The island of ice and fire

by Jorge Torró Sanchis (Spain)

A leap into the unknown Iceland

We live in such a big world, unaware of its beauty, for we live anchored to an endless routine that does not allow us to realise how unbeknown the world is to us. It took me long to wake up, but when I did, I decided that I would not be wasting my time anymore by running on a rotating wheel. I closed my eyes and thought of the place that would change my life forever. My conclusion? Iceland: the island where the sun does not set in summer; a kingdom of peace that still remains out of touch with the modern world. When I arrived in that lost paradise, I could not believe my eyes. I found myself in the land of the Northern gods, who created the raging volcanoes and titanic waterfalls on the island of eternal winter. A black and green rocky landscape enlightened by the weak beacons of light that pierced the many clouds in the overcast sky gifted my eyes while I was flying over the Icelandic virgin lands before landing in Reykjavík, the capital city of the country, which covers 471.77/km2 and is considered one of the cleanest, greenest and safest cities in the world. Into the bargain, with a population of around 128,800, it is the world’s northernmost capital. At the hotel, I was welcome by being served a delicious local meal, which was none other than roast lamb—bred locally indeed. Such meat had an unforgettable taste, just like any type of fish that you may try on the island where fire and ice have coexisted since the dawn of history, for fishing is one of the principal drivers of the Icelandic economy. During my unforgettable stay in Wonderland, I visited many places and tried lots of activities. To begin with, on the first day I was driven to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal pool located in the heart of a volcanic landscape. If I had to describe the concept 'peace' with a picture, I would undoubtedly choose a random shot of such a misty natural sauna, the most peculiar service of which is, in my view, its in-water bar. Fortunately, geothermal pools are not the only natural attraction on the island, since plenty of national parks exist across it. I was fortunate to tour the largest and most amazing one: Vatnajökull, which stands out for encompassing all of Vatnajökull glacier, a fact that makes this park unique. Nowhere else on earth, rivers, glacial ice, and volcanic and geothermal activity coexist; therefore, as walking in one of the many majestic mountain ridges, I could stare at the volcano Öræfajökull and Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, which contrasted with outlet glaciers descending onto the lowlands. Of course, I could not leave Iceland before trying some caving. I was recommended to visit Gjabakkahellir cave, which is considered the most amazing cavern in the country, and is just a forty-five-minute’s drive from the capital. As expected, I was not disappointed at all. I walked into the gallery and, all of a sudden, found myself surrounded with a huge variety of colourful rock formations, and stalactites of all shapes and sizes, which was very pleasing to the eye. Then, as I did not intend to miss a detail, I walked through the tunnel as observing the marvellous underground scenery, and went out through the other opening, for the cave is open on both ends, which makes for smoother flow of people. I can say that I made the most of my time in Iceland, although I could not experience the Northern Lights for an obvious reason: I went in the summer! However, now I see it as a positive point, for such a reason will lead me back to the purest land around the globe. I have got to a conclusion: this trip has changed me in many aspects, for such is the essence of travelling: to discover new places, people and cultures in order to keep growing as a person, is not it? Without further ado, if you ever feel like understanding why the Northern gods once decided to settle in such a mystical land, do not hesitate to take the first flight to Iceland.