Alex's parents were rewarded for seven years of hard work with a two month sabbatical. They planned an awesome trip abroad and were very sweet to invite us along! We gladly accepted. We have spent the past nine days exploring Iceland and Scotland with the family. It was an amazing trip with experiences we will likely never have again. We started the journey with an overnight trip to Iceland where we went straight from the airport to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa with silica mud known for its amazing effects on skin. It is one of the wonders of the world! The weather was crazy with thirty degree temperatures and micro climate conditions that would change every ten minutes. It would snow for a little bit, switch to hail then it would be beautifully sunny. It was so interesting (and chilly). We spent our second and last day in Iceland on a bus tour, exploring other gorgeous spots in the country. It was a great way to start our first family vacation in nine months!
Blue Lagoon
There was a lot of hail and snow when we first got to the Blue Lagoon. Before you can even go into the water, you are supposed to shower and condition your hair so that it doesn't feel like straw later. We had to walk out to the water in our robes then quickly hop in. The water can be as hot as 104 degrees and we loved the heat. Harper was so comfortable, she fell asleep for half of the experience.
We tried to capture some of NB in the picture.
It was so beautiful.
We met up with Eric and Andrea in Boston on our way to Iceland. They came to Iceland with the family for a fun filled two days.
Enjoying a few minutes of sun.
After a couple hours of swimming, we had lunch at the restaurant at the Blue Lagoon.
It started to snow again before we left.
One minute it was just cloudy.
The next it was hailing!
Goodbye Blue Lagoon!
We loved our hotel room in Reykjavik.
While Harper and I took a long nap after the Blue Lagoon, Alex, Eric and Dave went into town to explore. They found an Icelandic Punk Museum.
Our second day in Iceland was spent on a tour bus going around to different must see spots near Reykjavik. We started at a tomato farm.
There was a big greenhouse full of tomato plants. They had a little bar where you could purchase different tomato products including tomato beer, bloody Mary drinks, tomato ice cream and tomato soup, of course.
I got the ice cream and it was amazing.
Tomato beer
Andrea, Eric and Michele enjoyed their tomato snacks.
From the greenhouse we went to see a geyser geothermal park. This park is where a geyser was first described in nature and was named, Geysir. The hot springs cause the entire area to be steamy and smell like sulfur. We were able to see the most active geyser in Iceland, Strokkur, which erupts every one to ten minutes.
Harper loved Strokkur.
Geysir, which no longer erupts.
Before the geysers erupt, they start to bubble.
Then they get more steamy.
And then they shoot!
After the geyser geothermal park, we headed over to see Gullfoss, one of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls. It was amazing!
Did I mention how cold it was?!
Alex hiked down to see the waterfall from a different view while Harper and I had hot drinks in the cafe with Emily and the kids.
Our next stop was Thingvellir National Park. The park is situated in a rift valley caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The views were beautiful, but it sure was a chilly hike. Michele stayed on the bus with the sleeping babies while the rest of us hiked along the North American tectonic plate.
There is a lot of lava rock in Iceland. Here you can see imprints of flowing lava.
Frank and Alex
Alex and Emily with the North American tectonic plate.
After the bus tour, we went out for a quick dinner then walked around Reykjavik a bit.
I liked the Icelandic nautical look of the buildings.
I got a crepe nutella for dessert that was delicious.
Harper had some ice cream!
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