ICELAND

I C E L A N D

Going to Iceland was a dream I had for many years. Born of the Bjork-loving grunge kid of the 90’s and continuing into my adulthood as someone more inclined to find a quiet soul space than anything else. Bogged down by the daily confines of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, a career I have spent decades committed to building, and the ever present Northern Lights or Arctic Sun debate; it remained a dream. Until May of 2023.

The catalyst for my trip is easy to pinpoint. I was sick with Covid two days after turning 41. I found myself laying in bed for days literally asking myself what it was I was doing with my life. It had been 9 years since I had taken any real vacation. Spending time away from my dog, or my job, felt overwhelming at best; and impossible at its worst. Two questions stayed at the forefront of my clouded mind. One: Why was I spending so much time away from the thing I loved the most (My dog, Roamy) and two: How was I going to open a window into the life I envisioned for myself? During that week I decided I would bring Roamy to work with me from that point forward. And I decided I was going to do something for myself. That I needed to do something for myself.

I admittedly battle the scarcity mindset instilled in me from a young age and it took me truly confronting that fear to take the leap towards investing time and money into a new experience; one solely for the joy of it. I reluctantly, but forcefully, pushed myself to entertain this endeavor. I talked about “spontaneously” booking a trip to Iceland for weeks before my anxiety of ticket price increases from looking too often took over. It was moments before heading out to meet friends that I pressed the “Purchase Now” button on Iceland Air’s website. As the cloud images passed the airplane window on the processing page I was filled with both joy and dread. WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?! I had only an inkling of the transformation that lay ahead of me. When I arrived at dinner that night I was the first of my friends there. I was so elated that the joy spilled out of me and I somehow ended up in a hug with our host who was kind enough to indulge my frantic energy boiling over. I spent the next three months day dreaming, planning, and spending (ehem!) INVESTING IN my upcoming journey.

I knew this much: I was going and I was going alone. Everything else was a mystery.

I took off on July 6th as the sky was dimming and as we flew towards the edge of the arctic circle it only got lighter. I didnt see the dark again until landing back at JFK 7 days later. I ended up at the edges of the earth, and of my understanding if myself. I joyfully admit that I spent a large portion of the week crying in awestricken joy. I barely spoke to anyone for 7 days and I listened to the radio only twice to keep myself awake during a couple bouts of sleepiness while driving. I needed nothing more than to look around to entertain me. I felt a sense of absolute contentment and joy that I had never felt before. I found myself laying in the grasses alone along side waterfalls on Snaefellsness Penisula, hiking through the wilds of iceland to Gymur falls and crossing glacier rivers in complete elation and disbelief. Soaking in rustic geothermal pools in the mountains and in luxurious lava rock pools on the edge of the ocean with a glass of Prosecco in hand. Before I took this trip I didn’t even own a pair of hiking boots and suddenly I was covered in dirt and exhausting all of my energy to keep taking in everything that was around me. It was midnight on my last night as I jumped on an open air trampoline on a lava field, alone, as everyone slept. I returned to my old life completely changed. I had felt an energetic connection to a place I only saw in my fantastical minds eye. I was stunned by the enormity of the feeling, I was bolstered by feeling it, and I was hellbent on getting my feet back on that land. I dreamt vividly about it for weeks afterwards and I likely spent 30% of my interpersonal life talking about Iceland! I’ll be honest, this hasn’t changed all that much since that first trip.

I have since returned in the winter with my partner in for the adventure. A sun baby athlete who admittedly doesn’t like the cold. We took in the frozen falls, were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights, and basked in geothermal pool after geothermal pool (I had ot keep her warm somehow!) I was equally moved the second time around and doubly impacted to find that in dark, in rain, and even with another person, I was attached in a vibrational way to the make up of Iceland. I had found a soul home.

The months I have spent planning these two trips were integral to the experiences I had there. Thanks to a dear friend who is a native Icelander, the Internet, and my obsessive nature I created two itineraries for vastly different weather and lights. They are thoughtful, well planned, and are what I think are most perfect itineraries possible for first time visitors - or second or third! Wether you’re going it alone, or in good company I hope you enjoy them.

These trips can be used as a starting point or an off the page guide. I am including tips on packing, car rentals, restaurants (and sometimes lack thereof), and place to stay. Tips on how to avoid the huge amount if tourists if you wish - as I did for my first trip. And some luxury elements too. I jokingly say that Iceland has a “Do what you want, but dont be an idiot” motto. There are very few safety guards in place. Not much to keep you from falling off a cliff edge, or getting swept away in the sneaker waves of Renisfjara Beach. This allows you to venture freely (and please, respectfully) through the country but it also means that your safety is largely in your own hands. Dont take unesseary risks, always follow the guidance of local resources (even over google maps), and know your limitations. If you use these in part or in whole I would Love to hear about it. I am currently planning my next trip: A three week stay in August with a two week camper van excursion around the entire country from west to east and back. Its a massive planning endeavor and I will be sure to share it once I have tested it out myself. For now, I truly hope you get to experience the awe for life and the planet that being in Iceland has given me. If you’re on the fence, just go. You may not know me, but trust me on this one.