Lauren and her Prague-resident daughter, Anna, met in Iceland this month for a special birthday celebration. The trip focused mostly on rest and relaxation, ideal in a country surrounded by amazing landscapes and an abundance of thermal waters. Entry requirements were straightforward with a covid test (or recent proof of having covid) and a health form needed to enter. Note that Iceland soon after lifted all their covid-related restrictions. Proof of vaccination will no longer be required to enter. Lauren traveled to Reykjavik first for two nights. The international airport in Keflavik, 45 minutes from town, is quite small and very easy to navigate. Lauren used a shared van service to get into downtown and stayed at the brand new Edition (part of the Marriott family). The city’s newest luxury hotel is located on the waterfront next to the super cool Harpa Concert Hall. A nice location for getting around the city. The staff was so accomodating and the rooms were lovely, albeit a little dark. Heated tile floors in the bathroom were greatly appreciated as the Florida resident tried her best to adjust to the cooler climate. The hotel has a nice coffee shop, an upscale restaurant, a cool lounge/bar vibe, and (a very dark) gym. A spa and rooftop terrace will be added soon. Lauren visited many of the family-friendly attractions in the country’s capital using the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus for some added commentary and also easily moved around on foot (with some good waterproof boots…thanks Di!). She went to The Whale Museum, and Flying Over Island in the Old Harbour area; The Culture Museum and National Gallery in the center of town, and The Perlan Museum surrounded by forest on Oskjuhlid Hill. She also saw a cool light show at the Harpa and went into and to the top of the famous Hallgrímskirkja Church for more great city views. Each place gave her a different view and perspective of Iceland’s history, culture, folklore, and nature. Her favorite place was The Perlan, a rotating and glass-domed building built on top of water tanks affording the most amazing 360-degree views of the region. You can easily spend hours at this museum learning all about how the country was formed and its wildlife, walking through an ice cave, watching a planetarium show about the Northern Lights, and more. Anna joined Lauren at the Silica Hotel located at the Blue Lagoon for a three-night stay. They both used bus services to reach the hotel. Years ago, excess water from a nearby thermal plant formed pools, and these pools were filled with healing minerals that eventually became the top tourist spot in Iceland! The Silica has its own private, thermal pools along with a gym, bar, and breakfast room. The breakfast buffet was abundant and included in the rate. The hotel felt outer-worldly surrounded by lava rock, but with a very peaceful vibe. Lauren and Anna enjoyed a special day at The Retreat, the Blue Lagoon’s spa complete with a variety of body treatments, private pool access, private changing rooms, steam, sauna, cold baths, and a healthy restaurant. They also dined at Lava at the Blue Lagoon…not really to their tastes, but high-end food and service. A private guide/driver then picked them up and took them around the southern coast of the Reykanes Peninsula and through part of the Golden Circle on their way to our next stop in Selfoss. They visited the Geysir geyser and the beautiful Gullfoss Waterfalls and ended with a very special meal at Fridheimar, an actual tomato hothouse that serves delicious tomato soup. Perfect after a cold and snowy day of touring! The up-close encounter with the Icelandic horses at this farm was an added treat. They spent the next three nights at the Hotel 360 outside of Selfoss. Owners Anna and Olafur and their two precious Icelandic sheepdogs make guests feel part of the family. The mid-century modern-style hotel has 13 rooms (including connecting rooms for families) and sits atop a hill with amazing views of the nearby volcanos and valleys. They finally had clear skies one night for an amazing Northern Lights experience. A plentiful breakfast buffet is included and the nightly communal dinner was exceptional.  The hotel’s natural outdoor hot springs pool and spring-fed indoor pool contributed to a relaxing stay. They visited the growing town of Selfoss and also took a day trip into Thorsmork National Park in a super jeep. The cold weather contributed to a somewhat difficult crossing of the rivers to reach the park (they had to be towed out twice), but the views were amazing. They visited caves, glaciers, and the nearby Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. To end the trip, their private driver took them back to Reykjavik for Anna to enjoy the city for a few hours before we headed to the new and comfortable Courtyard Marriot across from the airport for their last night. Next door was a free covid testing center. They met so many wonderful people in their travels including tourists from around the world and the many foreign workers that help with Iceland’s burgeoning hospitality industry. A country of only 345,000 citizens with millions of tourists needs a little extra help. Overall they had a wonderful experience in Iceland and look forward to returning to explore more of this amazing island.