Sabbatikos

In April 2019, we experienced Iceland for the first time, a two-night layover on our journey back from Berlin, Prague, and Krakow. The moment we arrived, we were captivated by Iceland’s stark beauty and charming capital city, so much so that we spent every spare moment plotting ways to extend our stay. Though we couldn’t manage to prolong our visit, we left with a vow: someday, we would return to this land of ice and fire!

Fast forward to December 2019, we treated ourselves to early bird tickets for Iceland Airwaves 2020. For just $100, we secured entry to a four-day international music festival in the enchanting city of Reykjavik, Iceland’s vibrant and colorful capital. Our grand plan was to return in mid-November for a weeklong adventure, following a week in Ireland. But, as the world came to a standstill with the onset of COVID-19, both trips were regretfully postponed until 2021. It was very disappointing as the acts for 2020 had already been announced by the time we were informed it had been postponed; Black Pumas, Courtney Barnett, Of Monsters and Men, and Kælan Mikla (my favorite Icelandic dark and dreary band which I discovered on our first trip to Iceland). Despite reassurances that the same acts would return in 2021, the Iceland Airwaves festival—and our Ireland trip—were canceled once again. However, by 2022, with vaccines widely available and nearly all of Iceland inoculated, the festival made its comeback. Despite the festival being shortened to just three days and featuring a different lineup, our excitement was undiminished. We moved our long-awaited journey to Ireland to the spring of 2022 and eagerly planned our return to Iceland for live music, delectable food, and the breathtaking landscapes we had missed.

Just like our previous adventure, we touched down in Iceland and made a beeline for the duty-free store—an essential stop, given the high cost of groceries and alcohol here. With our rental car keys in hand, we wasted no time and drove straight for our return to the Blue Lagoon, (not to be confused with the 1991 movie of the same name) ready to immerse ourselves once again in its legendary geothermal waters.

Soaking jet-lagged bodies in the healing waters of the Blue Lagoon upon landing at Keflavik (the Blue Lagoon is much closer to Keflavik than it is to Reykjavík) is a great way to shake off the flight. Many flights to Iceland from the US arrive early in the morning, so we had some time to kill before checking into our AirBnb. To kill some time, we headed to the Viking World museum in nearby Njarðvík. There, we marveled at Íslendingur, an exact replica of a Viking ship that made a perilous journey from Iceland to New York in 2000. We then hit a Bonus store, a large discount grocery store to get some food (and a sweatshirt) for our week.

Returning to Reykjavík felt invigorating. After settling into our Airbnb and bundling up against the chill, we set out to explore the vibrant city we knew and loved, eager to share its magic with Ian. Reykjavík, with its charming winding streets and eclectic culture, never fails to intrigue. Our day culminated with a delightful dinner at ROK, a favorite from our previous visit. This cozy restaurant, known for its contemporary Icelandic cuisine, is perfectly situated across the street from the iconic Hallgrímskirkja. Towering over the city, Hallgrímskirkja is not just a stunning piece of architecture but also offers breathtaking views from its observation tower, making it a must-visit landmark in Reykjavík. But that’s the next post.