Postcards From the Past: Iceland

January 13, 2023

Land of Fire and Ice

When and Where: 9/2015 – Reykjavik, The Golden Circle Tour, The Blue Lagoon

46^th Country Visited; 27^th European Country Visited

Interesting Facts:

· Iceland is one of the most irreligious countries in the world, but year after year, they are among the top 5 happiest peoples per the World Happiness Report.

· Only 20% of Iceland’s land is inhabitable and 60% of the population resides in the capital, Reykjavik. Iceland has roughly 372,000 people: slightly smaller than Mercer County (Trenton) NJ.

· Iceland has not joined the European Union as the government doesn’t want to adhere to the strict EU fishing requirements/limitations.

· Iceland is one of the most expensive countries to visit and the government places a steep tax on alcohol to discourage alcoholism among the citizenry.

· Nearly all of the citizens of Iceland have names ending in -son or -dottir (meaning son or daughter). If you are born male and your father is named Olaf, your last name would become Olafsson. Similarly, if you were born female, your last name would be Olafsdottir. Back when phone books were a thing, Iceland was the only country in the world that sorted people by their first name.

· Icelanders eat puffin and horse.

Leaving a 95-degree Baltimore on an early September evening, Joe and I arrived at Keflavik International Airport to heavy winds and horizontal sleet pelting us. Welcome to Iceland, the land of fire and ice. Joe and I took a public bus to downtown Reykjavik, and checked into our modern hotel. Reykjavik is a very modern city with a walkable downtown and a picturesque harbor. I was immediately taken aback by the Icelandic people: so welcoming and fashionable. Jetlagged and in bed early the first night, we missed the northern lights the only time they appeared in the night sky.

The day after arrival, Joe and I took the infamous Golden Circle tour. The first stop was Thingvellir, where the North American and Eurasian continental plates once connected the land masses. Now the plates are separated by roughly 50 feet and are connected by a land bridge. The area looked like how I would imagine the surface of the moon. Next we paid a visit to Geysir Geothermal Park which has boiling mud pits and the infamous geyser which spews hot water through the blow hole every 10-15 minutes. Our final stop was Guilfoss Falls, a stunning waterfall along the southern Icelandic coastline. Upon arrival, a vibrant rainbow greeted us eclipsing the powerful falls below. The drive back to Reykjavik was dotted by tiny villages surrounded by a patchwork of fields of vivid shades of green. Similar to Ireland, the wild rugged landscapes are among the most beautiful in the world.

Our final day in Iceland was spent at the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa in southwestern Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is the top tourist destination in Iceland. I had trepidation leaving the locker area in a bathing suit and walking outside into the frigid temperatures. But once in the thermal water, I enjoyed the experience. The water is a milky-turquoise color and was just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Joe and I sipped the “Blue Lagoon” drink, while we watched other tourists cover themselves in therapeutic mud. Once we arrived back at our hotel, we showered, changed and went to dinner. Meals in general are always tricky for me. I am not an adventurous eater and I don’t eat seafood. We picked safe options like Italian and Greek food. That being said, I was super cautious with whatever I ate in Iceland. For example, at the Italian restaurant, I didn’t want to eat the meatballs for fear they contained horse meat. After a nice dinner, we opted to experience the nightlife. This 53-year old man wasn’t used to going clubbing, but we went to a random club: Kiki Bar. The crowd was energetic and the music (mostly American club music) was electric. Never in my entire life have I danced so much; we danced and partied for 6* hours; until after 4 am – which made the flight home the next afternoon rough. But it was worth it. I have such fond memories of Iceland. I hope to return someday. For those who haven’t been, I highly recommend a multi-day visit! As of now, Iceland is among the five most naturally beautiful countries I've visited.