Using our first Bank Holiday weekend in 2007, we packed up some woolies and embarked on a trip north to Iceland.

Iceland has always interested me with its unique geological history and crazy (talentless) singing export, Bjork. We have been debating whether to visit Iceland for quite a while now though as it has to be the most expensive country that exists. In the end it came down to the fact that if we don’t go while we’re in the UK earning the good stuff (£) we would most likely never make it there ever again.

Boy, are we sure glad we made the trip. We spent 3 wonderful days enjoying the many wonderful, interesting facets of nature that this cold island offers.

We landed about 1am and caught a bus from the airport into town and we could still see the fading sunlight. In mid-summer the Icelanders enjoy near 24 hour sunlight. We got about 20 hours worth, so couldn’t complain. Very cool!

The next day we switched our feet into first gear and then took off for a look-see around the city center. Iceland comes in at number 5 of countries on the G.D.P. scale, an astonishing feat considering they don’t have any have limited natural resources and have a total population of only 300,000 – of which 200,000 live in Reykjavik.

Reykjavik is a relatively small city center so we made good ground walking in-and-out all the side streets getting to know the layout of the land. We stopped for some awesome sandwich subs before heading back to the hotel, readying ourselves for a spot of horse riding.

It’s been a while since we’ve been horse riding and we had heard good reports about the pony sized Icelandic horses and how they ride different to the ones we’re used to back home.

Within minutes of riding these little midget sized horses we realized that we both didn’t feel quite right. I was sliding around all over the place and Michelle had a look of unease right from the beginning. We managed to trot along for 10 minutes or so before I started sliding off my horse… I was petrified that I was going to come off but Michelle came to the rescue. Her horse, let’s call him Malcome, was disoriented by me falling off that he side-stepped me and Dermit (note: may not be the horse’s real name) throwing Michelle off onto the ground. Dermit came to a complete stop to check out what was going on, thus saving me from coming off.

Michelle came off pretty bad, and all I could do was worry. She put on a brave face though and got back on as to not hold up the rest of the group. She’s such a little trooper.

Needless to say, Michelle didn’t enjoy the horse riding that much but for the first time I actually did. Maybe it’s because they looked more like Mickey Rooney than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Battered and bruised, Michelle managed to board the bus the next day for Iceland’s most popular tour – The Golden Circle Tour. This 10 hour day trip was most excellent. The trip starts with a trip to the Blue Lagoon. A natural hot spring lagoon ranging in temperature from 32 – 37 degrees Celsius.

Afterwards we boarded a bus with an excellent Icelandic tour guide and we learned all about Iceland’s volcanic geology, its eco-friendly geo-thermal power plants which provide low-cost heating and electricity to its residents and drove from the North American continent over to the European continent. I was amazed to learn that Iceland is entirely formed from the collisions of the two tectonic plates. It was so cool crossing through the valley formed between the two plates.

After visiting the Gullfoss waterfall, we then stopped by Geysir, the oldest known Geyser and watched the sucker spurt its load into the air, which it does every 5-7 minutes. This was so cool to watch. Before it goes off you see the water surface bubble up into a sphere and then it gushes up into the air.

I tried to catch it on video however the angle I got doesn’t really show the coolness of the bubbling sphere thingy-ma-jigg.

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Iceland is known for its party nightlife but being grandma and grandpa Michelle and I aren’t really into nights that don’t start until 1am. We did however enjoy some fine dining. Their food is divine.

The next day we jumped on another tour. This time we got into a big-ass modified 4wd bus and made our way down to the south coast to explore the glacial highlands. This was the trip’s highlight. The scenery is breathtaking.

On the way down our tour guide seemed to inform us that every volcano we passed was due to blow and that within in 18 months there is sure to be a massive explosion that will wreak havoc with European airspace for months due to the Volcanic ash in the sky.

While this was definitely the most expensive trip we’ve ever done, it was definitely worth it. We both love natural beauty and it was great to not have to visit any churches, castles and museums.

Go to Niceland if you get a chance!

PS: The receptionist at our hotel was an absolute babe. Not only did she look saucy she had a voice like Bruce Willis’s girlfriend in Pulp Fiction. What a dish!

PPS: I love my wife. She’s the greatest.

PPPS: Check out some more photos here.