Iceland

I take in the sheer isolation & raw, rugged nature,  

Ensconced in my fleece sweater & my wind-breaker.

The fickle weather & howling wind,

My thoroughly useless umbrella…last, it didn’t!

Along the coast, we begin our amazing drive,

Face snowstorms, rain & an itinerary gone awry.

Braving the elements, we go on, we persist. 

The charms of this enchanting place, we can’t resist!

Armed with maps & GPS, in our 4-wheel drive,

Sometimes in super-jeeps, with wheels 3’ high!

Some twisty, some windy, some gravel roads,

Lead to overwhelmingly scenic & humbling fjords!

Picturesque villages & glorious sights,

Skies adorned with rainbows, stars & northern lights.

Turf roof buildings & farms strewn with hay bales,

Redolent of memories of Vikings & gruesome saga tales.

A tree-less land, with a geology that’s unique!         

Continental rifts & bubbling sulphurous vents that reek.

Exploding geysers that induce child-like glee,

Black sand beaches & lakes that are eerie.

Brooding volcanoes & vast lava fields,

Desolate light-houses & stormy seas,

                                      

Rock formations & strange lunar landscapes,

Waterfalls & Glaciers, for solitude-filled escapes.

Sunrises, sunsets & glowing full moons,

A boat ride on the ethereal glacial lagoon.

Pretty Icelandic Horses with ‘salon-styled’ manes,

Sheep-dotted verdure & seas filled with whales.       

Togged in waterproofs, photography in the rain,

The fun glacier hike over un-familiar terrain.

A winter spent in hot tubs & pools,

Bobbing around in the relaxing Blue Lagoon.

Art, Music, Fashion, Museums & Sculptures,

The Airwaves music festival, the live concerts.

Quirky churches abound, which one is my fave?

The one on the hillock or the one by the bay?

Shopping at ‘Bonus’ & ‘10-11’ for fruits & snacks,

Credit cards used everywhere, we were taken aback!

Endless cups of yummy ‘Skyr’ & Gas station meals,

Omnipresent French fries, for vegetarians like me.

A country without an army, that hosts the ‘Tower of peace’,

Friendliness & honesty, qualities that come to Icelanders with ease.

Someday, I hope to return. Maybe in summer, maybe autumn.

People ‘do Iceland’ in a week….. How? I can’t fathom!

Curious to know more about Iceland, our trip & our itinerary? Read on:

About Iceland & Our experience:

http://nomadandabag-guides.blogspot.com/2013/01/iceland-our-experience.html

Itinerary, useful information & tips:

http://nomadandabag-guides.blogspot.com/2013/01/iceland-information-tips-itinerary.html

A photo-essay about my drive around coastal Iceland:
http://nomadandabag.blogspot.com/2013/11/coasting-around-iceland.html