iceland

ok, so this is not such a recent trip, but the posting has been pending since the end of march when i came back from the extraordinary island of iceland. and i couldn't not post it, since this is one of my best trips recently, and also one that i would recommend if you wanna see a "different" country.

i was of course lucky to go at the end of march, for a few good reasons. the day lasts for about 13 hours, not too short, not too long. it's not too cold at that time, although it's still below 0 degrees, but you can still see all the icy landscapes. and it's considered off season, which makes the sky high prices a bit lower, at least on accommodation.

6 days gives you a good idea, but may not be enough if you want to explore more than the standard stuff. i wouldn't do iceland on a weekend though, since you'd only see reykjavik.

3 stays in the capital, 2 stays in akureyri, with trips from both of them, allowed us to see a good part of the country. major highlights are the golden circle, though not so much the geysir, godafoss, lake myvatn, the blue lagoon (worth doing on your way to the airport, really relaxing), both towns we saw had their own beauty. reykjavik has great nightlife and its unique architecture, invites you to walk around and explore it. people are friendly, art is everywhere, and so is design, which shows from restaurants and cafes to hotels and dorms. akureyri in the north had the beauty of a small place that has everything compact, but still manages to keep life exciting for the 17,000 inhabitants and visitors.

we were unlucky not to see the northern lights (apparently some other people saw them the night before we arrived) and not to have a few more days to explore the west fjords, the little island on the arctic circle, do whale watching or see the glaciers and do a bit of jet skiing on them. but you can't have everything in life now, can you?

all in all, i thought it's an impressive country. having to fight the natural elements, ice, cold and earthquakes and volcanos, the icelanders have managed to turn this country into a modern and exciting place, while preserving its uniqueness and beauty. the natural beauty and wonders you see in this country, and the effort the residents have put in order to live with them, are the things that impressed me the most, and make this place a must see.

hope you manage to set foot there and enjoy it!