Part one

My husband, Jess, and I have traveled a lot in the past 10 years. This last trip we took from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, 2023, landed us in Iceland, and I felt compelled to write about it.

It is like no other place on the planet - mystical and magical, for sure. We decided to go at this time of year because you have a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights; however, sadly, we didn’t see them.

Iceland is about the size of the state of Kentucky. Its population is 390,000 people, of which two-thirds live in and around the capital of Reykjavik. It’s amazing when you compare that to New York City alone having 8 million people.

Iceland is one of the most dynamic volcanic regions in the world, shaped by fierce natural forces and straddling the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where activity of divergent tectonic plates bring heat and magma closer to the Earth’s surface. Iceland holds enormous geothermal resources. Today, 90% of all homes in Iceland are heated with geothermal energy.

Our tour started with a trip to the Perlan Observation Deck in Reykjavik to see magnificent 360-degree views of the city and its surroundings. Then, we were off to the beautiful Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church, which is iconic for its gothic architecture. It is one of the tallest structures and the largest church in Iceland.

Next was the famed Golden Circle, and then we were off to Thingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet above ground - and we actually walked through them! Lunch was at the greenhouse of Fridheimar Tomato Farm, which served the best soup we’ve ever had.

It was then off to the Strokkur Geyser, which erupts every seven minutes. It was simply magnificent!

At the end of the day, we went to the Secret Lagoon, the oldest geothermal spa or “swimming pool” in Iceland, which dates back to 1891. The water was 102 degrees Fahrenheit. It was amazing. What makes this place special is the rich natural resources of warm water coming from hot springs.

Read part 2 in next week’s edition.