Iceland

Day 4

Our last day before flying out was the perfect day. I typically like to end my trips with room to play the day by ear and plenty of relaxation time. We slept in, had breakfast at the hotel and Harpa shared a few ideas of where to stop along the way to our final destination. But first, we had our last excursion, a lava tunnel called Raufarhólshellir. Harpa knew we were dying to taste more Icelandic ice cream, so despite it being 10:30 in the morning, she took us to a gas station en route to taste the famous “soft serve”. They only had one flavor, vanilla with assorted toppings. I chose vanilla dipped in chocolate and I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the best soft serve I’ve had. This style of ice cream can be found at almost every gas station in Iceland, but don’t be fooled by its accessibility, the quality is top notch. It’s more creamy than sweet, perfectly accompanied by the richness of Icelandic chocolate. The lava tunnel was quick and easy, perfect after our busy days prior. Honestly, it was cool to see but It’s the one thing I’d skip. The tour was under an hour and the guide was just OK. At one point during the tour the guide shut off all the lights inside the tunnel, so we could sit in the complete darkness for what felt like several minutes. It was surprisingly surreal, and a little ominous. After, we were free to explore but for safety reasons we weren’t allowed to go further than about 10 yards. After the lava tunnel, we continued our journey to the Blue Lagoon. Harpa had a few stops in mind that really elevated our experience. She drove us through an abandoned town which had only recently reopened the public after a fissure eruption in Grindavik, a once bustling fishing community turned eerie ghost town. It was incredible to see the fresh volcanic ash, where it spilled then ultimately ceased and latched to the old volcanic ash that grew green with moss, looking more like a prairie. The silver-lining-like contrast the eruption created was other-worldly.

Later that day, we arrived at the Silica Hotel Blue Lagoon, eager to sink our cold bodies into the thermal heat after a day of travel. Harpa said goodbye with hugs and teary eyes. This may sound dramatic, but we were so sad to see her go! She was the sweetest, most accommodating and hard-working guide I’ve ever met. The Silica is a splurge and much needed for our final night in Iceland. The hotel is nestled deep in volcanic ash, with its own lagoon connected to the larger, more populated lagoon for public access. We spent the rest of the day aweing at our luxurious rooms and strolling the grounds in bathrobes and face masks. Before dinner, we used the nearly empty lagoon connected to our hotel. I reluctantly finished a quick run in the hotel gym (since I was running a half marathon the following week… poor planning on my part), and got ready for dinner. We took a quick shuttle to the main hotel and sat down for dinner around eight pm at The Lava Restaurant. I chose creamy mushroom soup topped with olive oil to start, followed by flounder cooked in lemon caper sauce, with fingerling potatoes and crumbled dates. It was phenomenal. Perfectly prepared. 

Day 5

Prior to our flight, we planned to “take in” the main lagoon before we were shuttled to the airport later that afternoon. We met for a delicious breakfast buffet with endless options at the hotel, then took the shuttle to the main lagoon around eight AM. It’s crucial to shower before the lagoon, applying a generous coat of conditioner to avoid the minerals drying out your hair. As it was a Monday morning, we were the first to arrive, but it didn’t take long for the lagoon to fill up. Our package included three face masks and two beverages, with designated swim-up bars for both. It was a great experience; however I can't imagine the weekend / afternoon traffic would be pleasant. A couple next to us in line to get our second face mask suggested we try the Sky Lagoon to avoid crowds in the future, just as beautiful, but lacks the milky-blue hue of the Blue Lagoon. We stayed for about two hours then headed back to our hotel. Luckily we were able to secure a late checkout (12pm). I showered and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and catching up on emails before our 20-minute ride to the airport for our four PM flight back to Raleigh. 

Takeaways

At only 80 years old, Iceland is a young, proud, diplomatic country. They’re officially an Evangelical state, but fully embrace the practice of alternative religion. Despite being a non-secular state, Iceland is quite progressive, electing a woman as their 4th President in 1980. As mentioned before through conversations with natives, Iceland has curated a environment where women can thrive, with equal representation between men and women in government and unwavering commitment to gender equality, equal pay and reproductive rights. Iceland is also incredibly safe, and resource rich. Like any country, it poses many challenges, like cold and wet winters, inconsistent sunlight, and natural feeling of isolation due to its geography. Many of which I presume keeps Iceland as the #1 country for antidepressant usage. There are no predatory animals in Iceland, and an abundance of energy makes them incredibly self-sufficient. Its raw, unfiltered beauty invites you to unplug, slow down, and appreciate simplicity. Grab your friends or family, make the short trip across the Atlantic, and I guarantee you’ll leave the island with treasured memories and a deep respect for the natural world.