For the romantic at heart and the adventurer where else would you choose but a land that is as poignant as the thrills and surprises you will find there? Iceland is the land of the fierce Vikings, the once burping volcanoes and the endless vistas that stretch to eternity. In short, it is a destination that you will find is as different as any that you have ever found in your travels.
When I arrived at Keflavik Airport in early winter it was dark outside. Since it was still wintertime it remained dark, or, at least dusky, most of the day. But that is just part of the Icelandic experience. In fact, there is a gently calm in the world as the snow falls gently and the sun barely peaks above the horizon. It is certain that the surrealism of the moments you spend on the island will lace complete into one and continue to haunt you months after you are back in the real world.
For one, it is because Iceland is as close to nature as you will ever find. You won’t believe it until you get there and even on the plane you will probably halfway doubt if you made the right decision to come. But if you visit in the winter you will know from the moment you touch down that you could not have gone anywhere else. It happened to me the instant the wind thrust her arms around my shoulders as I walked down the steps of the plane and onto the airfield. I could barely stand up because the wind was so strong. However, I soon came to realize that Iceland was welcoming me, albeit brusquely, and I immediately began to feel at one with the island.
What surprised me the most about Iceland was that while nature takes full control on the outside, inside Islanders enjoy dark nights sitting around cozy fires in the most modern of settings. Quite a few of the restaurants I visited were equally as chic as any found in the trendiest haunts of Paris, London or New York. That’s just how the Icelanders do their thing though. Without too much fanfare they welcome visitors with a smile and let you be the judge of the experience.
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland is one such example. The lagoon is a natural geo-thermal spa surrounded by a lava field and black sandy beaches. The earth-warmed water tops out at around 100 degrees and is said to heal whatever ails you in regard to both heart and soul. The mineral waters balance the system, the blue green algae nourish the skin and the white silica mud cleanses the body.
Try to coordinate your visit to be there during Iceland’s annual Food and Fun Festival, another perk for sure. Five days of eating at the best restaurants, schmoozing with chefs from around the world and rounding it all up on the final night at the black-tie annual dinner. While the food and the fun definitely lived up to its name, the first night I arrived in the capital, Reykjavik was definitely one to remember. Taken miles away from the Nordica Hotel where I was staying, a group of us were driven to a small restaurant on the beach where bonfires were blazing just edges from the water like beacons beckoning in the night. Our welcome included a hot alcoholic beverage that did everything it was meant to from warming the heart to warming the mind. Sitting on the sandy beach amidst waves crashing just a few feet away and warmed only by a bonfire can only be likened to the feeling of 1000 years of Nordic history all played out, at least for me, in one giant moment.
Getting there is easy too and Iceland Air is the only way to travel to Iceland, flying into Keflavik Airport and then transferring to the capital of Reykjavik. While anytime is a great time to visit, the winters in Iceland are especially magical, but Reykjavik is a city that never sleeps anyway - so you don’t have to either.
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