Reykjavík, ICELAND – Iceland is possibly one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.
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When I landed and stepped out of the airport, I was immediately met with an overcast sky and cold winds.
I thought for sure it was a terrible start to my family’s trip, but driving just a little while led us to Seljalandfoss, a waterfall that we could actually go behind!
Our next stop was another waterfall, Skógafoss which was … wet. My dad had warned me that going near these waterfalls would be a wet experience, however I did not expect to get completely soaked.
The combination of the power of the falls and the winds led to me getting drenched, even though I was a good distance away from where the water was actually hitting the ground.
Right next to the falls was a 530-step path that took us up to the crest of Skógafoss. I was worn out, to say the least, but the view was absolutely stunning, and a trail went further up the river, for those brave enough – and with enough stamina – to make it that far.
After coming back down I was starved and could barely make it to the nearby restaurant. There, I had a $40 chicken sandwich, which gave me a taste of the delicious food and not-so-great prices.
The next day was a lot of driving. Traffic wasn’t the problem – distance was.
There are so many amazing places to go, but not enough time to go everywhere. So on our way to Diamond Beach, we made two stops along the road to enjoy the scenic views of mountains, and the sea in some places.
We also saw sheep, lots of fluffy Icelandic sheep. The looks they gave us while we drove by were absolutely comical.
Diamond Beach was one of the most stunning parts of the trip. The “diamonds” are chunks of glacial ice that have broken off and washed up on the contrasting volcanic black-sand shores.
The black sand itself was beautiful to see, but the ice sitting on top? It was like something out of a sci-fi movie.
The rest of the trip flew by, between a visit to the blue Brúarfoss Waterfall and the Strokkur Geyser, which, by the way, did smell like rotten eggs.
We finished our trip in the city of Reykjavík, visiting the famous Hallgrimskirkja, a Luthern church that is the largest church in Iceland.
Iceland was a revitalization of all of my senses, from the summer days that wouldn’t end until 11 at night, and the freshest water I have tasted in my life.
I don’t think there is another place on this planet quite as unique.
Riona Richard is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
