We’re back from our 12-day trip to Iceland, and what an amazing experience it was. I can confidently say it was like no other trip I’ve ever taken, and I’ve now been to 24 countries. I’ve got a lot of Iceland blogs in store for you, but I thought I’d start by giving you a nice general overview of what inspired our awe. What follows are some of the very best of the hundreds of photos we took on the course of this epic journey.
We started off, as most people do, in the nation’s capital, Reykjavik. I’ll have much more to say about this fascinating city in subsequent posts, but the most visually impactful thing about the town is its unique architecture, particularly in the form of Harpa, its concert hall, and Hallgrímskirkja, it’s iconic church.
But we also ventured out to the small towns, and the church architecture there could be quite unique as well.
The farmsteads in the country impressed me, too, because they appeared so steadfast, some with their grass roofs, and others with their incredible isolation in a land that can be so climactically harsh and unforgiving. Icelanders are intrepid people. They are survivors. They must scoff at the petty winging of tourists.
Even the Icelandic horses are a tough breed. I was lucky enough to make one’s acquaintance. They are made of sterner stuff than I am. I’ll have much more to say about these amazing creatures in a later post.
And I absolutely fell in love with the sheep. Sheep everywhere. Even grazing in the lava fields. Because of course they were. I never got to touch any, but I had conversations with several. Mainly along the lines of, “I know you could easily kick my a**, but please, will you let me pass? Thank you kindly.”
But what really gets you about Iceland is the ever-changing landscape. So many forces have worked upon this young land. Volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, waterfalls… Iceland has no evidence of dinosaurs, because it did not exist when dinosaurs did, but it is substantial. It can’t be taken for granted. And you get a sense that it is still changing dynamically. You feel it everywhere.
There must be a million waterfalls.
And the ice makes the land expand and contract.
And the glaciers and volcanoes have created such a variety of landscapes that you never know what will be around the next corner.
It must have been strange to be one of the first settlers here, at a time before scientific understanding, to be presented with such eerie wonders. Even now, this country, with its extremely low crime rate and its total absence of apex predators, still feels kind of creepy and dangerous at night.
Maybe that’s why Iceland has given us auroras as the world’s greatest consolation prize.
But even so, the winters can be long, dark, harsh, and unforgiving. I have a theory that because of this, Icelanders have been given the opportunity to develop their creative sides even more than other cultures have. I’ll be blogging about that theory in more detail. But for now, I’ll share with you some of the beautiful art they’ve created to brighten up their dull grey winters.
I was continually impressed with the creativity and skill of Icelanders. They are so bold with their use of colors! They really aren’t afraid to reach out and grab you with their vivid hues!
And just when I had the nerve to say that out loud, Iceland replied, on our last morning there, “Oh, really? Hold my beer.”
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