Adventures, anecdotes and advice from three months exploring Iceland
With their bright orange beaks and white-feathered faces, puffins are far and away Iceland's favorite bird. Ten million of the little guys make their home here, and though they generally colonize cliffs or off-shore islands, there are opportunities to spot them even in Reykjavík. It was to this end that we hopped on a boat departing the city harbor.
Geologically speaking, Iceland is one of the Earth's newborns. The island didn't even exist until after the age of dinosaurs had passed, and it was the last European territory to be settled. Iceland continues to grow, still firmly in its adolescence, but its short history has been a volatile one. Whether they've been dealing with abusive Danes, glaciers, the plague or volcanic ash, Icelanders have had it rough. Here's a rundown of the biggest events in the country's history.
Our first excursion out of Reykjavík was a day trip to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon on the country's southeast coast. With its powder blue icebergs floating, bobbing and flipping atop the water's surface, Jökulsárlón has become one of Iceland's most famous sights. Justifiably so.
A light-gray concrete space shuttle pointed to the stars, the Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík's most instantly recognizable landmark. Set atop a hill, the Lutheran church is visible from miles away, and its tower offers one of the best views of the city.
Reykjavík is more than just Iceland's biggest city. It's Iceland's only city. Really, even calling it a "city" feels like an affront to its spirit. Despite claiming two-thirds of the country's total population, Reykjavík is closer to an overgrown village than a major European capital.
Iceland, a small island stranded in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic, was our home for 91 days. The country's 300,000 citizens lay claim to some of Europe's most remote and beautiful terrain. Massive glaciers, simmering volcanoes, geothermal pools, puffin colonies, Viking sagas, whales and nerve-wracking road trips conspired to provide us with an exhilarating summer.
