Don't Expect To Get Tanned If You're Going To Iceland
- Carys Reid-Davies
- Oct 20, 2019
- 5 min read
It is an icy paradise, shrouded in darkness but always promising a glimpse of light. The rugged but vast landscape is barren and offers harsh conditions for those living there, but the beauty of this country is worth enduring the long periods of bleakness that winter brings. Iceland is a country like no other on earth.
DAY 1
When I visited on the 17th of December 2017, I knew we were going to be subject to the bitter weather and long nights. However, nothing could have prepared me for terrain. It felt like I'd landed on an abandoned planet, in fact, I think I'd have felt more at home on Mars! With not a single car in sight, we were totally alone on roads that cut through grassy fields stretching into the distance. I was completely in awe.
Our first stop was the Blue Lagoon as it was in-between the airport and our accommodation. We arrived in the sunlight but darkness was closing in rapidly. Once again we had human contact, but this was to be the most we would see of people for the remainder of the trip. Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa so it is a top tourist spot for those visiting Iceland. We were worried it may be spoilt by crowds but thankfully we chose a time when it was fairly quiet. We stepped outside into biting ice that was carried along by the wind, only to be warmed through as we submerged our bodies in the heated pool. Bliss.
We relaxed until we resembled prunes and felt it was time to leave such luxury. However, we were not done with the Blue Lagoon yet. The Lava Restaurant had grand glass windows that allowed you to stare out at the lagoon whilst seated amongst rocks jutting inside from every corner. We hunkered down and ate the most delicious first meal. Being a lover of fish, I was blown away by how fresh and tender each mouthful was. Time was cracking on though, and knowing we had quite a journey ahead of us, we eventually left and made our way to the lodge that would be our home for the next four nights.
DAY 2
I woke up at 9:00AM but it may as well have been the middle of the night. With it being pitch black outside, I decided to hop into our hot tub as Iceland began to wake up. When the sun finally started showing itself, we were straight out as we had very little daylight to see the country in. Once again we were on a lonesome road heading towards the Strokkur Geyser. We tumbled out and feasted our eyes on the spurting water that jetted up from the ground and shot into the air. It was a truly amazing sight.
Next up was the Gullfoss, a magnificent waterfall that plummeted into the Hvita canyon. As the turbulent water gushed downwards, I listened to the tranquil sound of the rapids. This really was nature at its finest. We trudged back through the snow to our car and, believe it or not, found that darkness was descending. Our last stop was Kerið, a volcanic crater which blew me away. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be around when that erupted! It was a long journey back home but more fresh fish was served up at the lodge and before long, we were tucked up inside watching Philomena!
DAY 3
We couldn't go to Iceland and not visit Reykjavik, so off we went to explore the capital city. It was so typically Nordic with cosy coffee shops which warmed you up with hot chocolate. We were lured towards the impressive Hallgrímskirkja Church which loomed over the city. The architecture was stunning and inside was equally impressive, with an arched ceiling leading up to a magnificent organ. The best bit about the Church, however, was that you could climb to the top of it for the best view of Reykjavik in all of Iceland! Be warned though, it was seriously icy at the top.
We went down Skolavordustigur, the street directly opposite the church, and stumbled across a quaint restaurant called Fish & More (also known as Salka Valka). The menu was simple but perfect for us and unsurprisingly, the fish was delicious. We had had a wonderful day and looked forward to a last morning in the city.
DAY 4
Being our last day, we decided to explore the lodge surroundings a little more. We were situated right on a lake and a gorgeous little church looked onto it. We walked over the snow covered graveyard that somehow looked so peaceful and, would you believe it, quite beautiful; the average graveyard just makes me feel uncomfortable and melancholy! The church, whilst no where near the scale of Hallgrímskirkja, was equally worth looking at as the stained glass windows sparkled in the sunlight emerging from behind puffy clouds. We also found a herd a plucky horses that were embracing the harsh conditions that Iceland offered. They seemed happy enough, though!
We returned to Reykjavik, but unfortunately the National Museum was closed so it looked like we'd have to save that for next time. Instead, we found the funkiest burger restaurant which had Elf playing on a TV screen. Despite only being on in the background, it really got us in the Christmas spirit and we ended up staying for the entirety of the film!
Unfortunately, our time was up, so back off to the airport we went. In a few hours time we were boarding the plane, and before we knew it we were back in the UK. It had been a whistle stop trip, but really worth it. The only thing I hadn't enjoyed was the smell of rotten eggs when I'd showered (the water in Iceland is full of sulphur so you may need to take a nose clip for when you wash! Oh, and girls, beware of wearing jewellery as the sulphur turned all my rings black! Thankfully they did eventually return to normal!)
Overall, Iceland had seriously impressed me, just don't expect to get a tan out there!
Top Tip
I would highly recommend Iceland, however, I do have one warning. Many people go expecting to see the Northern Lights. Whilst Iceland is the place to go if you want to catch these, it really is not a given. A lot of factors all need to align in order for you to see them (the weather conditions being the most vital factor). Of course duration is another way to increase your chances. We were only there a few days so it is not surprising we missed out. However, I know people who have gone for over a week and still had no luck.
Iceland is a spectacular country with so much to offer, so as long as you don't go on the basis that you'll see the Northern Lights, then you'll reduce your chances of being sourly disappointed. Oh, and remember, it really is HUGE, so be prepared for long journeys if you really want to get stuck into the scenery. The Golden Circle is the generic route (and what we did) but if you have longer you can drive the whole ring road which takes you round the perimeter of the country (a definite bucket list trip for me)!
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