I've wanted to go to Iceland like Foreverrrrrrrrrrr.  I don't know why. Way before  it was trendy, it was on the list. I used to notice flights to  Europe quite often had a stopover in Reykjavik for the same price. Somehow it never quite happened. Game of thrones, world financial crisis, Euro Cup finals, Iceland kept on getting into the news. So one day I find myself sitting in Madrid on a 40 deg day, wondering what I'm doing there. "Bing" Iceland sounds cool.  Quick search, find some cheap flights next thing I'm here.

        Looking at the weather map it looks like I have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. Europe is going through a mejor heat wave, but here rain and eleven degree maximums are predicted all week. It's wet when I arrive late, but the next day is beautiful. Don't trust weatherman. Iceland has three types of weather, blue, grey, and black. Blue brings out all the magic with the glaciers,moss and rocks. Grey, well everything is grey. Black happens in winter, perfect for the northern lights. Fortunately it's summer here at the moment so it's light twenty four hours a day. My week of rain turned into a couple of grey days.

     Three hundred and fifty thousand people live on a hundred thousand square kilometers of rock. The center is all Mountains, Glaciers, and potentially deadly volcanoes. Two thirds live in Reykjavik, which is still not  far enough from the volcanoes. World's first parliament, smallest nation with its own currency, generates almost 100%renewable energy using hot volcanic rocks and water.  Spent the first thousand years raiding Ireland for wives, and living off fish guts. The're good breeders, 35% of the population is under twenty five. Population control is by the odd volcanic eruption, a Vatican  approved method.

    The place is truly spectacular. Mountains, barren plains, glaciers, waterfalls everywhere. Once you get out of town little farms dot the landscape with the odd sheep, or pony here and there. In between are huge lava fields, wide river valleys, and gorgeous black sand beaches. Swimming without a drysuit is not recommended  The place is built on the transatlantic ridge, so in places you can literally see it being torn apart. Steam pops  out of the ground everywhere.  The only native wildlife is the arctic fox, but there are lots of sea birds, and the odd hungry polar bear who rocks up on an iceberg from Greenland every now and again. In places it almost looks alien.

    I loved my week in Iceland, but it would be amiss of me not to say something about cost. You can fly there pretty cheaply, and accomodation is not to bad by european standards. Food is a killer. If you think $10 coffee, and a $25 microwaved hamburger are a bargain, your going to love iceland. Even cup noodles work out three dollars a serve. Don't even price a beer, unless you want to pay off the entire nation's debt in one hit. Be like the locals. Hit the duty free on the way in, and rent a cheap apartment downtown if your on a budget.  But go, it's worth it.