Iceland – A chill place to be
Iceland inspiration for me and Led Zeppelin
My first tryst with Iceland was with the band Led Zeppelin. Their association with the title “Hammer of the Gods” came after their tour of Iceland and performance in Reykjavik. In fact, Iceland was the inspiration for one my favorite Led Zepp songs – the Immigrant Song. Remember?
The lyrics appealed to me quite a bit as did the music… Take a look – isn’t it stunning?
The Immigrant Song
“We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow.
The hammer of the gods, we’ll drive our ships to new lands.
To fight the horde, and sing and cry, Valhalla, I am coming!
On we sweep with threshing oar, our only goal will be the western shore.
How soft your fields so green, can whisper tales of gore.
Of how we calmed the tides of war, we are your overlords.
On we sweep with threshing oar, our only goal will be the western shore.
So now you’d better stop and rebuild all your ruins.
For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing.”
The Imagery of Valhalla
Sheer energy, Plant’s howling vocals, war, fire and ice, Valhalla… All that Viking imagery and the energy appealed hugely to my young mind… Honestly, it still does… 😉. And this was inspired by the country of Iceland they said! The land of Ice and Snow. Of contradictions of striking proportions co-existing… In beauty.
So that’s how I came to be intrigued by Iceland. And finally went there a few times… It didn’t disappoint – ever.
Iceland – The Land of Fire and Ice
Iceland is way up North. Close to the Arctic Circle. But it’s not all ice! Greenland is all ice. The locals here say that the names of Iceland and Greenland should have been reversed given the topography of the land!
This is nature’s playground. Varied attributes of Nature. Volcanoes and glaciers. Waterfalls and lava fields. Hot springs and Mineral-rich waters. Icelandic horses and Tomatoes. History, a bloodthirsty one at that. And culture! What else do you need?
It’s the land of Fire and Ice for a reason. Its where contrasts co-exist in beauty! Imagine volcanoes and glaciers living cheek-by-jowl. Or pristine nature and a history of bloodshed. The white of the icy land and the colors of the Northern Lights. This is psychedelic nature at its mischievous best. A surprise at every turn.
Here are some of my best experiences of Iceland. Take a look and maybe experience a few of them… It’ll be fun.
Some of my best experiences of Iceland
Jolabokaflod
Reading is nowadays becoming less popular… At a time when physical books are losing their sheen… The Icelanders have found a way to keep the love for books alive… They have a tradition called jólabókaflóð, or the Christmas Book Flood. Publishing houses release hundreds of new titles, the bookshops are full… And it almost becomes a literary festival! Read more on the Christmas Book Flood.
Iceland and its Beer
The Icelanders are a quiet sort. Till they’ve had a drink or two. Then they blossom into a friendly, exuberant lot… 😉 They love their beer. But till 1989, it was banned in Iceland… Yes, beer was banned here! Read more on the strange history of beer in Iceland.
The Horses of the Vikings in Iceland
The horses were as much a part of the Vikings as anything else. They are what made them so powerful. Read more about what made the horses so special…
The Horses of Iceland
The Icelandic horse. The only horse breed from Iceland. Brought into the land by the Vikings. In the 9th/10th centuries. And the breed has been kept pure ever since – no interbreeding! Read more about the Icelandic horses.
Skogafoss Waterfall and it Rainbow
Natural beauty and treasure stories. The best combination, don’t you think? The treasure-filled chest of Þrasi is said to be located beneath the Skógafoss waterfall. It is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. And if lucky, you can see a rainbow in the waterfall! Read more about the Skógafoss Waterfall and Þrasi Þórólfsson’s treasure.
The Oldest Parliament of the world in Iceland
This land wasn’t all abut war and bloodshed and “might is right”. Did you know that Iceland has the oldest Parliament in the world? Way back in the 10th century! It still exists, the AlÞingi in Þingvellir. Read more about the oldest parliament in the world and its bloodthirsty ways.
Iceland and its famous Tomatoes
This is the land that is full of stories. Even tomatoes have stories! Tomatoes growing in a climate foreign to them – icy cold climes. And I met a rock star who works in the farm… Yes, a real one! Oh, and bees trained to pollinate! No – it’s not science fiction. Click here to read about my tryst with a rock star tending tomatoes in Iceland.
The famous Sea Baron restaurant
Even restaurants here have stories. Read about the Sea Baron of Iceland in the harbor area of Reykjavik. Lovely story of its genesis. And as a bonus, you also get the world’s best lobster soup, rotten cod as a delicacy, succulent whale meat and lots of beer.
Smartphone apps and Incest
They are smart in this country. Small population. Less immigration. A big issue is the possibility of incest since most folks can be related to each other. Here is how they use a smartphone app to fight Incest in Iceland.
The community hot water pools of Iceland
Doesn’t most of the stress of life come from loneliness, low social interaction and lack of a support system? And maybe exercise? They handle this nicely in Iceland. Geothermally heated public pools for folks to meet and interact. Click here to read about the Sundlaugs of Iceland and their contribution to the high happiness index.
The Blue Lagoon and Myvatn Nature Baths
And then the most famous pools of them all. The famous Blue Lagoon and Myvatn Nature Baths. Open air piping hot pools. Yes, you read that right – open air with temperatures close to zero! Quite an experience! And the works in terms of side-attractions – health benefits, beauty packs, food, conversations, and a lovely bar on the side! Read more about the Blue Lagoon and Myvatn nature baths.
Katla, the Lady who became a volcano – Legends of Iceland
There is a legend about a hot-tempered lady who could run like the wind. She once murdered a man. When they tried to catch her, she ran away and jumped into a pit. Which became the famous Volcano called Katla… Read more about the Katla volcano and its legend…
The belief in the Huldufolk or elves
Icelanders believe in these invisible folks. Short, supernatural with the power to punish and grant boons. They weave their lives around them. Read more about the Huldufolk of Iceland.
Iceland and the Game of Thrones
The massively popular Tv series, the Game of Thrones was shot extensively in Iceland. In fact, the iconic “Wall” is here… As also the wildling camps. I was surprised to see the number of giggly youngsters in a small cave in Iceland. The reason for its fame is that it is the location for the iconic Jon Snow-Ygritte lovemaking scene in Game of Thrones! For Game of Thrones fans, this is a pilgrimage… Read more on Iceland and link with the Game of Thrones.
The bridge across continents
The Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates are constantly pulling apart. Geologically. This creates a rift in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The Mid Atlantic Rift. This runs right through Iceland. And hence the country is being inexorably pulled apart! You can stand in this constantly growing rift! Even swim in it. And there is a bridge (extendable) across this rift that you can walk – it is called the Bridge across continents. Click here to read more about the Mid Atlantic Rift in Iceland.
Where the Gods Fell – Legends of Iceland
Have you heard of Gods falling? They did in Iceland. At the Godafoss Waterfalls. Read more about the legend of the Godafoss Waterfalls.
Iceland – a must visit country
There is much more in this land – geysirs that spew gas high in the air from the earth, glacier walks, photography expeditions, the list can go on… If you love contradictions and contrasts. Or nature and its subtleties. If you are a fan of unspoilt nature and stories… You must visit this absolutely stunning land. And get mesmerized by it. Whether in summer or in winter. In summer, it is the land of the Midnight Sun when the Sun never sets. In winter, it is the allure of ice and the Northern Lights. It seems like a different country by the way, depending on the season! If you would like to travel to Iceland, check out some of our itineraries for Iceland.
For more ideas on immersive, experiential travel, visit Beyonder Travel.
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