Tegans Word !

Iceland seems just a memory now as I sit in a warm (anything above 2 degrees) house and recover after running on empty attempting to see everything Iceland has to offer.

It was a holiday full of first experiences. Arriving to a snow covered country and immediately racing outside keeping a watchful eye on our suitcases as we ran through the snow that was still falling. That was the first experience.

Seeing the northern lights was the second. And to see them twice, even faintly is enough to make me plan my next trip to see them again. Standing outside and watching the ribbon of green light cascade across the sky with a white landscape, well and truly made up for the 2 hour shifts to check if they were out. (Thanks dad!)

Bathing in any kind of heated pool or lagoon was the third. Whether in the infinity pool looking out at the snow capped mountains in Hofsos. Or bathing in the naturally heated Myvatn lagoon and watching the sun set. Not to mention the beautiful landscape around every corner and driving through flat volcanic geo thermal areas with pockets of steam escaping into the air.

The fourth 'first' experience was riding the Icelandic horse, (not ponies!) on a freezing but sunny day in Grenivik. Then later zip lining through the canyons on a thankfully much warmer day.

And fifth, holding part of a glacier in my hands as the others wash out to sea from Jokulsarlon lagoon.

And in between all of these first experiences there was driving for hours through beautiful mountains and waterfalls, trying unsuccessfully to warm my fingers up between trips so I could still function my camera. 

So even though I'm now home somewhat poorer, paying $40 for a meal, and my fingers and toes may still be thawing out after -13 degree nights, Iceland was truly something special.