Ice (land), Ice(land), Baby

Time to pack your bags and pin your map on Iceland, a magic country where except the unexploited and majestic landscapes, you can find the prime minister listed in the phone book. If this Nordic gem is still not on your bucket list, you might need to update it. Hop in our car and join us in our journey along Iceland. Being the last place to be settled by humans, Iceland is a true spot where you can see the raw power of our earth. First thing you might think of Iceland , are Northern lights. But believe us, this is just the tip of the iceberg. From slightly quirky and strange, to mystical and fascinating, Iceland can exceed all sorts of your expectations, and it certainly did ours.

Iceland is foss-inating ( foss - waterfall in Icelandic). If you have ever imagined where the elves could be possibly living, you might have been sleeping and seeing Iceland in your dreams. The untamed environment of the country woos the visitors almost all year round. Its pure, pristine nature is the symphony of dramatic landscapes, lava fields, lush valleys and fascinating fjords, glaciers as if they were ice monsters peaking from the water, and waterfalls, waterfalls everywhere. Literally every spot in Iceland is tempting to be added to your photo album. Moreover, your perfect shots will not be disturbed by the power lines. One main road that allows you to travel through the whole country is certainly an adventure to dare. Dazzling Martian landscapes, hardy sheep and ponies on the valleys along the road are true treats for your lifetime experience.

Getting on your vehicle and driving yourself wherever the weather takes you, is the best decision you could possibly make during your stay. Iceland is so well-known for the extreme weather changes that they even have a word for describing a Window-weather (GLUGGAVEÐUR). This is the case when it’s great outside from the window, but not really great to be out. The notoriously variable weather is caused by three different climates, and vary from ocean winds and Reykjavik storms to warm rain and sun on the Golden Circle.

Speaking of Iceland, hot lagoons and mesmerizing Northern lights are here to be mentioned. This place gives you a bucket of choices, of how would you like to spend your day. Are you into getting a drink while relaxing in the steamy water pool of Blue Lagoon under the fresh lava of the Volcano and doing miracles to your skin? Or are you more into observing Aurora borealis photons interacting with chemicals nitrogen and oxygen, creating the real fairy tail on the sky? Say no more! Your spa cravings and beauty admiration can be even combined, while travelling to Iceland.

To fully dive into this Nordic experience, getting to know the lifestyle and people of Iceland Is a must go. If you have stereotypes about Icelanders, it’s time to forget them. Indeed, you can find things, that might sound peculiar and odd about them. To get to know them better, you should hang out with locals, and locals only.

You might think that the cold weather and bare sunshine could be a recipe of misery and depression, but voila! Icelanders never have to choose between urban and nature, they can have it all. The country has been ranked among the happiest nations of the earth. And that is not only for beautiful scenery and no mosquitos at all. The understanding of community concept in Iceland is very high. People cooperate and work together to harvest and survive. The fact that the population of Iceland is pretty much thinning out, they understand that the only thing that really matters is not sun and full bank account, but having each other! This nation even invites you to scream your head and frustration off in Iceland’s dazzling wilderness, and feel happy and relieved, because happiness is a choice and everyone can work it out and achieve it in their own way.

Reykiavik, the capital of the country has the population of 60% of the nation and literally the majority of people here are friends or related, which makes It hard to find an affair. It is not a surprise, as Icelanders have decided to continue the tradition of name system, which is based on patronymic reference. It is always a good idea to check out someone you are interested in romantically in a National Database, for avoiding any drama in future. Running into a friend, while going to the office can totally be an excuse for being late.

The beauty of the nation is definitely something to wow about. The country is beautiful and so are the people inside and out. You can certainly feel exceptional style and vibe that the locals carry here. The feeling of creativity in Iceland is very strong. You will come across wonderful thrift stores and vintage shops, together with flea markets, while taking a walk in the streets. These people definitely have a virtue of making old clothes look very stylish.

Icelanders love art, and culture. You will notice that in every corner, with artsy cafes, painted cute houses, museums and galleries. Almost everyone writes, sings or paints, contributing to a dynamic cultural development. Icelanders love sticking out and publishing books, and even if they are bad at it, nobody will tell them. You will hardly ever see Icelanders being lazy or doing nothing; They love active lifestyle and they really love hanging out. While not being a local, you might think that the people are rude, that is mostly because of the Language specifics (e.g they do not have a word for please) and because you have not seen them drunk on weekends. Locals definitely need good relax and mind clearance on weekends, as they seem to have the longest working week in Europe of up to 45 hours. No surprise that they love to party that hard. Every 1st of March, Icelanders celebrate the beer ban lifted, by taking a good amount of it, even it might hit up to 12 USD a pinch.

Speaking of odd things, some of the Icelanders still believe in mythical creatures, elves and trolls. Even if they don’t directly admit it, they won’t say a strong NO. The old folklore is very respected and rocky mountains might look suspicious, possibly hiding frozen trolls inside them. The attitude towards the mystical creatures is so unique, that Iceland even has as School Dedicated to elves and hidden folk, and that is a place of a total “must see” list while you are in Iceland.

Should you eat like an Icelander? – Of your body will be all happy and thankful when you realize that the food you eating is not only delicious, but sustainable. From tiny hot dog stands and street food shops, to authentic, unique cuisine, Iceland’s food culture will make sure you can eat like a Viking. While eating out is not cheap in Iceland, and the Entrees are starting from 25 USD, it is definitely worth lashing out and treating yourself with Goose salad and Whale steak.

Last but not the least, the rest of the iceberg still needs to be explored. Iceland will never fail to impress you, and It is your choice how you build the Nordic adventure of your lifetime.