Iceland > The Reykjanes Peninsula

It is cloudy, with the occasional sprinkle and quite a lot of wind. Fortunately, the weather seems to be improving. Today we are taking a tour of the Reykjanes Peninsula and visiting the Blue Lagoon. Margo suggests visiting the geothermal fields and hot springs first and then going for a swim in the Blue Lagoon. From her experience with previous groups, everyone tends to get sleepy from the warm water.

Iceland - The blue water of the natural bath the Blue Lagoon

We leave the city heading south. Our first stop is the little peninsula of Bessastadir, the residence of the President of Iceland. Interestingly, you can get quite close to his house, with only a small sign marking the point beyond which you may not go. We also visit the nearby church and take a short walk around the area. After that, we continue along the road through the old lava fields. At Reykjanes, we stop at a high bird cliff. The wind here is tremendous. On top of the cliff, you really have to be careful not to be blown away. The wind can only be described as “brisk.” Margo tells us that it is her birthday today. She has baked a sort of cookie as a treat for us and also brought coffee. After this unexpected coffee break, we visit a geothermal field at Reykjanestá with hot springs and boiling mud.

Iceland - A view of Reykjavik The Hallgrimskirkja towers above the city

This is where we get accustomed to the smell of sulfur. We then drive on to the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most famous tourist attractions. It feels a bit strange to realize that the warm water is actually wastewater from the nearby factory. Energy is generated from hot water sources, and the remaining water flows into the Blue Lagoon. The mineral deposits on the bottom give the water its clear blue color. The temperature is perfect, making it an excellent spot for swimming (except for the sulfur smell…). Many tourists visit the lagoon on the way to or from Reykjavik Airport. The sauna above the water source is wonderful. Rubbing the minerals on your skin keeps it feeling youthful. Around four o’clock, we take the bus back to the hotel. In the evening, we planned to eat with Fred and Sytske at the revolving restaurant Perlan above the water reservoirs, but there are no tables available. The hotel receptionist recommends the excellent restaurant Laekjarbrekka in the city center. At this fine restaurant, the four of us enjoy a very cozy last dinner together with puffin, venison, and good wine. The bill is correspondingly hefty… Back at the hotel, we have one final glass of wine.