If I could describe Iceland in one word, I would use “breathtaking.”
The island, though small, has a lot to offer. From delicious food to an incredible landscape with volcanoes, lava fields, and geysers, there is a lot in this country that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
The extreme contrast of the environment is fascinating. It is something I was able to experience when I did the Golden Circle tour, which is a route of about 100 miles going from Reykjavík to the south end of the country and back. Each stop along the road had something completely different to offer. One minute I was exploring the glacial lake, the next there were geyser springs steaming hot water into the air. Iceland is indeed a land of fire and ice!
During my first day on the island, I experienced all kinds of weather. By the time I was done with my morning exploring Laugavegur, which is the main shopping street in Reykjavík, it was foggy and started to snow.
I decided to stop by a coffee shop to relax a bit with a hot chocolate. When I was ready to leave, it started to rain. I was even waiting for some hail. However, I happily ended my day catching the beautiful sunset from the observation deck of Perlan. There is an old Icelandic saying that goes: “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” Sounds just like a saying we here in Boston go by.
I must say that at first, I was worried there was not going to be much for me to do. Reykjavík is quite small compared to a big city like Boston. However, they beat Boston at one thing: their erratic weather conditions.
Iceland is very expensive. The island is isolated, and imports are high because they are unable to cultivate the land. On the other hand, the isolation and the lack of external influence is great, because that’s how Iceland is able to conserve its unique culture.
What captivates me the most about Iceland is the people. I’ve never traveled anywhere where everyone seemed so pleasant to talk to and so willing to help. One day, I was trying to make a call using a public phone. There was a prompt message in Icelandic that I obviously couldn’t understand.
I said under my breath, “I wish there was someone who spoke Icelandic.”
Some guy immediately came running toward me. I didn’t say it loud enough for anyone to hear. He just wanted to help.
I’ve read somewhere that Iceland is considered the third happiest country in the world. They were right! Their small land mass is the key to their happiness. That’s why Pride is like a national holiday in Iceland. There is no room for segregation; the country is too small to be divided.
Icelanders come together under one land, one nation, and one language. They happily do so, because they are happy people.