Icelandic Fairy Tale

Icelandic Fairy Tale: Highlights of My Trip to Iceland

June 14th, 2018. I am clutching onto my suitcase just outside Keflavik Airport, taking in the first sights of Iceland.

Back then, I was not sure what to expect. Sure, I did my research and went over the do’s-and-don’ts-when-you-visit-Iceland so as not to embarrass myself, but the eight days of going around the Iceland Circle were just my itinerary, an unwritten story.

Little did I know that they were soon going to become a real Icelandic fairy tale.

Chapter #1 – The Fusion of Landscapes

One thing is for sure – I was not prepared for the beauty I was going to see.

The hike to the Grabrok crater wasn’t too harsh, as it is covered in not-too-steep steps (a good thing, because I walked a lot during these eight days), and once I got to the top… Oh boy!

Not only it struck me: Just 20-ish minutes before, I was riding a bus, and now I’m standing on the rim of a volcano, but also, the view of the surrounding greenery was spectacular.

The sadness about having to leave the panoramic view did not last long, as my curious spirit indulged in the rich history of Iceland in the Natural History & Seal Museum. There, I learned a lot about Icelandic seals.

Another historical point that left a strong impression on me is the small, authentic turf church, Víðimýri. There was something mystical and inspiring in that little, rural portion of history in the middle of nowhere.

As a highlight, I got to meet the amazing Icelandic landscape that has perhaps been my most favorite piece of the whole fairy tale – the fjords.

Chapter #2 – The Heart of North Iceland

The next chapter begins in Akureyri, a charming town in Northern Iceland, more precisely, in its corner of tranquility that I found in the botanical garden. The vivid spectrum of colors, along with authentic wooden houses, is really something.

Have you heard about the so-called waterfall of the Gods, Goðafoss? That was my next stop.

It is so powerful, with numerous waterfalls and cascades, and I do not know if I were lucky enough to see a rainbow or if it is a common thing there, but I did, and it was astounding.

Soon enough, I was reminded that I was in an area of active volcanism, which is incredible to me even to this day, as we passed a volcanic lake, Lake Mývatn, and its shore.

There were some rock islands (very oddly shaped, thanks to lava), and we have seen some remarkable bird species, mostly waterfowl. Unfortunately, I did not take note of all of their names, but one that has stayed in my memory is the Gyrfalcon – it looked really noble.

Another thing that I checked on my bucket list is soaking myself in natural geothermal streams at Mývatn Nature Baths – completing the whole relaxing circle that had started in the botanical garden.

Chapter #3 – Just… Pure Magic

A fairy tale is not a fairy tale without magical creatures, and mine appeared in chapter three, in the so-called “dark castles” in Dimmuborgir. That was where Grýla, an eerie troll, and her troll family were chasing us.

Luckily, they did not catch us, but the surreal lava creations are going to be forever stuck in my head.

We were not lucky enough to see reindeer, and we were told that the best time to see them is in the wintertime, but we visited Dettifoss, another breath-taking waterfall, which is not possible during winter.

While at it, I want to mention another spectacular waterfall that we visited, Seljalandsfoss. I thought I was prepared beforehand, as I have read the info about it, but no – only when you get to stand at the bottom of a 60-meter high stream of water do you realize how small you are and how imposing it is.

Chapter #4 – Water, Water, and More Water

Keep in mind – I am from Venice, and this has been by far the most magical and diverse experience of water – and I’ve seen a lot of it in my life.

From fjordic valleys to the lagoon and glacial meltwater with floating icebergs that glimpsed in the sun rays, I could have sworn that the ice caps have been in one way or another altered or shaped, but no – it’s all nature-made. For those of you wondering, I am talking specifically about Vatnajökull, the third largest glacier in Europe.

Although, officially, it was almost summer, I was glad that I had layers of clothes, as the mist and chill breeze sliced through the air.

Chapter #5 – The Eruption of Sights

The Reynisfjara black lava beach with unpredictable and adjacent lava formations assured me – volcanoes are as powerful as the Earth’s surface can get.

The Golden Circle geothermal area is nothing short of impressive, either. Seeing the so-called “Churn,” Strokkur, in action, emitting its fountain-like splash is unbelievable.

And the charming little gift shop next to it is one of the best I have seen. I grabbed a few souvenirs there, including a mug that will forever remind me of that magical moment.

As my trip neared the end, as we were driving to Reykjavik, I couldn’t get enough of recreating all the memories that I made; all the nice local people that I met; all the Hafragrautur, lamb, and fermented shark that I ate, but above all, the dramatic, beautiful landscape I’ve seen.

And that is when I made a promise to myself: I have to come back. Perhaps in the winter. They say that the experience is totally different. And there is still the fact that I am yet to see the Northern Lights.

Farewell, Iceland

I hope that I managed to transfer at least the tiniest portion of my Icelandic experience to you.

But this is just something you must see for yourself.

As I am writing this, my cynical self appears and says: Please, stop it with the clichés, but this really is not one. You simply have to feel the ambiance of glacial ice and burning lava that stand opposite to one another, and yet complement each other – it cannot be expressed in words.