After almost one year of working as a flight attendant, I finally bit the bullet and took my first international trip using company benefits. The destination? Iceland. The why? Leif Erikson.
When my best friend/lucky bearer of my flight benefits called me one October afternoon to semi-seriously ask about chasing the northern lights in Iceland as the famous viking Leif Erikson probably did, I didn’t even hesitate to say yes. And that was that. Two months later, we were trekking through the cold island on a three day stint.
Unfortunately, our goal of seeing the Northern Lights did not pan out, as the weather conditions for our tour wouldn’t allow for it. We tried two consecutive evenings in a row with Mountaineers of Adventure, but ended up settling on a refund. I highly recommend this company for seamless communication, and a great experience from pick-up to drop-off (we booked our day three excursions with them, as well).
DAY ONE
After checking into our Airbnb in Reykjavik, we got our bearings in order, and scurried out the door by 7 a.m. to visit Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland’s largest church. The building was a quick walk away, like most things in the small city. According to the official website, the church was consecrated on the 200th year of Reykjavik’s existence, as well as the 312th year since its namesake’s death. Hallgrímur Pétursson was a poet and priest in Iceland during the 1600s. He is most notable for writing the Hymns of Passion, 50 meditations about the life of Christ, and was pivotal in the shaping of Christianity in Iceland.
Hallgrímskirkja was an exciting experience for me, not because I’m particularly religious, but because it made the first church I had ever been inside of. Getting to ride an elevator eight floors to stellar views isn’t something most people do in places of worship, so I consider myself very lucky. From the viewpoint, the beautiful colors of Reykjavik will pop against the grey sky (it’s typically cloudy and rainy in the winter), the Atlantic Ocean will kiss the ports, and Leif Erikson’s statue will look towards the church, giving his approval of your visit. The statue was a gift from the US, in 1930, to celebrate 1000 years of Icelandic parliament. Visitor tickets were roughly $9USD, and available for purchase in the shop to the left of the foyer.
Next up on our list was the Icelandic Phallological Museum. That’s right! A phallic museum of your worst nightmares, but also, your best dreams? I haven’t much to say on the topic, other than, you absolutely must go if you like freaky and weird. I’ll let the media do the rest of the convincing:
A few other notable visits on our first day:
– Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center: Though we didn’t venture around much, we were still in awe of this stunning piece of glass architecture. Harpa houses the national opera/symphony, and was completed in 2011. It has since gone on to host film awards, food festivals, and more.
– Sun Voyager: Another magnificent structure in Iceland (they’re really killin’ the game), created by artist Jón Gunnar Árnason in 1990. The sculpture looks like the metal bones of a massive ship; it is meant to represent, “the promise of new, undiscovered territory,” according to Árnason. He claims his viking ancestors were inspired by lost text to reach their motherland via the rising and setting sun, and so the ancestors journeyed tirelessly, with the bright star leading their navigation.
– Icelandic Street Foods: After walking many miles in the cold air, we were enticed by the aromatic smells coming from Icelandic Street Foods. This small stand-alone serves Icelandic favorites like cod with hollandaise sauce and rye bread, rolled pancakes with sugar, and bread bowls. I recommend the lamb stew with potatoes, carrots, and root vegetables.
DAY TWO
What would a quick trip to Iceland be without visiting its poster child: The Blue Lagoon? We carved out an entire day for this grand adventure, as it was an hour ride from Reykjavik. You can book a roundtrip from over 100+ places in the city here. Roundtrip fares are roughly $70USD – a bit steep, if you ask me, considering there were no bathrooms or other amenities aboard the bus, but it’s Europe.
Once you arrive, the tour operators will confirm your reservation. There are three different experiences available:
– Comfort ($82USD): Lagoon entrance access, one silica mud mask from the mask bar, one drink of choice, and one towel.
– Premium ($106): Everything in the comfort package plus one more drink, two additional masks at the mask bar, and the use of a bathrobe.
– Signature ($135): Everything in the comfort plus skincare you get to take home, including a 30 ml silica mud mask, and a 30 ml mineral mask.
We opted for the premium option, mainly for the two masks, but the two drinks were a really nice addition for warmth in the chilly atmosphere. To gain access to your drinks, you scan your topped-off bracelet at the bar in the center of the lagoon.
Also floating amidst the lagoon: several employees with buckets of face mask for you to utilize. It is recommended to use the masks all over your body for pore minimization and tighter skin. The masks all contain bits of lava rock, sulfur and silica minerals from the geothermal pool, and algae.
I loved the face masks, in fact, I left with a bottle from their shop. What I didn’t love was how drying the sulfuric lagoon was against my hair. I highly recommend bringing a swim cap. The staff recommends using as much conditioner as humanely possible before entering (and the bathroom is stocked), but it’s still never enough. You can’t avoid dunking your head, either, as the temperatures are far too cold in the air; it’s one of the ways to warm up quickly. With a swim cap, your head and hair will be protected.
There are also two hotels on property, The Silica Hotel, and The Retreat Hotel. Both provide a luxury experience, but if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line stay, the latter boasts deluxe massages and a Michelin-rated restaurant, Moss. If you’re looking to save a little (still Europe), there are two other restaurants on property, Lava, and the spa restaurant.
We finished our stay in the spa restaurant with a glass of champagne as the sun set, before jetting off for Reykjavik in the evening. The most relaxed spa day I think I’ve ever had.
DAY THREE
To go out with a bang, we decided to fill our last day with a multi-stop tour of The Golden Circle, aka, Iceland’s most popular 190-mile loop. As aforementioned, Mountaineers of Iceland is a great company to book excursions through, as they have a multitude of tours ranging locations, days, and activity types. The specific tour we booked can be found here. Per person, we spent a little over $200USD (again, it’s Europe).
Our day started in Reykjavik with an hour drive to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are currently 1,092 sites across the globe and growing. In order to be considered, the United Nations has to deem the site, “of outstanding universal value,” and one of the following ten criteria must be met:
1) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
2) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
3) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
4) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
5) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
6) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
7) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
8) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
9) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
10) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
Thingvellir is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart and are visible above sea level. I’d say that’s pretty universally outstanding.
After a quick walk through the rift, we found ourselves back in the tour jeep, heading to the Strokkur Geysir about 40 minutes away. The hot spring erupted every 5-10 minutes and was an amazing self-heater for the 32 degree weather. After Strokkur, we had a quick 10 minute drive to the Gulfoss Waterfall, another breathtaking stop along The Golden Circle.
While these earthly marvels were fun to be around, I found myself longing for more than just a walk through nature. I wanted what was coming next: the snow-machining tour of Langjökull Glacier. Because I am a big slut for adrenaline, any time I can move a machine at top speeds, I’m throwing myself at the chance. The glacier tour was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Plus, the views along the way were indescribable. Alien, even. Take a look for yourselves:
Iceland will forever hold a special place in my heart. I cannot wait to return, hopefully in the summer with more days to explore. If I could do the trip again, I’d definitely rent a car to have access to all corners of this magical country. If you have any questions about any of the tours, please reach out to baumsammi@gmail.com.
vertu blessaður!
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