Landscape Archives - Page 5 of 5

On the last leg of our Europe trip, we planned a layover in Iceland for three days during our return trip to preview the country. (It was also significantly cheaper to purchase flights with a layover in Iceland than purchase direct return flights). We quickly had our breaths taken away of Iceland’s natural beauty and it was clear that we would be returning for a longer stay in the future.

That doesn’t mean we couldn’t see a lot in just a few short days. If you only have a short amount of time in Iceland, the Golden Circle route is only 300 kilometers (186 miles), which means you can cover plenty ground with a rented car. Many of Iceland’s most visited and iconic spots are situated on this route and enabled us to get a glimpse of the natural beauty the country has to offer.

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One of the stops we made was at the famous Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls. It’s only 1.5 hours away from Reykjavik and 2 hours away from Blue Lagoon. The waterfall’s height is an impressive 60 meters (200 feet), but what makes it truly unique and one-of-a-kind is you are able to hike behind the waterfall. It is mesmerizing and you can really feel the power of the falls with the windy mist it generates.

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With the mist constantly being thrown in every direction by the waterfall, it may be advisable to bring a waterproof jacket or rain poncho to keep dry and warm. It can also be a challenge photographing behind the falls because of the mist. I had to constantly and quickly wipe mist off my lens every few seconds just to avoid having water droplets in my photos. And there are access points to the back of the falls on both sides of the waterfall, which allows you to see the falls at every angle possible and maybe find some drier areas.

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Seljalandsfoss is no doubt a must visit on the Golden Circle and can provide many picturesque opportunities for visitors and photographers. If you are afforded a longer stay, there are places to stay and you can camp near the falls, which may provide some other amazing photo opportunities.

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We were only in Iceland for a few days but we really believe it’s the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s hard not to enjoy and relax when you have sweeping views of its breathtaking landscapes and pristine natural wonders.

But if you need to take your relaxation to the next level, then you definitely have to check out the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa.

Only a 45-minute drive from the capital of Reykjavik, it is a very popular attraction in Iceland. As its name suggests, the lagoon is generally a blue color, although its color varies by the time of day. The facility is a modern contemporary design and has a restaurant, a couple lounges, and a gift shop.

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Of course, the main attraction is the lagoon. The price of standard admission is 45 Euro, but we bought a “comfort” package that included admission, towels, drinks and some skin care products. In order to keep the lagoon as clean as possible, there are strict rules we have to follow. You have to leave your shoes in your lockers and they can’t be taken outside of the locker room. Before entering the lagoon, you have to shower and dry yourself off and you’ll have to do the same when exiting the lagoon to the locker room.

Once we got into the lagoon, that’s when the fun and relaxation began. Temperatures of the waters are around a nice 40 degrees Celcius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) and there are a variety areas to enjoy different experiences. There is a bar in the middle of the lagoon to order beverages, from cocktails to coffee or hot chocolate. The lagoon is shallow throughout but there are some deeper areas to swim in and I loved sitting near the vents where the hot water shoots out. There are also waterfalls, caves and you can even opt for a massage in the lagoon. You can also put on Silica mud on your face and body, which is supposed to be good for your skin. At the very least, it’s fun to put on and goof off!

Because the lagoon is rich in minerals, the lagoon is known to have healing powers for those with skin conditions and there are research facilities that use the lagoon for developing skin treatments. We were a little skeptical of this claim but we may have also seen a firsthand experience of its healing powers. A few days prior, Mat’s mom developed a pretty severe eye infection that made her eye very red and itchy. We tried antibiotics but they did not help to cure the infection and she had to wear an eyepatch, but she was still up for taking a dip in the lagoon. After spending just a little time in the lagoon, she said her eye started to feel a little better. A couple hours later, we saw she no longer needed the eyepatch and her eye looked much less red. By the next day, her eye was practically healed and we were pretty stunned at the progress of her healing. We didn’t have an explanation for it other than our trip to the lagoon, so if you have troubling skin, it may a great place to receive some healing!

Not only is Blue Lagoon a place of relaxation, but it is also very beautiful part of Iceland’s landscape and is a must-visit attraction. For more information, you can visit their website.