My Amazing Trip to Reykjavik, Iceland
I love to travel, so when I had the chance to visit Reykjavik in Iceland, I got on a plane and went! This city is quite the popular tourist destination, but that didn’t bother me in the least, because I knew that I was going to be able to explore a capital of a sovereign state that was the furthest North of any others in the world. I found myself getting giddy as we were flying closer to Reykjavik, because the views were nothing like I anticipated. I had thought that the land below would be covered in ice and snow and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, there was some ice and snow, but the views from the plane were spectacular. I couldn’t wait until I could clear customs and make my way into the heart of the city.
Now you must remember that it never gets really warm in Iceland, so I had to dress appropriately for my time there, but the layers of clothing were not as bothersome as some people would think that they would be and I knew that I would still manage to get into my bathing suit at some point during my trip, thanks to the multiple hot springs that are in the country.
Here are 4 of the things that I did while I was in Reykjavik, Iceland:
1. Blue Lagoon
I could have easily spent my entire vacation at the Blue Lagoon, because it is such a peaceful and relaxing place. However, it is approximately thirty miles to the Southwest of the capital and I wanted to see as much of the city as possible. As soon as I arrived at the Blue Lagoon, I stripped off my layers of clothes, slathered my body with the silica mud that is great for exfoliation, and slid into the bluest of blue waters that I have ever seen. The water was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which is what it is every day of the year, and it felt like heaven as I sat there watching the steam rise all around me.
2. Laugavegur and Kringlan Shopping Districts
I always need to go shopping while I am in another country and Iceland was no exception. These two shopping districts were perfect for my needs and while I loved them both, I recommend that you only go to Laugavegur if the weather is nice or you dress quite warmly for the extreme cold temperatures of the winter months, because that one is outside. I had done my research ahead of time and purchased what many other tourists purchase, which was volcanic stone jewelry and a wool knit sweater.
3. Laugardalur Park
Yes, I did the hot springs at the Blue Lagoon, but as I said, I loved every minute that I was in the water. Therefore, I decided to spend some time at Laugardalur Park, where there are multiple hot springs as well as a geothermal pool. The bonus was that this park is just to the East of the downtown area and was quite close to where I was staying.
4. National Museum of Iceland
I always love learning more about the places that I am visiting and I found that the National Museum of Iceland does a fantastic job of sharing that information with visitors. I loved starting at the beginning and learning about the pagan rituals before continuing on to see an exhibit with a medieval chief and another with a 14th century nun. My favorite part of my experience at the museum was that I was able to hear different recorded conversations at the exhibits and learned about how people lived and their experiences.
There was so much for me to do and see while I was in Reykjavik and I know that I didn’t even come close to seeing a quarter of what I should have while I was there. Therefore, I know that I will try to get back there one day soon, not only so that I can explore more, but so I can go into one of those hot springs once again.
