The third batch of love letters of Iceland is here

My friends and partners at Sleipnir Tours offered me their exquisite Sleipnir necklace by Icelandic artist Óttar Gauti Guðmundsson. They generously provided two necklaces—one for me and one for you, my readers, with a 20% online discount code. Simply subscribe to my newsletter for the code.

I pondered how to engage my readers with this necklace. A newsletter competition seemed ideal: ask subscribers why they love Iceland, and the best response wins the necklace. Little did I expect the flood of heartfelt messages describing their affection for my country. Choosing a winner became a delightful challenge! Reading these messages, I realized they could inspire others, and to my surprise, everyone was happy to share their love for Iceland. A heartfelt thank you to all who shared their affection. In case you missed it, here is the first love letter to Iceland I published, and here is a second batch of love letters to Iceland. Here’s a batch of love letters to Iceland:

I love the clean and fresh Icelandic water

Clean, fresh water I can drink from the streams
But most of all, I love Iceland because Icelanders protect Iceland so fiercely, and that’s never changed. I’m planning my 20th trip to Iceland now.
Pat

Otherworldly life in Iceland

Its beauty is just breathtaking, pure and raw and ever changing. I feel nature has given Iceland the upper hand in terms of giving the feeling of otherworldly life, the dramatic changes in seasons and landscape, the lupins, the waterfalls , glaciers  to snowstorms capture everyone’s imagination, coupled with the mind blowing northern lights it’s the complete package for everyone. I’m returning in January after what seems a lifetime of being apart and I can’t wait to feel the embrace of all Iceland has to give .

Carol

The tough love of Iceland

Like every good love story, it started with a joke and a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding was that I was to organize a trip to Iceland – the land that I would be able to find on the map, but that was about it.
It wasn’t a joke, and I was expected to do it. Luckily, I was given plenty of time to do it. But where to start planning a visit to a country you know nothing about?!

So I started my research. I researched about places, people, customs, weather, history, legends, food, good things and wrong, and other people’s experiences; I read many articles and looked at many photos and videos.
A big, unexpectedly amazing jigsaw puzzle formed in front of me, and I was discovering new pieces every day and putting them in place, falling in love with the picture that was coming together. Here, behind the screen of my laptop.

Magnetic attraction

And the day came when we landed at Keflavik. And it felt so strange and so familiar at the same time. Dark rain and the strong, cold wind were my first taste of Iceland. However, it felt like I’d experienced it a thousand times before.

And every next step was just beating the odds that were every day more and more against us, but at the same time, falling deeper and deeper for the wonder and the magnetic attraction the land was showing. I remembered how my friend once said that if you want to survive in Iceland, you must be strong like a Viking. Otherwise, it would just spit you out.

And I felt just like that – not wanted and pushed away, but at the same time given the chance to feel nature’s peace and silence, see the vivid colors of autumn, and smell the misty mountain peaks in the morning.
The complicated love Iceland gave me is the same love that trapped my heart and mind forever. And it’s not just the waterfalls and puffins; it’s not the liquid fire and ice rocks; it’s not Aurora and whales; it’s not black beaches and turf houses, moss and lava fields, seals, sheep, and horses; it’s all together existing in unparallel harmony, waiting to be enjoyed, admired and respected.

Constantly searching for Iceland

And that’s maybe why I’ll look at the clear sky this evening searching for Aurora, knowing I will not see it. Maybe that’s why when I walk by the lake, I’ll wait for the warmth of the water and the sulfur smell. However, I’ll get cold sprinkles from my dog running into it.

And that’s maybe why I so much look forward to rain and Bora* wind because I will close my eyes, feel the strong wind and rain on my face, and imagine that I just stepped out of Keflavik airport again and hugged the wild and fantastic spirit of breath and heart taking Iceland.

Morana

The Allure of Iceland: Nature’s Wonderland

Góðan daginn!

I first visited Iceland in 2006 – I’d just bought my first SLR camera and wanted something interesting to take photos of, not just the garden or the cat!

We were only there for a few days but fell in love! I’ve visited 11 times, which people think is a lot, but I’m sure that pales compared to many who love Iceland. Every time I visit, I tick off certain things but only seem to add more to the list.

Although I have visited the north, I would like to spend more time there and see puffins in the east – I would love some direct flights to the north from the UK! The other main area that needs to be added is the west fjords; we need to add that. Most of my trips are shorter, and it’s hard to get far from west Iceland and back again – I need to win that lottery!

Loving the Icelandic band Vök

One of my most memorable trips was in 2021. I spent a fantastic few days on Westman Islands and saw puffins and tiny white and little grey, hiked and saw the volcano, and got to see my favorite Iceland band, Vök, who happened to be playing in Reykjavik through complete luck!!

I’ve seen Vök three times in Iceland. The band has been the main reason for My last two visits. I just got back last week after seeing their 10th-anniversary show at Harpa, which was amazing to be part of. I also went to a gig with a French couple I’d previously met at a vök gig in Antwerp -making friends because of Iceland and vök! There was more luck, too, as Ásgeir was playing in Keflavík the day we both arrived, so we got to see him play in Iceland, which is always special.

My favorite café in Hafnarfjörður

I have a couple of friends I met up with that I’ve got to know their social media in Iceland and photography. I always love to visit Pallet Kaffi in Hafnarfjörður – I stayed in Hafnarfjörður on a visit once in 2016; I was gutted that I only found out about them just after I returned from that trip -so now I go there as much as I can when I’m over. There are such lovely owners and vibes there.

Though just to add that *technically* my first visit was in the mid-90s when, as a family, we flew to the USA with Iceland Air, and it stopped for a few hours at Keflavík, as I was younger then. I don’t remember much, but we couldn’t leave the airport, which was tiny! It never got light, and I only saw the landscape when taking off, and it was like the moon. I think I was always intrigued from then. And then one of my favorite comedians, Eddie Izzard, did a TV documentary show traveling around various countries doing stand-up. Iceland was featured in it, and I always remembered that too – I guess it became inevitable to visit!

I don’t know if that adequately explains the obsession, but a little bit of an insight 😃

I even love the Icelandic weather!

What is not to love about Iceland?! I had always wanted to visit the land of fire and ice; just being called that makes it sound exciting! Then, in 2012, I was transferred to a new store with my job. There I had thee privilege of working with 2 Icelandic sisters. Their good nature, good humor, and kindness were unparalleled. They both returned to Iceland in time, but we stayed in touch. One short year after the 2nd one was born, I visited with my then three-year-old daughter and was hooked!

Indescribable feeling

The feeling I have when I am there cannot be put into words. It’s like a sense of belonging, euphoria, love and adoration, joy, and positive, happy comments! That was back in 2018. We have visited at least once every year since then, drawn back like a magnet (we enjoy meeting up with our friends also!!). I love the people, the culture, the history, the landscape, even the weather! We are also learning Icelandic to help us feel more a part of your beautiful country 😊

Iceland is my heart home, and I will return as often as I can, for as long as I can ❤️

Thank you for the opportunity,

Best wishes

Karen

Sustaining myself with Iceland videos

My thoughts of going to Iceland started during the lockdown. I was also going through chemo for breast cancer. Exept for doctor’s appointments, I was pretty much confined to my house. I watched every YouTube video that Valur from YourFriendinReykjavik filmed. It got me through some of my life’s most challenging, darkest days. I just spent ten days with friends touring the island on Route 1. I love it so much there, the waterfalls, the people, and the peace that you feel around you. My hope is that your Island stays peaceful and safe.

Thank you, Icelanders, for allowing us to visit your peace of paradise.

Judy