A land of fire and ice. A dichotomy that captivates the imagination, but fails to fully encompass the sheer, raw beauty of this chaotic land. Around every turn of the Ring Road is a new topography; some idyllic and serene, others harsh and desolate. The weather is just as unpredictable – in one moment the never-ending sunlight bathes you in warmth and comfort, in the next you are hidden under a dense fog or chilled to the bone from an icy glacial wind. The only constant is the beauty and friendliness of Iceland’s people, though they are few and far between.

Iceland had been atop both our travel bucket lists for a number of years, but limited airline service made a non-rev trip difficult to plan, until an increased summer schedule was released for 2014. We planned our excursion for the first weekend of service, and embarked on one of the most captivating adventures of our lives.

Our first glimpse of the Martian landscape

Our first glimpse of the Martian landscape

As noted on the About page, we travel often, but in order to balance our careers with our passion, the trips are short and sweet. Typically I don’t mind the quick jaunts across the globe, as we pride ourselves on our ability to have unique and fulfilling experiences on a tight time budget. In Iceland, however, I lamented not being able to stay an extra week…or two. Four days on the southern coast left an indelible impression, and I left yearning for more time as I never had before.

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From our first dip in the Blue Lagoon to our last meal in the midnight sun, our days in Iceland were filled with gleaming light, dynamic landscapes, distinctive arctic foods and warm smiles from the beautiful people. Welcome to our first series, where I’ll share our standby woes and how we dealt with them, our favorite foods, activities and the lasting memories from our quick sojourn to Iceland. Posts will be every Monday and Friday, enjoy!