Iceland

Iceland, a small island nation in the North Atlantic, is a land of striking contrasts and otherworldly beauty. Known as the “Land of Fire and Ice,” it is home to active volcanoes, massive glaciers, roaring waterfalls, and black sand beaches. Powerful geological forces formed its dramatic landscape, as Iceland sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The result is a country where nature feels alive—geysers erupt, glaciers crack, and hot springs steam in the crisp air.

A detailed map of Iceland showing major cities and geographical features, including mountains and lakes.

The capital, Reykjavík, is the world’s northernmost capital city and serves as the heart of Icelandic culture and life. Despite its small size, Reykjavík buzzes with creativity, offering art galleries, live music, and modern Nordic cuisine. Its colorful buildings and cozy cafes contrast with the vast wilderness just beyond the city limits. The Blue Lagoon, a famous geothermal spa near Reykjavík, is one of the country’s most visited attractions, blending relaxation with Iceland’s geothermal wonders…. That was our first stop on our first trip to Iceland!

Iceland’s history is rooted in Viking heritage. Norse settlers arrived in the late 9th century, establishing one of the world’s oldest parliaments, the Althing, in 930 AD. Today, Icelanders take pride in their language, which has changed little since the Viking Age, and in their strong literary tradition—especially the medieval sagas that tell tales of bravery and exploration. Modern Iceland remains progressive and environmentally conscious, drawing much of its energy from renewable geothermal and hydroelectric sources.

The country’s population is small—just over 370,000—but Iceland’s sense of community and resilience is strong. Winters are long and dark, yet locals celebrate their northern light displays and summer’s endless daylight with enthusiasm. Iceland can feel like another planet—a place where nature still reigns supreme and the elements tell their own ancient story.

We’ve had the pleasure of visiting Iceland on two separate occasions…and these are some of our memories:

North Coast of Iceland

North Coast of Iceland

June 2024 while sailing in the Arctic Circle on the National Geographic Resolution Husavik Our first stop was in the picturesque town of Husavik, Iceland. Húsavík is located on Iceland’s northern coast and is renowned for its rich maritime history and vibrant whale-watching industry. Nestled on the shores of Skjálfandi …
Westfjords:The Fjords of Western Iceland

Westfjords:The Fjords of Western Iceland

Westfjords:The Fjords of Western Iceland June 2024 while sailing in the Arctic Circle on the National Geographic Resolution The fjords of western Iceland are some of the most striking and scenic natural features in the country, offering a dramatic interplay of sea, mountains, and sky. These are the crown jewels …

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Map of Northern Europe highlighting Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark in various shades of blue.

Our Five Capitals Adventure Begins!

After almost a year in the planning, we are finally off on our Five Capitals Adventure!  Even though Bill gave us a real scare last week with a trip to the hospital for blood clots, permission was granted by doctors for travel so we are going to wring every ounce …
A silver RAV4 parked on a gravel road in Iceland, with a volcanic landscape in the background.

Arrival in Reykavick

The Northernmost Capital in the World We landed at Keflavik (which sits on a petrified lava flow) in sunny Reykjavík (mid 50’s) around 9:00am. We cleared customs, picked up some Irish whiskey at the duty-free & got luggage easily ….. but the wait in the rental car line was very …
Two people joyfully standing on a wooden walkway in Þingvellir National Park, holding hands and smiling, surrounded by rocky fissures and a distant crowd enjoying the scenery.

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

This was a great day of touring the famous Golden Circle Loop. We had sunny skies and mild temperatures all day as we visited three major stops.  Among these natural and historic attractions…..we began to get a view of the diversity of landscape that is Iceland.  We can easily see why the …
A panoramic view of the Hellisheioarvirkjun Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland, with steam billowing from multiple smokestacks against a background of mountains and open land.

Iceland’s SouthEastern Coast

Wow, another very lovely day.  We woke up kind of hungry (at least Pete and Joan did!) since we still had not managed to get to a food store before it closed to buy breakfast food!  So with nothing in the house to eat, we took off to start our travels to …
Iceland's SouthWest Coast

Iceland’s SouthWest Coast

Wow….another great day to wrap up our Iceland Experience! We were on our way by 8:00am to drive to Iceland’s West Coast, Vesterland. The first stop (since we again had no breakfast food in the AirBnB!) was the wonderful Geirabakarí bakery in Borgarnes, where we enjoyed a variety of delectable …

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