How it all started - a love story
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In 2018, we boarded a plane bound for Reykjavik, just a few hours away from an unforgettable adventure.
I was pregnant with our first child, precisely 30 weeks along.
It was cold but sunny; was this the Iceland we'd heard such chilling weather tales about?!
It took only one day to be completely overwhelmed by the whims of Mother Nature, aka Icelandic weather. What started as a sunny day in Reykjavik turned into an unexpected snowstorm within the next two hours as we headed to Snæfellsnes.
Our plans to explore the peninsula were abruptly disrupted. The weather had different plans for us, and we quickly found ourselves in our hotel with nothing but a bowl of cornflakes and a bag of chips for dinner as restaurants weren’t open on that particular day.
Our plans for the next day were quickly shelved because our priority was to be able to leave Olafsvik. You can imagine how relieved we were, that we could leave the charming fishing town, given that some roads were closed.
While cautiously driving and still trying to make the most of our itinerary, I remember most vividly how enchanting I found the white landscape.
After a long journey, we eventually arrived safely in Borgarnes, ready for another day of snow and cold.
One of the first things I would say to future clients as advise, would be about adjusting clothing. We learned this the hard way because, back in 2018, our attire couldn't withstand the wind and cold that characterizes Iceland.
The cold cut through our layers, we were freezing and escaping to the warmth in the car was all I wanted at that moment. The love for Iceland seemed elusive.
The fact that I couldn't walk 150 meters without being extremely exhausted, just added to the frustration. Despite being a beautiful winter wonderland, I cursed Iceland at that moment. Fortunately, the weather forecast brought better news and the weather was supposed to be better for the next day and the days to come. Fingers were crossed, longing for a glimpse of sun.
The next days brought plenty of sun; it seemed like good karma had come our way. Due to my physical condition, exploring Iceland was only superficial, which I still regret. Despite it being superficial, we were definitely able to see the beauty of Iceland.
Nevertheless, we had no idea what else there was to see and explore. What was hidden behind those giant mountains, covered with ice and snow.
Little. Did. We. Know.
We returned home with the feeling we saw a beautiful country, nothing more or less.
And oh, did I forget to mention that I thought I lost my ID just before we left for the airport for our return flight at 5 in the morning?
Yes, that happened.
Still grateful for the flight attendants, who probably felt a bit of sorry for me because of my pregnant belly, for letting me through based on a driver's license and a card with my social security number. Turns out the damn thing was just in my husband's wallet.
Anyway…
Fast forward to 2020, in a world dominated by a famous virus with a name like a beer. (can you tell I'm kind of fed up with the word and that I don't even want to type it anymore?)
Second pregnancy, second trip to Iceland. It was our little tradition that I'm extremely glad we kept.
This time everything was different. Literally.
No bustling tourism. No rush. Also, no personal space because we had our two-year-old son with us.
26 days with the three of us, exploring Iceland at the pace of naps - with both my son and I - and a 27-week pregnancy.
This has been the trip that made us fall completely in love with Iceland. The magic of the land crept into our hearts and it left a mark that we couldn't erase. We saw a sparkle in our little boy's eyes, a feeling we recognized because we felt it too.
We saw waterfalls that we didn't have to share with a gazillion other people. We were alone on our hikes - which was fortunate because no one could hear me cursing while hiking -. We were lonely while driving on roads with the most beautiful views. We sang songs while my husband carried our son on his back.
We felt so free there.
A fire was ignited for the land of ice and fire (yes, pun very much intended), and for
that one time, I was grateful for that annoying virus.
Little side note: our clothing was completely adapted by then, which obviously helped.
Do I still need to say that we seize every opportunity to travel to Iceland, or was that already clear?
A few trips followed, with just the two of us and by myself. And each and every time, Iceland touches me deeply. It brings a kind of peace of mind I can’t find anywhere else.
My trips have allowed me to acquire quite an extensive knowledge about Iceland and I still feel the urge to discover more of what the breathtaking nature has to offer. My passion grows with each visit and that I can combine this passion with my passion for photography makes me intensely happy and keeps me motivated to go the extra mile in order to pursue them.
