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Taking the first step was so satisfying. Each crunch of the soft white snow beneath my feet echoed in my surroundings. This was a journey of adventure. Tall, intimidating mountains and their jagged edges peeked between the blankets of snow which covered them. Besides my footsteps there was silence. Calm. Peace. I was wrapped up well to try and deflect some of the harsh Icelandic winds, which for those who don’t know are very unforgiving. I was venturing out into the wilderness in southern Iceland. Heading for the small and well-hidden Selljavallalaug Pool, one of the oldest outdoor swimming pools in Iceland had been on my bucket list for some time now. The naturally heated pool is nestled deep in the mountains and away from everyday civilization. It was the middle of March and conditions were fair. The snowstorms of previous days had now subsided, which provided a much more tolerable environment for the hike. The mountains were also sheltering me from the persistent winds. I truly was on my own in the mountains. Small shivering snowflakes began falling around me and brightened up the glowing hills even more. As my phone signal had failed, I now relied on following the footsteps of past adventurers, a rough sense of direction and the slightly raised paths of packed snow. The silence is fading now. I can see a river in the distance. It gets closer and the sound of its presence clearer with every step. What had started as a rustling was now becoming a much more profound burble. I could see water lapping down the side of the mountain, snaking through the crevasses of rock that surrounded my path. The river is so clear and looks soft. Dunking my fingers was however a reminder of where I was… gloves back on! I passed across the river using stones and boulders laid by others who had tackled the obstacle. Once safely across and on my way again I paused for a second. Something was compelling me to just stand and listen. With each short breath, I couldn’t help but feel more and more relax and present. I couldn’t help but smile to myself and feel such an inner warmth whilst out here alone. I closed my eyes and listened harder. Nothing. Just the trickle of water a stone’s throw away. Who knew that being alone in such an empty space could be so fulfilling? This wasn’t what I’d expected at all, feeling so calm and warm whilst being so isolated gave me new gratitude and feeling of inner peace. No worries. No fear of being lost. Just intense freedom. I continued to walk now. After just a few hundred meters I had arrived at the pool which seemed to pop up from nowhere. There was nobody else here. The changing rooms were grotty and unkempt. This was an anti-climax. One thing was for sure though, I hadn’t walked all this way in the blistering cold not to take a dip in this ancient pool! This was it the moment I’d been waiting for all day. After slipping into my shorts (yes you read that correctly), I was ready. I scurried over to the pool's edge and slowly climbed down the steel steps. The water was lukewarm, an improvement from the air temperature. As my feet touched the base of the pool, I quickly retracted them. The pool (or was it a pond) was as unkempt as the changing rooms. Lined with Algae and muck. EW! After a quick dry down and change of attire, I set out to retrace my steps. I paused as I had earlier. I had just realized something quite amazing. It’s not always the things that we set out to achieve or to see that give us the most happiness in life. I couldn’t help but grin profusely. I was rounding off my Trip to Iceland with an experience that had completely changed my perspective on life. An experience that I would take with me forever. A story that I could always look back to in times of uncertainty or struggle.