀리야란드스포스(seljalandsfoss) 폭포와 함께 같이 들르곤 한답니다. 스코가포스 폭포는 폭포의 물줄기 끝까지 올라갈 수 있단더 보기꽃청춘을 따라서
요즘 인기리에 방영되고 있는 꽃보다 청춘 아이슬란드편! 저도 매주 빼놓지 않고 시청하고 있습니다. 많은 분들께서 포스톤즈의 발랄한 매력과 아이슬란드의 놀라운 경치에 빠져드셨을 것 같습니다! 이번에는 꽃보다 청춘을 따라서 아이슬란드를 한번 가보도록 해요! 사실 아이슬란드가 한국에서 그렇게 가기 쉬운 나라는 아닙니다. 거리도 멀고 항공권도 비싸고! 우더 보기
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