Winter comes to Iceland
On the way to the bakery about 8:30am
A good enough reason to go out in the snow
There’s so much more to share with you about China, Mongolia and Russia, but I feel compelled to jump ahead and show you a sneak peek at Iceland.
We’ve been here for just under a week—staying with Mary Pat and Siggi—and they have ever-so-kindly arranged for us to experience our first proper snowstorm of this wintry trip. (There was a little snow in Russia, but nothing remarkable.)
The flurries began Thursday night in Reykjavik, and by Friday morning there was a thick blanket of snow. It was amazing to view the world from their third-floor window, but even better to join Siggi on a run to the bakery.
Siggi’s car after 10 minutes out of the garage
His car had been parked in the garage overnight so didn’t have a single snowflake on it when we set out, but 10 minutes later it had its own coating of big, fat flakes.
It has continued to snow off and on since then. In fact, tonight the wind is howling and the snow is falling horizontally. I’m glad our sightseeing is done for the day.
So what’s the weather like where you are?
An hour after going to the bakery
Looking southwest from Mary Pat’s and Siggi’s flat
A view to the west as the sun comes up
Where to next? 
Really beautiful winter photos from Iceland, Peggy 🙂
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Thanks Irene. Plenty more pics to share.
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Our weather here is quite chilly, actually below normal for this time of year. Funny because this time last week it was mild and above normal. We were suppose to get some snow but it was only a dusting and has already disappeared. North of us there is considerably more snow.
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So far on this trip the weather has been quite mild. Now we have winter.
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Beautiful photos….I am one of those people who likes snow (of course I am headed to the tropics for a couple of weeks…..) but I will be back in time to experience winter.
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I like snow, too, but in small doses.
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There are no small doses of snow in this part of Canada.
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There is a work-around. You can always leave the snow for awhile, so your tropical escape is a great plan.
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Wir haben auch Schnee
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I hope it looks beautiful too.
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Very cold here, (in Norfolk) and heavy rain/sleet into the bargain. Nothing like Iceland though.
Thank goodness!
The UK cannot cope with such weather at the times it expects to get it, let alone in early November…
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh yikes, sleet can be a problem. Hope it stays okay for you.
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Good opportunity to get some Xmas type photos for your cards Peggy. That is how close I like to get to snow(on my cards). I am having a lovely summer in Christchurch, with my solar taking good care of my power bill.
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Yes, Dorothy, it’s warm in Australia too. We’ll get to enjoy some summer—eventually! 🙂
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Your photos remind me of winter in Wisconsin. Very pretty but I don’t miss it 🙂 Warmer here in Canberra but not as warm as you would think. Still under the doona every night and even pulled out the hot water bottle last week.
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Hahahahahaha..did you read my post? Are you from WI?
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Reminds me of winter in Nebraska too, but glad we’ll experience it only for a short time.
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Love the pictures! I’m from the Northern US but living in the south. I miss the changing of seasons and snow to come! Fun post!!
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Thanks so much. I’m originally from Nebraska but have also spent a lot of time in Wisconsin. Carol (above) has also lived quite a bit in Wisconsin.
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That’s great:)
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Wow – it was my understanding that snow isn’t especially common in Reykjavik, but anything’s possible these days. I was there for Iceland Airwaves in ’09, and weather was like Seattle (as it is right now here, recent snow is gone). When Sandy and I were there in ’14, downright salubrious in Oct. The (wry) joke is that Iceland is the only place that welcomes global warming (!). If you can make it to Gullfoss & Geyser, well worth it!
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We’re told it usually snows between Christmas and New Year. Guess it’s special just for us. Have already made it to Gullfoss and Geyser—posts coming soon.
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Stunning! We were lucky enough to spend 2 days in Iceland a few years ago. That was in September, and the weather was spectacularly beautiful. We were so warmly welcomed. Thank you for sharing the season few of us get to experience.
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My pleasure. Plenty more pics and news to come. I’d like to come back when it’s green! 🙂
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I loved Iceland, Brian and I spent 9 days there on a road trip. We hired a camper van and travelled on the Ring Road that circles the whole country. I would love to go back there and see it covered in snow. I will look forward to hear more about your trip 😄
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We’re loving it too. We have 10 days, but the conditions aren’t right for us to hire a van. Maybe next time. Still have a blast.
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I took my young daughter for a drive and we had to turn the car’s AC on. And most of my shorts don’t fit from last summer. I prefer My weather a little less burning. But now I at least know where all the cold has gone. And it looks beautiful. Thanks Peggy.
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We woke up this morning to a heatwave. The temperature is now 3°C. It’s raining and most of the snow is gone. Apparently the snow starts again tomorrow and continues for the next three days. Fickle!
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Like life.
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Yep!
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That brightens my day. Thanks!
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Snow was down to 800 metres here in sub-tropical Australia last week. We are still heating during mornings and evenings.!
The photo of the Reykjavik bakery was nice and warm though.
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We’ve decided we rather like Icelandic bakery goods. Went back to the same bakery yesterday for lunch!
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So, you managed to change the weather pattern just by arriving in Iceland? That’s a really special super power. I might have to use that trait for your Brandy Leavenworth debut… 😉
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Nice thought but I think the weather is totally out of my control. Today it’s warmish and raining, tomorrow it’s cold and starts snowing again. Trust me, I wouldn’t have ordered snow on top of ice.
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So you’re saying that you don’t want your character to have a superpower? Or that you want a DIFFERENT superpower? 😉
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I’m happy to have any superpower. You just need to know that I’m not really controlling the weather one.
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You have just stolen my bucket list itinerary i think. Looks amazing, Iceland is very much on our radar👍🏻
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You are most welcome to share the bucket list. Iceland is wonderful! 🙂
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The snow makes everything look so beautiful.
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It does, but then it gets all slushy! 🙂
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Wonderful. In three visits to Iceland I have never seen a single snowflake!
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Bummer. I’m told you should try the week between Christmas and New Year.
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That looks very cold! But the austere beauty makes me want to linger over the photos.
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It was cold but not windy, which made a huge difference. Today is fiercely windy.
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Oh dear! It is always a shock. The good thing is that Iceland is cheaper in the winter however booze is expensive (50% tax.). I hope you still head to some volcanic hot springs-should make some interesting pictures! We didn’t get to see any Northern Lights last year in October so maybe you will have better luck. You must be experiencing very short hours of light during the day as well. You will have to find a cookbook with some of Iceland’s famous lamb stew and publish it on your blog for us! Have fun.
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We’ve been to the geyser and glacial lagoon and seen the Northern Lights. All fascinating. And you’re right. Iceland is expensive.
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And that is exactly why on our list of must-haves for the forever home, after ‘enough land to surround us and not be bothered by neighbors’ and ‘house at least 150 years old’ it says ‘snow. We must have snow every winter and no doubt that we will’ …. gorgeous!
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Snow is gorgeous. But here’s today’s catch—it rained all last night and now the snow is gone and ice is left. More snow is predicted. Oh wait, I just looked out the window and the snow is back!
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😆 😆 😆 🎿 ❄️
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Stay warm!
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Thanks, I am. 🙂
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Very nice. May I call you, Pegleg? Serious question.
Incidentally, your blog is one of the very few I actually read. Our secret ok, Pegleg? 🙂
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Of course you can call me Pegleg. Pegster works too, as does Legz! I read your blog too. Shhhhh!
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You read our blog?! You crazy young fool!!!
Pegleg it is then. It has that nautical connotation so in keeping with your wandering spirit. AVAST BEHIND!! But that’s enough about our sub editor…
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Yes, you and Sozzle keep me amused.
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Is it a geothermal bakery? 🙂 I’ve read about “volcano bread” in a couple of history books, I guess people are still doing it there as a curiosity (?) In any case, that bakery looks great, and like the place for me! Here in Boston, we’re soaring to 7 C.
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If it’s a geothermal bakery, they don’t advertise it as such. Pity as that would be super cool. I assume you know that I bake all our bread. I’ve made two loaves here in Iceland and have promised to make more tomorrow. Perhaps bread could lure you to Australia?
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Yes! I will go a long ways for good bread, many days I could live very happily on it. My sister and I will go home for the holidays and she always makes black bread, looking forward to it.
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May your holidays come soon.
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So the name does ring true – Iceland. looks wonderful.
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Iceland, or maybe Snowland.
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🙂
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Hello LegZ/PegZ,
Wonderful that you have friends in Iceland and they are able to show you around. I visited Iceland in Oct 1971 and at the airport the winds were unimaginable, I was walking at a 45 Degree angle LOL against the wind. No snow but cloudy. I understand that the temperatures and snow is similar to NYC weather… and not very “ICY” as the country name implies. Nice photos of the snow and great that you got to see the “Northern Lights” for a second time. Any photos of youngish good looken blondes swimming in the thermo outdoor pools? A hot bowl of Chanterelle Soup is in order… along with the baked goods.
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It’s been incredibly windy today. Nearly got blown over! Sorry but no photos of youngish good looking blondes. We didn’t make it to the thermo outdoor pools. Maybe next time.
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I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland in the middle of the winter! Sounds strange coming from a person who intensely dislikes the cold, but like Russia and much of Scandinavia, Iceland knows how to make things cozy in those long, dark days, and I’d love to hunker down in a coffeeshop or bar in Reykjavik for a day or two!
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Just be sure to bring plenty of money. Prices are extremely high here.
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I went in the summertime and saw those prices firsthand – ouch!
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Ouch is right!
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So beautiful in the dark.
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It is, and it’s snowing again tonight.
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It’s always important to get to the bakery and stalk up before the blizzard hits! 🙂 –Curt
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That’s exactly what we thought!
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🙂
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The photos say it all. Brrrrr. Reminds me of my years in the Yukon. Brrrrr. Here on the Wet Coast in Vancouver we have – you guessed it – Rain!
Alison
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Yep, I guessed it. Stay dry.
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Nice photos Peggy, I love the first snow-snow (not wet snow LOL) of the season, when all turns white and clean. I like going out first thing in the morning to admire, before people, cars and dogs (haha) spoil the whiteness🙂 The last picture, when the sun was coming up, is simply lovely!
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Thanks so much, Christie. We’ve had snow then rain then slush, but it’s snowing again tonight and giving us a lovely white blanket! Maybe there will be another good pic in the morning. 🙂
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OMG! So impressive! Love the photos very much!
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Thanks Adrianna. So glad to know you’ll be there soon!
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Beautiful pictures — lucky u — I am so jealous 😂😂
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Yes, we were very lucky.
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👌👌
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Such beautiful scenes
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I’m sure you get many similar scenes in Idaho.
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oh yes for sure
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Fabulous photos, Peggy. I jumped to this post first today because I love Iceland. We were there at the end of September last year, and it was getting cold then, especially early morning. I’d love to see it as you’ve shown in your photos. Love the photo of all the little trees at dawn. Hopefully, in years to come, Iceland will be fully forested again.
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Iceland is beautiful covered in snow, but beware of the ice underneath. I look forward to seeing Iceland bathed in green too. 🙂
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Yes, me too. I read someone’s post a while ago about her visit in June. I’d love a dip in the Blue Lagoon or another of those famous thermal pools.
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I think those thermal pools are also popular in winter. We’d have gone but didn’t think to bring our bathers. Someone said I could hire a pair. I don’t think so!
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Ack! That gave me traumatic flashbacks to Minnesota winters. Here we think it’s cold, which is a way of saying that it’s well above freezing, the wind’s blowing, and we have rain and hail showers today.
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Oh you made me laugh Ellen. Iceland reminded me of my childhood winters in Nebraska. I’ve lost most of my hardiness in relation to the cold after living through Australia’s amateur winters.
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Amateur winters? I like that. You mind if I borrow it now and then?
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Go for it with my blessings.
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Living in a hot place, snow always seems magical 🙂
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You’re right. I grew up in Nebraska where it always snows in winter. It hardly ever does in Australia, so I saw the magic in Iceland too.
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Beautiful pictures! Iceland is definitely on my bucket list😀
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Thanks. Iceland is a great addition to any bucket list.
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Wow your photos are so beautiful!
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Thanks so much.
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I hope i can go to iceland
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It’s a great place to visit in any weather.
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I always feel weird commenting, trampling you in the herd, but the snow/ trees pciture reminds me of Monet’s The Magpie. He almost froze to death winter, sitting outside all day watching thelight on the snow, trying figure out what color snow really was. He was broke at the time. His Snow paintings are in the 13 million dollar range, The Musee D’Orsay considers the Magpie priceless, simply for the story. Good company for snowy trees!
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Good grief, how did I miss this comment. Obviously too much travel. Thanks so much for pointing out Monet’s The Magpie and the story attached to it. I saw it last year in the Musée d’Orsay. Priceless!
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Believe it or not, it was in Fort Worth a year ago! There’s no substitute for standing in front of it.
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I’m really pleased to know the painting has toured. It deserves to be seen widely.
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Nice pictures. I worked in Iceland for five months during last summer and it is funny to see how different it looks in winter. Glad to see you still get some sun, I expected it to be completely dark by now!
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We had some glorious days, but the sun rose late and set early. I imagine it’s much darker these days as the days march through December. How lucky you were to see Iceland in summer.
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Beautiful picture.
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Thanks so much. Appreciate you stopping by and commenting.
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Oh wow that’s a lot of snow!! We’re heading to Iceland soon so can’t wait. Hopefully driving isn’t too treacherous
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Have you ever driven on snow? If so, you should be fine. The cars have studded tyres. Just take it easy and go slow. Remember that ice is a greater concern that snow. Have a wonderful time.
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I have but a very small amount, so that’s really sound advice thank you!
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I had an amazing holiday in Iceland when I was younger, right in the middle of winter, it was beautiful. You need to be well prepared though
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You are 100 per cent right. If you go to Iceland in winter, you need to be well prepared.
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I am feeling to go back to Reykjavik. Would like to share my experiences as well
http://moonlitekingdom.com/things-to-do-in-reykjavik-moonlitekingdom/
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Thanks for the link. It looks like you had a great time in Iceland.
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Oh my god.. I love snow, wonder when i’ll experience my first snow fall..
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Oh my, let us know when you see that first snowfall. It is exciting.
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Amazing country! I spent days touring the south on a Puffin Bus, my partner arranged it for a ‘special’ birthday, which I spent picknicing on a glacier in February. I really must post my photos soon. Happy days.
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What a wonderful way to spend your birthday. Got a great partner there too.
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Ha ha, he’s so great I’ve written a blog about him!
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I love Iceland. Great pictures!
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Thanks so much. Glad you stopped by and commented.
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We just came back from Iceland about a month ago and the weather is unbelievable!! Fine in the morning and howling blizzard in the afternoon. I hope you enjoyed your trip as much as we did.
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Oh yeah, the weather is very unpredictable and very changeable. But we still had a wonderful time.
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So did we and I can’t wait to go back 😊
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