I’ve returned to Reykjavik on a girls trip. I love love loved Iceland on my last trip here so was so excited to return.
We stayed at the Ocean Comfort Apartments which was perfect for 3 or us sharing and was located in the city centre.
We went to Laundromat Cafe for breakfast on our first morning. A very quirky but great breakfast joint which was created as an eccentric way to combine laundry and socialising in nice, comfortable surroundings where you could eat, drink, read, do your laundry and browse the Internet.
We spent most of the day exploring the town, which was as interesting as I remember. I purchased silver Christmas decorations and a reindeer rug which is absolutely beautiful. We booked tours for the next few days, two of which I did last time I was here but with such beautiful scenery I had no issue participating in them again. Just as last time, the snowmobiling was incredible on the glacier, and we had beautiful bright sunny days and crisp temperatures to give us that great Nordic feeling.
Read about my trip to Iceland 2 years ago: Beautiful Reykjavik
The big highlight of this trip for me was visiting The Blue Lagoon. The geothermal water originates 2,000 metres below the surface, where freshwater and seawater combine at extreme temperatures. It is then harnessed via drilling holes at a nearby geothermal power plant, Svartsengi, to create electricity and hot water for nearby communities.
On its way to the surface, the water picks up silica and minerals, before emerging at a soothing 38°C (100°F). Perfect for a relaxing and re-energising bathe.
6 MILLION LITRES FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH
We spent some time relaxing in the main lagoon, and I also did an ‘in-water’ massage which was incredible. It began with a scrub above water to improve circulation and then Blue Lagoon silica mud, which cleanses and exfoliates the skin is applied all over before the masseuse carefully pulled the mat I was lying on into the water. It is very buoyant, but most of my body was submerged. It was a very bizarre feeling, and although it sounds odd, the best comparison I can make is how a baby must feel in the womb. The water is warm, I’m wrapped in a soft flannel, gently floating while a relaxing massage is performed using Blue Lagoon massage oil, which encourages balance and wellness. So comforting I almost fell asleep…
WHY IS THE WATER BLUE?
The geothermal water has a unique composition, featuring three active ingredients – Silica, Algae & Minerals.
The blue colour comes from the silica and the way it reflects sunlight. During summer there can also be a hint of green in the water. This is the result of the algae, which multiplies quickly when exposed to direct sunlight.
What many visitors may be surprised to know is that the hot water we sat in is part of a remarkable journey by one country from oil dependence to a world leader in harnessing renewable energy.
Iceland’s stunning scenery, with its bare, lava-strewn flats, snow-capped mountain ranges, glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs, is due to its location on one of the earth’s major fault lines, the mid-Atlantic ridge. While this landscape is attracting an increasing number of tourists each year, the country’s geographical peculiarities also mean that Iceland is the only country in the world that can claim to obtain 100% of its electricity and heat from renewable sources.
We had booked a northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, tour out on the water. This was my second attempt to see The Northern Lights and this unique boat cruise left Reykjavik’s coast in an effort to locate the natural phenomenon far away from the city lights.
The northern lights (aurora borealis) create a natural light formation in the sky in the Arctic’s upper atmosphere, about 80 km high. The overwhelming appearance was named by the French philosopher Pierre Gassendi after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas.
It was bitterly cold, but we were kept entertained with stories of myths and superstition behind the beautiful northern lights. But again, sadly, I was not lucky enough to see the lights…. perhaps 3rd time lucky.
Source: www.bluelagoon.com