Incredible Iceland

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Last December I flew Icelandair on my flight home. Whoever decided to show a promotional video for Iceland on the flight was a smart person. Granted it’s pretty easy for something to get in my head, but that video really made me want to go to Iceland. For the past seven months I constantly had thoughts of Iceland. When I saw that I could have one direct flight from Moscow to Reykjavik and another flight directly to Chicago, I knew it would be the perfect destination to visit on my way back from Russia.

Before I left for Iceland I wanted to just get back to the States more than anything and I questioned my decision to visit such a touristy and popular place. I was so glad I did! You must believe all the hype about Iceland! One of my tour guides joked that there is an illness going around Iceland. Once someone visits they get hooked and keep coming back. Although I was happy to return back home, I felt at home in Iceland and thoroughly enjoyed my visit and can’t wait to visit again. There were so many things I loved about the country.

#1: Tour Guides

Sometimes when I travel solo I take tours just to be able to meet people or to have the transportation planned out for me. A lot of the tours and tour guides end up being crowded and lackluster. Maybe it was the companies or types of tours I booked on this trip, but I was able to learn so much about the people and culture of Iceland. Instead of just learning the historical facts and details on the geography, the tour guides also told personal stories and accounts of what day to day life is like in the country. The majority of all my little stories and tidbits come from the fabulous tour guides I had throughout my trip.

#2: Amazingly Clean and Free Drinking Water

This one may be higher on my list than other people’s because I was just coming from a country that doesn’t drink the tap water. I was really tired of having to buy water and pay for water at restaurants. In Iceland not only is the tap water drinkable and delicious, so is the water from waterfalls and rivers. Several times on various tours we stopped at falls, like the one below to fill up our water bottles.

During a guided glacier hike we got to drink water directly on top of the glacier. I admit I don’t remember the exact science behind what the guide explained, but basically whatever minerals are naturally in that water are the same things used to filter other sources of water. He showed us how the real mountaineers get a drink of water without having to take off their gloves. Of course I needed to try it! A good number of Americans I met throughout the trip were very hesitant to drink the water straight from the natural sources, but it was the freshest water I have ever had.

#3: Natural Food

Icelandic food is some of the healthiest in the world. The food Icelanders consume is mostly organic and free-range. Lamb and seafood are both widely eaten throughout the country. McDonalds is no longer in Iceland. The fast food chain was asked to use natural ingredients from the country in their menu and they refused because it was cheaper for them to import their processed goods.

I got the flu right before my trip and considered postponing. I forged ahead anyways and after only a day in Iceland I felt back to normal. I’m convinced that the fresh air, food and water was what cured me so quickly! Or perhaps I just have Iceland illness!

#4: Changing Landscapes

You may have noticed that I am someone that enjoys a good deal of variety in my life. Therefore, all the changes in landscapes in Iceland were right up my alley. When taking even a short drive you can see so much variety in the scenery with one type of landscape turning into the next.

Iceland may get its name from all the glaciers

But of course with ice comes water

And over 10,000 waterfalls

Even though it is called Iceland it is actually a very green country

There is a HOT side of Iceland as well with over 800 hot springs.

Volcanic Landscapes with craters …

…and lava fields

#5: Safety

Iceland is voted the most peaceful country in the world. Icelanders are very proud of this fact. Their police do not carry guns and there are never any shootings. Norway gifted the country some automatic rifles. The citizens protested so much that they had to return the gift. One tour guide made an analogy to the classic chicken and the egg scenario. He said it doesn’t matter which one comes first, if you get rid of everyone having guns, no shootings happen. Now that is something to think about. 

#6: Culture & Way of Life

Icelanders are known for believing in elves, trolls and other mythological creatures. There was a proposed construction project that received protest and ultimately got moved because it would be destroying a lava field AND interfering in where elves are said to live.

Due to the huge influx of tourists to the country more infrastructure needed to be built and maintained around natural locations that tourists visit often such as waterfalls. This money comes from the Icelanders taxes. There was a vote to charge foreigners a tax upon arriving in the country to help with the cost. The citizens of Iceland voted against it because they believed nature should be free for all to visit.

So thank the Icelanders and go visit their beautiful country. Stay tuned for my adventures! 

More About Iceland

• One Day in Reykjavik
• How to Get from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík, Iceland
• National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik
• Day Tours from Reykjavík
• SUP
• Kayaking in Iceland
• Hot Springs Hike & Glacier Hike, 
• Jökulsárlón & South Island
• Books about Iceland & Finland

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