In 2011 I read a book called The Geography of Bliss written by former NPR foreign correspondent, Eric Wiener. In it, Wiener explores the world’s top happiest places. Iceland was rated number one and Wiener’s description of his visit there captivated me. I convinced Steve that we had to go.
My home province of Manitoba has a strong tie to Iceland dating back to 1875 when the Canadian Government granted a portion of land along Lake Winnipeg to Icelandic settlers. Part of it became the municipality of Gimli, but it was also known as New Iceland. Despite knowing this bit of history, I really had no knowledge of Iceland and what it had to offer. Icelanders know Gimli, though. Whenever we told a local that we were from Manitoba (a reply that usually results in blank stares from Europeans), the Icelander would invariably reply, “From Gilmi?”
In short, Iceland is a remarkable country with a landscape that is so breathtaking it’s hard to convey. Based on a personalized itinerary created by The Great Canadian Travel Company (which has specialized in Icelandic travel for more than 30 years) we set off on a weeklong road trip that remains one of our favourite travel memories to this day.
Judging by my Twitter and Facebook feed, Iceland has become one of the hottest places to visit right now. But back in 2011, friends and family wondered why we chose it as a destination. So below, from our photo archives, is how we responded upon our return.
First, a few practical take-aways from our trip:
- Iceland can be quite pricey. Back in 2011 a beer cost about $10 CAD. A friend who visited recently reports that $12 is about the going rate today.
- Skyr quickly became our go-to treat. It is a very thick, cultured dairy product somewhat like yogurt, but even better! Great fuel for a day of exploring.
- Driving through Iceland you will get out of your vehicle every 5 minutes to take an photo of an amazing waterfall. After awhile, you get a bit more used to the endless beauty.
- Layering is your best friend. Winds can be incredibly high, and even in June, Iceland is chilly. Go figure.
- Puffins are elusive little birds when you’re looking for them.
Blue Lagoon
Located just 20 kilometres from Keflavik Airport, this geothermal spa is the perfect place to start a visit to Iceland after a long flight. The pool is actually the result of the waste water from the geothermal power plant that had been built there. Some claim the mineral rich water offers therapeutic value for those suffering from psoriasis. The Blue Lagoon resort is lovely and a soak in the pool is a one-of-a-kind experience. On the other hand, I recently read a post on the We12Travel blog that offers some cautions about this very popular tourist activity.
Reykjavik
Sadly, a major flight delay meant that our scheduled three days in Iceland’s capital city was reduced to two so we didn’t explore it to the extent we would have liked. We did have one of the most exquisite meals we’ve ever eaten at a restaurant that no longer exists. The chef created amazing dishes using liquid nitrogen. The most remarkable experience was departing from the dimly lit restaurant around midnight into the full brightness of day. We visited in June so the sun never really set. It was a Saturday night and the streets were packed with young people dressed for a night on the town, lined up at bars. It seemed quite surreal.
Strokkur Fountain Geyser
A very popular site on Iceland’s Golden Circle drive is the Geysir hot springs. We were very inept at anticipating when the Strokkur fountain geyser would shoot up into the sky (every 8-10 minutes) and therefore, do not have a decent photo of it in full eruption.
Glaciers & Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
We took an impromptu hike at around 11:00 p.m. to explore a glacier we came across on our drive. We were the only ones within sight. It was awesome, and not in the “that’s-an-awesome-tattoo-dude!” use of the word today. It was awe-inspiring.
We also took a guided boat tour through Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. I’ve never actually lost my breath as the result of seeing something so startlingly beautiful. These are blocks of ice broken off from Europe’s biggest glacier, Vatnajökull.
Waterfalls … everywhere
Skógafoss waterfall is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, but there are so many beautiful waterfalls dotting the landscape that after awhile, we stopped getting out of the car to take photos.
Otherworldly Landscapes
We went on the rave run of our lives on a black sand beach near the village of Vík. Oh my gosh, we’ve never seen a landscape like it. It truly felt like bounding along on another planet.
Papey Island
We took a boat ride to the east coast island of Papey in search of puffins. They turned out to be somewhat elusively little guys, but we did manage to spot a few. We also saw what we are told is the smallest church in Iceland. Adorable!
Iceland to the Faroe Islands
From island we boarded a ferry to visit the Faroe Islands for a couple of days, which was equally stunning. But, that is perhaps a post for another time.
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