FOUR DAYS IN ICELAND : DAY 4: THE BLUE LAGOON

DAY 4: The Blue Lagoon

Our alarms ring in unison on our last day in Iceland. Fran and I are both bummed out with the realization that night has passed, and our one and only opportunity to see the Northern Lights is over. We have no time to fret - our driver is picking us up before the crack of dawn. 

I wish we had more time here at the Hotel Ranga to explore the grounds in daylight. We arrived at dusk, and we're leaving before sunrise. In retrospect, spending only one night here seems to have been a mistake. But, to be fair, had we seen the Northern Lights last night (optimally, while sitting outside in the hot tub with a glass of wine), we wouldn't have thought twice about staying only one night. We would have been fully satisfied. So goes the best laid plans.

We have our breakfast and focus on the day ahead. Today brings us to the Blue Lagoon geothermal pools! It's about 85 miles from here, and we are paying four arms and four legs to have a private driver take us from here to there. Why? Because there really is no other way, other than renting our own car, which we don't want to do, or taking a bus with multiple connections, which would probably take half a day.

The driver wants to show us a special site along the way. It's a remote area called Strandarkyrkja. Should we be a little nervous that he's taking us off the main road? The thought doesn't even occur to us, perhaps because he is so nice and friendly, but more so because our food tour leader told us there is virtually no crime in Iceland. In fact, murders occur so rarely in Iceland, that if one does happen, the entire country goes into mourning. We follow him, leaving our New York street smarts locked in the car.

A quaint little church sits all alone. It is early morning, so we cannot take a peek inside. We are unaware at the time that the church is said to have special powers in bringing good luck. Maybe if we had stopped here yesterday, we could have prayed to see the northern lights last night. 

Our driver leads us up the steps towards the beach, where he is hoping we will be lucky, and see seals lounging on the rocks. The are a few way out, but my camera can't capture them. It's such a peaceful and serene location, and a nice way to start the day.

We're back in the car, and literally the only ones on the road for most of our two-hour ride. After about an hour, the driver pulls over to the shoulder. 

He takes us over to the moss that stretches as far as the eye can see. He tells us to touch it -- it is surprisingly soft and springy. We had assumed that it would be hard, as it covers black volcanic rock. We're not supposed to walk on it, as it is easily damaged, and can take a very long time -- if ever -- to recover. Icelanders are very protective of their fragile environment. 

A little while more, and we arrive at the Blue Lagoon. Our driver will pick us up in three hours to take us to the airport. 

We get a preview of the lagoon before going inside which wows us! Wow!

The contrast of the powder blue water and black lava rocks are striking. The water gets its beautiful color from three active ingredients: silica, algae, and minerals, plus the reflection of the sunlight. Although there is no sun today, it is still beautifully blue. It's overcast and misting. And it's cold........the low 40's........a perfect day for swimming!

The Premium Package we purchased months ago includes a towel, bathrobe, flip flops, silica mud mask, algae mask, and a free drink at the swim up bar. In order to use the lagoon, everyone must shower before going in. I have been stressing for months about showering in a communal locker room, and I'm enormously relieved that we can shower in our bathing suits. Once upon a time I wouldn't have minded such things, but with age, modesty has increased exponentially. I heed the warnings that the lagoon water can wreak havoc on one's hair, and comb gobs of the recommended conditioner into my locks.

We make our way out to the lagoon, soaking wet and shivering under our bathrobes. Brrrrrrr! We hang our robes on the outdoor hooks, and almost run into the water, which is somewhere between 98-104°. It is the most heavenly sensation!  

We make our way over to the silica mud, and algae and apply our masks, which is quite a sight, and will absolutely not be shared here. I mean, going for the laugh is tempting, but, no. Creatures of the blue lagoon, I'll tell you! Instead, the masks can be seen on strangers in some of these photos.

I have seen many beautiful photos people have taken while they're in the lagoon, and my goal is to get some perfect shots of my own. The waterproof cover for my cell phone doesn't prevent the steam from fogging up my lens, and most of my pictures are awful. The dreary gray sky doesn't help.

As an add-on to our entrance fee, we purchased in-water massages. For 30 minutes, we float on a mat covered in hot, wet towels while being massaged with mineral oil. The masseuse has to keep submerging us in the water to keep us warm. What an experience! 

Exiting the warmth of the lagoon, and trying to find our robes is excruciating - it's freezing! After a hot shower, lunch in the cafe, and a stop in the gift shop, our driver collects us and we are off to the airport. 

Four days has gone so quickly, yet it feels like we've been here a long time. We are grateful that the rain has literally held off until we're about to take off.

Our seats are in an upright position, our tray tables are stowed, and New York City is in sight out of the right side of the aircraft. We're home.

I'm honored to have helped Fran celebrate her birthday in Iceland. We are good traveling buddies, and I think we'll do this again........sometime.........somewhere. We'll discuss it over a sushi dinner, no doubt!

Resources:
The Blue Lagoon
You can read about Day 1 here:

 Four Days in Iceland: Day 1 - Reykjavik

 You can read about Day 2 here:

Four Days In Iceland: Day 2 - The Golden Circle

You can read about Day 3 here:

 Four Days in Iceland: Day 3 - The South Coast

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