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Published: August 13th 2012
Healing Waters
Take the cure.Some stories begin in the middle and work their way backwards ……this story begins on day two of our trip with us soaking in the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon, Iceland discussing the events of the previous two days.
The Blue Lagoon, along with the excellent hotel of the same name would prove to be the best medicine for these two weary travelers.
These waters are heavenly and the rich mineral content of sulfur and silica are said to have medicinal value, especially to those suffering from psoriasis. We found them to be utterly relaxing and if they do indeed possess extra value due to their content, all the more reason to hop in and enjoy.
The waters are courtesy of the nearby geothermal plant, which takes the vented water from the ground all for the express reason of making people totally relaxed. It’s like the world’s largest hot tub. The waters take on an almost iridescent glow at night, which does not come until after ten o’clock at this latitude in August and provide a wonderful night’s sleep to any traveler, weary or otherwise.
Yes, we are
Their chef can cook!
Langoustines that melt in your mouth... currently experiencing 19 hours of daylight.
Sit back while we tell you a short story about our time leading up to this long awaited soak in these shimmering mineral pools. In our world travels we have been extremely lucky when we travel with luggage, connections and weather. This time we hit a couple of small bumps.
Our drive from California to Ohio was wonderful, peaceful and a time to unwind.
The Bard of course said it best. “The best laid plans of mice and men…..you know the rest. If you’re an experienced traveler, you have undoubtedly run up against a situation where your travel plans change at the last minute. The odd thing is that it happened to us before we even left the U.S. We were puttering about on the day of our departure, trying to tie up loose ends. This usually involves a little of this and some of that, mostly the little details.
Our journey is different from most as we will be gone over four months, so it came as quite the shock when our flight from Dayton, Ohio to New York City was
cancelled a mere five hours before departure. Now Dayton does not possess the largest of airports and of course the airlines aren’t the most customer friendly under most circumstances. Our flight from Dayton was to take us to our jumping off point of NYC, which would take us to the magical land of Iceland.
Trying to book another flight to get us to NYC on a Friday afternoon would no doubt present challenges…..and it most certainly did. Fortunately, MJ suggested we just go to the airport and see what we could do to re-book. Smart woman. We were incredibly lucky and drew possibly the warmest airline agent in the world in the airport who booked us on a flight west to Minneaplolis/St. Paul and then to Reykjavik. We would actually arrive a few hours earlier than planned! What luck!
And so we landed in Iceland, tired from the overnight excursion, but nonetheless, ready to have at it. We breezed through customs and then stood for quite a while at the luggage carousel. No manner of pleading, cajoling or prayer would help, as our luggage never made the voyage from Minnesota. We were tired and
in need of sleep and our amenities, but pressed on.
guggabraga , a fellow travel blogger, who we hired to be our guide for our time in Iceland met us and we took off for the Golden Circle tour of her homeland (more on that in a future blog). You land here and immediately realize that it is a place unlike any other you have seen. It is a smallish island nation in the North Atlantic that possesses unique and stunning beauty. After a night’s rest in Reykjavik, we moved on to more touring and the Blue Lagoon, where you found us at the beginning of this blog.
As we sat in the pools we discussed our canceled flight, our luck of getting re-booked on a flight that would deliver us earlier
Brutus
enjoys the healing mineral pools than our original flight along with excitement that our luggage caught up with us at the Blue Lagoon. We were in heaven!
It was a very pleasant voyage and ended at an exquisite vista near one of Iceland’s power plants. Seems almost the entire country is powered by geothermal energy.
This is the reward for living on the tectonic plates which separate North America from Europe. The landscape was filled with moss-covered lava rocks and can best be described as extra planetary to most.
Before soaking in the pools we found ourselves able to put on clean clothes, indulge in an exquisite meal at the restaurant aptly named Lava. You’ll only have to look at the food photos to realize how serious this chef is. A true taste treat.
In the past, we’ve read a couple of blogs that argued the merits of going to the Blue Lagoon because it is a commercial pool. All of us want to get out and experience the raw nature that Iceland has to offer and we cannot argue that point. We hope while we are here to experience smaller non-commercial pools. But—with that said we
Dave
We've arrived...time to test the waters. must encourage you to go to the Blue Lagoon. We would have a hard time giving you our opinion without sounding like a commercial because we enjoyed it so much.
We learned a couple of tidbits we would like to share with you if you are considering going. When we first saw the Blue Lagoon our hearts sank because the parking lot was filled with several large, very large buses. The pools were crowded.
We continued on to our hotel and checked in and learned that there a specific times that they recommend for hotel guest. We heeded their advice…..as it turns out all the buses are day-tripping from Reykjavik and they leave early evening. If you are staying at the hotel you have quiet and secluded time with a handful of guest. As it neared 10pm there were only 8 or 10 of us left in the water. It was quiet and peaceful.
The other advantage to staying at the Blue Lagoon hotel is that they have their own set of mineral pools, which you can enjoy anytime of day. These pools are not at all crowded. It is an
amazing setting. With our advancing age we have enjoyed soaking. The view of the hills from our room was spectacular.
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Maisondubonheur
Pierre-Alexandre
/they are back on the road...well..I know...already for a few days!
Great to read your Icelandic adventures....I saw blue water, but more in the north as I gave a pass to the blue lagoon...for the crazy silfra....fun...we had patagonia lamb tonight....trust me, it was a hunt...was good, yours look great. So happy to be able to read you guys!