The hubby and I just returned from a 7 night trip to Iceland, yes Iceland. When we announced our travel plans nearly 2 months ago, I heard an awful lot of – really, why in the world would you go to ICE-land?
Just before leaving the land of fire and ice, I posted the following status on my Facebook wall:
Why I Love Iceland:
Nature – Waterfalls, fjords, Northern lights, cliffs, flowers, rainbows, black sand beaches, volcanos, glaciers. Nature has a way of soothing the mind and inspiring the spirit like nothing else. Seriously, just look at these pictures (we took nearly 600):
The Food – One word – fresh! Iceland has some of the richest fishing waters in the world. I enjoyed trout, salmon, scallops, cod, langa, char and langoustine (the BEST lobster tails I’ve ever tasted).
And the lamb, don’t even get me started.
Did you know that you can get the most delicious lamb stew in gas stations all over the country – yes, gas stations!
Simplicity – The architecture and decor is simple. Most of our hotel rooms were uncomplicated – but in a good way. White walls. White comforters. Simple, uncluttered and clean. Ahh!
Petta Reddast – Icelanders are some of the most optimistic in the world. All that omega-3? The fresh air? A survival strategy (months of darkness, volcano eruptions, financial meltdowns)? Who knows for sure. But it’s kind of awesome. In Iceland there is a phrase, well sort of a national motto – petta reddast. It basically means – this will all work out one way or another. I think I’ll tattoo it on my forehead.
Non-Seriousness – This might be one of the best things about Iceland. I have a tendency to take life a little way too seriously. Confession: I actually belong to a private Facebook forum called, support for taking life too seriously. I shit you not, here’s the proof…
I’ve made major progress in the past 5 or 6 years, but I still aspire to be one of those, let it slide kind of folks. One day.
I love how Alda Sigmunsdottir describes this aspect of the culture, The Little Book of the Icelanders:
“The Icelanders just cannot take anything too seriously – least of all themselves. Indeed, taking yourself too seriously is considered a minor crime in Iceland, and instantly makes you a target for all sorts of ridicule.”
I could go on and on. My husband and I plan to return again in a few years (maybe sooner), this time exploring the Western fjords and northern part of the country. We never travel for the sake of going on a vacation. We travel to observe unfamiliar cultures, gain a different perpective and immerse ourselves in something new. You’ll never see us parked on a resort beach in Mexico for a week – not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just not our thing.
If you happen to love adventure and natural beauty, go and book some tickets – like now. Most folks visit in the summer (keep in mind you will NOT see the Northern lights with all that daylight). I’ve always been a fan of shoulder seasons – when there are fewer tourists, but the weather is still nice. September is beautiful, but can be rather rainy – we got very lucky.
I asked around, and most locals suggested late May or early June, though several struggled to name their favorite time of year. Guess we’ll have to return until we’ve visited during each season – oh darn.
Until then, I’m going to incorporate the lessons I learned. Slow down, enjoy nature, eat locally and seasonally and of course, don’t take it all so seriously!
