Trip to #Reykjavik #Iceland #NorthernLights #AuoraBorealis.

This year, instead of buying presents for each other, we decided to take a trip to try and see the Northern Lights. When we looked at ways of doing this, we were surprised to find that TUI did a tour in Iceland, with two trips included in the price.

On arriving in Reykjavik,  we were pleased to find that our hotel was in the centre of the town. Being too early to book in, we set off to explore the area and get something to eat.  We were looking forward to the evening coach trip  into the countryside to see the Lights. 

After unpacking we started to add a number of layers of clothing but were surprised that it wasn't as cold as expected. Although our hotel was central, it did mean that we had to be picked up a short distance away. As we set off to see the Lights, the guide informed us that the chance of seeing them was a Level 3  on a scale of 1-9.

It didn't sound too promising.  However, we just had to wait and hope that this level was good enough. As we approached the look out area, we were  informed that those with an iPhone wouldn't be able to take pictures of the Lights, unless they had downloaded a special app, and anyone with a Samsung S7 or above needed special settings to take pictures. Anything less than a Samsung 7 had no hope of taking a photograph! Unfortunately, Sue was unable to do this on her phone.This seemed to be a piece of information that  we should have been provided before we set off.

On arriving, the guide informed us that from the top of the hill we could see an arc of light grey, stretching across the sky; this was our first sighting. To our surprise this just looked like a grey cloud. I tried to take a photograph but wasn't successful. Fortunately, I happened to glance to my side where another young man had taken photographs with the shape showing it's green glow. I was lucky that he showed me how to change the settings on my phone.  Looking at my photographs in my gallery, I could at last see the green and blues in the sky; something that wasn't visible with the naked eye.

After about an hour stood outside, we didn't think that anything else was going to happen, and we were  due to leave, so we made our way back to the coach. As we sat waiting to leave, the driver suddenly cried out, " Get out of the coach! Quickly; look at the sky!" There was a rush to the doors. and once outside we were treated to two Light shows from  two directions.

Again, we couldn't really see the colours, but it was impressive watching the grey shapes dance in the sky. Here I manged to get a few photographs but not of the quality that a few people with better cameras achieved.

A fantastic end to the night and talking to several people, later in the week, we had been very lucky. The Northern Light Hunt had been cancelled on the following nights and were not as impressive on others.

Talking to the guide, who had lived there for many years, she had only ever seen one category nine Light show and said that she had just lay in the ground for an hour totally awestruck. Maybe, if we go again to look for them, we will see such a show.

As an artist, I wouldn't try to capture the images in a painting because I find that with sights such as this; nature can't be beaten!