Arriving in Iceland – exploring the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Sky Lagoon, and just getting my bearings in a new country.

After a year of planning and waiting, I made it to Iceland. A long and turbulent flight from Phoenix to Minneapolis where I almost missed my connection, to a long and sleep free flight to Iceland, I landed at 730 a.m. I get my rental car, and have the entire day to try and stay awake. What to do, what to do….

I had a basic itinerary laid out, but with only mere suggestions of places to go and things to do. I like to travel this way sometimes, just let the day take hold and see what comes my way. I get accustomed to kilometers and the landscape of the Reykjanes Peninsula as I drive along, enjoying the cool sea air and the volcanic land around me. I see a sign for the Bridge of Continents, and make this my first stop. No one else is here. I find a trail and just start walking out in this new, foreign land. The ocean is visible in the distance, but the sense of how open this country is with it’s lack of people is already settling in. I love this feeling.

A billowing cloud of smoke or steam is spotted off in the distance. I make my way closer and find a hot spring, although one that is not safe for humans to soak in.

I keep walking towards a lighthouse on top of a hill, and hear the ocean waves breaking against the shore. I see that I need to start heading towards Reykjavik, the capital, as I have a soak booked at the Sky Lagoon. I leave the Reyjkanes Peninsula and navigate the roads towards town. Driving in this country is easier than I’d have imagined. I’m grateful for this.

I can’t recall why I chose the Sky Lagoon for a soak over the more well known Blue Lagoon, but probably because I wanted to try something less well known. I can’t say if it’s better or worse than the Blue Lagoon, but I loved my soak here. Basalt rock towers line the soaking area, and it’s on the edge of the bay, with great views out into the ocean as well as the city itself.

It was exactly what I needed to rejuvenate my body from the long air travel. After my soak I still had a couple of hours before my hotel check in, so I thought I would go just outside the city into the highlands.

Seeing these mountains really got me excited for the days to come. I found a hike just off the road to test out my legs on this volcanic terrain. Feeling good but sleepy, I head back to town, get checked in and fill my belly with grub and drink in the local pub.

Tomorrow I start my epic Ring road adventure, driving around the coast of Iceland over the next eight days.