A VISIT TO ICELAND PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION

Iceland is one of those rapidly decreasing places on Earth that are a testament to the beauty of raw nature unaided by the commodities of man. It is nature herself in all her merciless ruggedness and unforgiving severity. But is also nature at her most majestic and her unmitigated glory, offering rewards to those who approach her on her own terms.

The Vikings who first set foot on the shores of this small island braved the frigid air, the gales and the sterile soil, but soon found that livestock fared better than crops. And now the Icelandic pony is a source of national pride. Indeed, for such a remote and largely unsettled place, few creatures have flourished in Iceland. The arctic fox was the only land mammal present when the Norsemen arrived and the species continues to thrive in Iceland. A thousand years later reindeer would be imported from Norway but have largely vanished from the western part of the island. Occasionally a wayward bat finds its way to Iceland, but a colony has never been established. Polar bears have made surprise appearances adrift from Greenland, but they are rare visitors and never stay long.

Today, roughly 36% (about 140,000 people) of the Icelandic population lives in Reykjavík, the capital and largest city. The word “city”, however, conveys images hardly befitting to the quaint but lively cultural center of Iceland. Indeed, much like Iceland offers sights like nowhere else on Earth so Reykjavík is a city like no other. There is a surprisingly strong presence of American chains. On my drives around I saw a Taco Bell, Domino’s and, the first American fast food chain to open in Iceland, Kentucky Fried Chicken, which has increased its presence in Iceland since first opening there in 1980. McDonald’s, however, disappeared from Iceland in 2009. However, its bakeries are the real jewel of Icelandic cuisine.

Reykjavík alone is worth a trip over but a visit to Iceland cannot be complete without venturing to see its natural beauty. A car is a necessity to venture outside of the city, however, and the weather and the very roads can be a challenge. And yet, these occasionally treacherous journeys are an integral part of the Icelandic experience.

From Boston a flight to Iceland is not much longer in length than a drive to New York and the very ease to fly over may be what has kept me putting off a visit there for so many years. I am glad I went when I did, however as it is a once in a lifetime experience benefiting from experiences in extreme environments. Packing for a journey requires more precautionary items than normal.

Despite its superficially barren landscape and small size, Iceland is packed with more natural wonders around its famed Golden Ring than one can see almost anywhere else. Glaciers and icebergs share a home with volcanoes and hot springs. This tiny island is a triumphant display of what planet Earth has to offer for those who dare to venture.