Geysers are bonkers...

These little hot springs are just so mystifying.

The previous time I saw the geysers in Iceland, it was snowing very hard, it was very cold and very windy, and the great explosion evaporated immediately upon blast-off. This time, it couldn't be more different!

The geysers seemed to be eternally deep and the colors were absolutely beautiful. 

Like last time, catching Strokkur mid-explosion is a little bit tricky. It is significantly easier to catch it in the summer than it is in the winter, though. In winter, it's so cold out, the water just immediately evaporates post-boom.

When you're walking around the park in the summer, every so often you'll get a slight mist one or two geysers over from the explosion.

If you're in Iceland and doing the Golden Circle, I definitely recommend stopping at the Geysers! It certainly won't be the quickest stop you make all day, but 

Chasing Waterfalls in Iceland

That's me! In front of Gullfoss.

If you’ve made it all the way to Iceland, I would strongly encourage you to acknowledge TLC’s advice, and then ignore it completely. Do not stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to, you’re in Iceland! Let me tell you, these waterfalls are 100% worth the day trip.

Gullfoss in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland

Speaking of which: we generally prefer renting a car and rocking out our own road trip, but there are plenty of excursion programs and buses to get you to several of these falls!

Gullfoss in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland

Gullfoss in the canyon of the Hvítá river

The first waterfall is an obvious one: Gullfoss. If you’re booking a trip to Iceland, I know you’ve heard of this massive behemoth of a fall! It’s one of the largest to be seen, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. There are three points that you can view the fall from; the very tippy top, right up close and personal with the falls, and a view from a cliff across from the falls. My personal favorite is to take the damp hike down to get right up next to the falls… the rainbows from the mists are truly magical. We drove to see this waterfall on the same trip as the geysers and Þingvellir National Park, which has its own waterfall to see!

`Öxarárfoss at Þingvellir National Park

Öxarárfoss at Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir's waterfall, Öxarárfoss, is kind of the perfect warm-up to get you really jazzed about all of the waterfalls you’ll be chasing! It’s quite easy to get to, as it’s at the first parking area of the park, and it’s a short (beautiful!) walk from the parking area! If you pack a lunch, it’s the perfect place to sit and relax for a bite - just make sure you take your rubbish back out with you. A visit to this park is about $5 (USD) to park, so you might as well check out a bit more of the park… maybe plan a hike!

The other few waterfalls we hit up on our way down to the black sand beaches at Vík. If you plan on taking part of the ring road down towards the south shores, these will be super easy to hit up! All of them are absolutely beautiful places to stop and relax for a bit, have a bite to eat, do some yoga, take a nap; I mean you do you boo.

Seljalandsfoss

Gljúfrafoss

Gljúfrafoss

Gljúfrafoss

The first couple falls are Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi or Gljúfrafoss. They’re in the same vicinity located in the south region of Iceland, right off of route 1 (Ring Road), which leads to Þórsmörk; They’re a short walk from the same parking area. The first of the two, Seljalandsfoss, you can actually get behind!  You’re definitely going to get wet and a bit muddy, so I recommend wearing a rain coat and maybe some water resistant boots. The whole experience is a little bit surreal and truly unique, but one of my favorite falls all-in-all was Gljúfrafoss. This is where that rain coat and those water resistant boots (I wore winter-weather Sperry boots) are going to get one heck of a workout. There’s going to be a bit of a balancing act from rock to rock through a small stream, but the experience of being inside of the cavern at a base of a waterfall is so unbelievably special. You honestly couldn’t have wiped that grin off of my face.

Selfoss

Selfoss

The final falls we visited: Selfoss. This waterfall is massive, very tall. It empties into a gorgeous shallow river. It’s a perfect place to just wade around; the water only rose up to about ankle-to-calf-height. Super relaxing, and right around the corner from the falls at Seljalandsfoss. There’s a restaurant there if you’re hungry and didn’t pack a meal, and if you’re planing to drive all the way to Vík after this stop, you’ll want to get out and stretch your legs for a bit.

Let me know if you hit up any of these falls this summer, I'd love to see more pictures. It really is straight up magic; mother nature at work.

My Second Trip to Iceland

When I told friends and family that I was going back to Iceland (we had been here last March), there were a lot of puzzled looks and questions.

"Back to Iceland? Why?"
"Don't you want to go somewhere new?"
"...but isn't it cold?"

Yes, back to Iceland. Of course I want to go to new places in the future as well. And, cold? I mean, it's like spring in New England, it's in the 50's and 60's right now.

So. Back to Iceland. Why did we go back to Iceland?

I don't know... I mean, we could go to a sandy white beach somewhere.

I mean, I know that the possibilities are endless... we could travel to any number of places, instead of the same foreign country twice.

We did talk about visiting other places, we originally planned on England and Ireland, actually. But, you know, Iceland just seems to have this magnetic pull. And we'd never gotten to see it in the summer, only in the winter; so the 24 hours of sunlight certainly piqued our interest.

I honestly can't really pinpoint specifically what called us back here...

All I can really say for now is, if you want to know why we came back a second time, to Iceland of all places...

...is that maybe you'll just have to come out here and find out for yourself. ;)

Reykjavik, Iceland: The Golden Circle

...or at least half of it.

By the time we made it to our trip around The Golden Circle - a popular path for tourists to see some of the incredible landmarks Iceland has to osffer - we had already visited The Blue Lagoon. So we saved the bottom half of the journey, as it can be somewhat treacherous in the winter months.

To be honest, there were several points throughout our journey that are thinking may have been better (not to mention safer) had we explored it in the summer. The majority of the trip looked like a frozen tundra; it was such a surreal experience.

I know that I've already mentioned that our trip to Blue Lagoon was totally one of my favorite parts of the trip, but I would probably classify this as my second favorite. FUZZY. HORSES.

Fuzzy, friendly, sweet little babies.

We found these friends on the side of the road. We just pulled over and they came right on over! As it turns out, they love being pet and they give nice, friendly little gummy kisses on your jacket sleeves.

Talk about some warm fuzzies in a frozen tundra!

We now continue our journey... to the geyser! As soon as we arrived to the great Geysir, the snow started a'blowin'. The icy and rough walk with the steamy atmosphere was an interesting juxtaposition. This site was another great example of why they call Iceland the land of fire and ice.

I tried my hardest to get a good picture of the geyser mid-explosion, but it happens quick and evaporates pretty much immediately in the freezing temperatures.

The site that I was especially excited for on our journey was the great waterfall, Gullfoss! I spent actual months looking forward to this waterfall.

If we thought that it was blustery and stormy at the geyser, the storm at Gullfoss was made that one look like a sprinkle of flakes!

As such, it was pretty hard to get a good picture. Believe me when I say, though, that it was a breathtaking view.

We do love the snow! I am, however, hoping that someday I can return to Iceland in warmer, sunnier weather to see the same sites.

Blue lagoon aside, this adventure was one of the most memorable events of my life that I will be taking from Iceland!

Iceland: Blue Lagoon

I have to say, this was probably my absolute favorite part of our trip to Iceland.

No contest.

If I could have just spent the whole trip to Iceland bouncing from geothermal spa to geothermal spa, I probably would have been an exceptionally happy and relaxed Jenna.

As you're driving from Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon, be sure to take some time to look at the landscape. The mossy lava fields look like dark, puffy clouds, billowing far and wide.

We've arrived! First of all, it's quite the unusual sensation to take a dip in steamy, toasty-toasty mineral-rich water with freezing atmospheric temperatures. After getting in the water, I never felt cold; there was, however, little ice crystals freezing to my nose and eyelashes.

Despite the fact that you were sharing this geothermal pool with so many other people, it never felt crowded - even at peak hours. Everyone was very friendly and respectful of each others' space.

The package we purchased included their classic mineral mask, a special algae mask, and a lip balm treatment. All of which made my skin feel amazing. Honestly, I don't think my skin had ever felt so smooth, nor has it remained blemish free for so long.

Closing your eyes and lounging in the "hot spots" throughout the spa was one of the most relaxing feelings ever; and it certainly didn't hurt to have a glass of wine from the swim-up bar.

For me, it was really one of those life-changing experiences that I'm probably going to look back on as a "best day ever" type thing.

Someday I would definitely want to come back for my honeymoon or something, hands down.

Reykjavik, Iceland: Nightlife

If New York City is known as the city that never sleeps, then Reykjavik should be known as the city that comes alive. The week was so quiet, relaxed, cool. We never seemed to need a reservation, and I was beginning to think that we were staying in one of the quietest, hippest cities; I was beginning to think that Iceland might truly be the most low-key, mellow place on Earth.

Suddenly it was Friday, our last night before heading home, and we assumed an experience that was more of the same. A few drinks, some dinner, a quiet walk around the near-empty city, and eventually bed. Plot twist: not even close! It was like a totally different city! Restaurants and bars quickly filled up with more people than I could imagine. It felt as if the entire city turned into one massive dance club, and everyone was invited. The skirts became shorter, the lines forming in front of once quiet establishments grew long and wild, and cups were scattered throughout the streets and sidewalks. Reykjavik was busting at the seams.

Food trucks, a new spectacle we’d seen very little of at that point, seemed to spring up everywhere. Belgian waffles, hot dogs (of course), and my personal favorite, donuts. As a few of us were perusing our options, a man holds up a cardboard clamshell of a dozen hot and sweet mini donuts. Bingo. Do you prefer chocolate or vanilla frosting? Are you more of a caramel sauce fan? They’ve got you covered. I went with the classic vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles, and they immediately joined my list of favorite donuts around the world.

Walking down the street, deciding where we would go next, I couldn’t help but notice that

We popped in to The Lebowski Bar, where we found a total rager going on in the back. People were busting out their best dance moves, drinks in hand, DJ spinning mixes. It was pointed out to me that much of the music would be considered a "throwback" by our standards... I didn't mind that; I thought it added to the atmosphere.

After meeting up with a local ex-pat who was friendly enough to show us around, we hit up a couple more great dance spots and kept shaking our butts until about 3 am. Just because we called it quits, though, doesn't mean the rest of the city did!

Reykjavik, Iceland: Hallgrímskirkja and Local Artwork

It took me less than a day in Reykjavik to truly take notice of the incredible artistic details throughout the city. Some are small - a little note carved into a brick, for example. So many are big, beautiful, and in your face.

This, for example, stopped me in my tracks. The sculpture against the incredible backdrop of still water and massive, snowy mountains was positively breathtaking. Sun Voyager is a sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason, an ode to the sun, symbolic of hope, progress, and freedom. The message really speaks to me, and I found it extra ironic that the statue was unveiled and opened to the public the summer of 1990, when I happened to be born!

Examples of the creative and artistic population could be seen everywhere you turned around. I saw the most beautiful and intricate graffiti around every corner. Rather than deter their artists from leaving their mark on the city, it seems to be wholeheartedly encouraged.

Despite the chilly weather throughout most of the year, I noticed plenty of creative gardens and patios throughout the city as well.

As someone who generally finds time spent outdoors to be especially recharging and inspiring, I had a real appreciation for the details - big and small - within these local gardens.

Speaking of big...

Hallgrímskirkja was quite the site to see. It is a Lutheran church in Reykjavik and, wow, it's massive. Before arriving I had read a bit about it, but I couldn't have prepared myself for the immense size and gorgeous architecture; it's grand, and sooo impressive.

It was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson to resemble the basalt lava flows of Iceland's landscape. After walking into the church and taking in the incredibly tall ceilings and windows, you turn around to see what was easily the largest pipe organ I have ever encountered. I think that I literally gasped in complete and total awe when I saw it. 

In front of the church is a statue featuring Leif Erikson, founder of Iceland. The folklore behind Erik the Red, Leif Erikson, and Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Leif's sister), is a story that is very near and dear to my heart. Coming from a Scandinavian father, with our family name being Ericson, my mother used to call me Frida (shortened from Freydís) and my brother has been widely known throughout his life under the nickname of Leif.

After exploring the lower level, you can take an elevator to the top of the church. It's 73 meters - or 244 feet - high, making it one of the tallest buildings in Reykjavik, providing one of the best views ever.

his was the first view I had, and I was completely and totally speechless. I think after about thirty seconds I managed a "wow", and excitedly rushed from window to window to see the full view of Reykjavik and beyond.

We enjoyed wandering through the art exhibits and galleries throughout downtown Reykjavik as well. We wound up bringing back a very strong painting of an explosive volcanic landscape for a friend. I'm personally a really big fan of pottery wherever I go... upon learning about the ceramic artist Bjarni Sigurdsson's Ash Cloud pottery, I was in love. I came back with one of my favorite pieces thus far, and I hope to collect more in the future.

The awe-inspiring art installations, the stunning scenery, the gorgeous graffiti... it's easy to become inspired in such an interesting and creative city!

I have so much more to share from my trip to Iceland coming up soon... stay tuned!