The Blue Lagoon and Farewell for Now

We have been traveling on a large, and comfortable bus, with 21 other travels, mostly our age but a few younger.  Everyone has been very cordial and we have enjoyed conversations with people from other countries.  One lady from the Netherlands is in the Animal Party (essentially a party focused on climate change through showing what is happening to animals.  A man born in South Africa and now also living in the Netherlands kept saying the economy was good even if Trump was a joke.

We have been at four hotels, each including dinner and breakfast.  The food has been excellent.

Now for our last day on our way back to Reykjavik we took a nice dip in the Blue Lagoon.  First we had some photo stops to see more glaciers and rock formations.

 and to have a bite to eat and do some shopping.  We failed at the shopping because we either didn’t find anything we “needed” or because so much was made in the EU or China not Iceland.  The food was wonderful.

The resident artist who adorned this fence on the side of the highway is busting with humor.  Additions have been added by art aficionados.  You may have to look closely to see what is on the fence.

Eyjafjallajokull Glacier is the end of our glacier photo ops.

We drove through farm land.  A wealthy philanthropist started a fund to raise money for cancer patients.  He provides colored hay bale wraps to farmers who donate money.  Green is for men, pink, women, and yellow, children.  From all the bales we saw the farmers are quite generous.

The Blue Lagoon, an internationally famous destination, is in the geothermal area along the South Coast of Iceland.  A geothermal power station is the major source of employment in the area.  Due to cheap power, Alcoa uses the geothermal power to make aluminum there.  This provides many jobs for the area but is a major concern of environmentalist because of the damage building the dams has caused the island.  Little of the product or profit stays in the country. 

The Blue Lagoon started as treatment for psoriasis patients because the water is very pure and there is no bacteria in the pool. 

It was bought by a doctor who developed it into a major tourist destination.  Getting to dip in the pool requires follows a mandatory procedure.  First you get a wristband, then you find a locker, then you strip down and take a shower, wash hair, apply but do not remove conditioner, and put on swim suit.  Then you step into warm blue water that ranges from comfortably warm to very warm.  Drinks are available at the bar in the lagoon.  You can also get Silicon clay facial goop.  Other amenities are available at various price levels.  We stepped  under a waterfall for a good strong back massage.

Afterwards another shower and we finally got a towel to dry off.  You can then exit through the gift shop where a variety of their products are sold at very high prices.  Some of our group want to return to Iceland just for the lagoon.  We enjoyed it but not as much as the marvels we saw over these days.
                                       
For our final evening, we went to Reykjavik Kitchen for a luscious dinner.  Iceland is noted for its cod, char and lamb and we have enjoyed all three.  They also know how make delicious chocolate chop cookies.  We didn't sample the bagels.

For the last night, we returned to the same hotel in Reykjavik where we started.  Before leaving we enjoyed a wonderful brunch with last chances to have such delicacies as lox marinated in beet juice (yes, it is great).

Of all travels we have done, this one is among the top for visuals.  The sights were amazing and we were lucky.  Our timing worked out so that we went to places just days before they were closed to the public because of the virus.

Our trip home took us to Seattle where we changed from Icelandic Air to Alaskan.  Unlike the airports on the news, this one was empty.  The staff there were warm and friendly.  The plane home was about 1/3 full.  We have returned to a new world where we will be in quarantine for a couple of weeks.

Thank you for traveling with us and stay safe and healthy!