“..and if the weather is bad, do you recommend still visiting the Blue Lagoon?’, we asked on Day 1 on Iceland adventure when we simply didn’t know any better and also had no idea just exactly how different our definition of “bad weather” can be in comparison to that of an Icelander. Rain, sleet, hail storm…gale force winds? That’s evidently a normal weather day to an Icelander.
We arrived at the Blue Lagoon, just as the rain started …again. I am convinced there is about 7 minutes of sunshine to be had on a daily basis and after that, the rest of the day is a bag of tricks courtesy of Mother Nature. It should not surprise us that the rain began when it did and thankfully, it passed quickly. We did the mad dash from the enclosed section of the Lagoon to the great outdoors…it is a rather cool (no pun intended) experience. The water wasn’t nearly as hot as I thought it would be but it was far from being ice-cold either. It was just about right in most spots. Now, imagine..it is said due to the silica and algae in the water that a dip in the Blue Lagoon can cure what ails you and sooth your aching bones. Well, evidently my body has become accustomed to the dirt and chemicals and grime of NYC because I now have a rash all over both my legs. I’m telling you…all this healthy living could be my undoing!! It was fun to put the silica mud on my face…people pay $32.00 a tube for this stuff…it’s mud…free for the taking at the lagoon.
So there we are in our bathing suits, keeping as much of our bodies under the water because lets be real…the outside air temperature is about 40 degrees…no it must be less than that, because , oh, what’s that? Has it been more than 7 minutes? Here comes the rain again…oh, no, wait, something even more special. Hail. Big chunks of ice falling from the sky into the any-weather-is-okay-to-enjoy-the-Blue-Lagoon moment. We run for cover which basically means heading back inside to one small area where the Lagoon waters can be enjoyed without exposure to the elements. Hail hurts. Ouch!!! One fellow bather asked me, “Don’t you agree? The Blue Lagoon is lovely any time?” I pause for a moment and say, “Uhhh…no. I don’t agree. Ice falling from the sky and hitting us in the head. It hurts”.
The sun attempts another appearance, I think, through the steam emanating from the Lagoon. We venture forth again…and here’s another first…Bathing suit:: check….bathing towel: check…sunglasses: check…earmuffs….oh, yes, earmuffs…big fluffy, furry pink earmuffs because the Icelandic wind still howls even over the Blue Lagoon.
But don’t get me wrong…Mom and I laughed a lot…wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Mom’s not sure exactly what she has pictures of because everything gets pretty fogged up in the Blue Lagoon…eyeglasses, camera lenses…but we have the photo memories in our minds and that’s nice.
We have lunch…the hot dogs we were always too full to eat at “the” hot dog stand in Reykjavik and enjoy some more excellent coffee before making our way back to collect our luggage and take the bus to the airport. And if to remind us that there is a reason for the Ice in Iceland…just as I’m putting our four pieces of luggage back on the bus, take a guess as to what happens next? Please. Just one guess. That’s right. You guessed correctly. Huge chunks of hail, yet again. A farewell gift. Oh, but wait…there’s still one weather condition we hadn’t experienced yet so it wouldn’t be a complete vacation experience without…snow. It’s snowing….of course, it is.
But remember, the Blue Lagoon can be enjoyed regardless of the weather. Right...... :)
We arrived at the Blue Lagoon, just as the rain started …again. I am convinced there is about 7 minutes of sunshine to be had on a daily basis and after that, the rest of the day is a bag of tricks courtesy of Mother Nature. It should not surprise us that the rain began when it did and thankfully, it passed quickly. We did the mad dash from the enclosed section of the Lagoon to the great outdoors…it is a rather cool (no pun intended) experience. The water wasn’t nearly as hot as I thought it would be but it was far from being ice-cold either. It was just about right in most spots. Now, imagine..it is said due to the silica and algae in the water that a dip in the Blue Lagoon can cure what ails you and sooth your aching bones. Well, evidently my body has become accustomed to the dirt and chemicals and grime of NYC because I now have a rash all over both my legs. I’m telling you…all this healthy living could be my undoing!! It was fun to put the silica mud on my face…people pay $32.00 a tube for this stuff…it’s mud…free for the taking at the lagoon.
So there we are in our bathing suits, keeping as much of our bodies under the water because lets be real…the outside air temperature is about 40 degrees…no it must be less than that, because , oh, what’s that? Has it been more than 7 minutes? Here comes the rain again…oh, no, wait, something even more special. Hail. Big chunks of ice falling from the sky into the any-weather-is-okay-to-enjoy-the-Blue-Lagoon moment. We run for cover which basically means heading back inside to one small area where the Lagoon waters can be enjoyed without exposure to the elements. Hail hurts. Ouch!!! One fellow bather asked me, “Don’t you agree? The Blue Lagoon is lovely any time?” I pause for a moment and say, “Uhhh…no. I don’t agree. Ice falling from the sky and hitting us in the head. It hurts”.
The sun attempts another appearance, I think, through the steam emanating from the Lagoon. We venture forth again…and here’s another first…Bathing suit:: check….bathing towel: check…sunglasses: check…earmuffs….oh, yes, earmuffs…big fluffy, furry pink earmuffs because the Icelandic wind still howls even over the Blue Lagoon.
But don’t get me wrong…Mom and I laughed a lot…wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Mom’s not sure exactly what she has pictures of because everything gets pretty fogged up in the Blue Lagoon…eyeglasses, camera lenses…but we have the photo memories in our minds and that’s nice.
We have lunch…the hot dogs we were always too full to eat at “the” hot dog stand in Reykjavik and enjoy some more excellent coffee before making our way back to collect our luggage and take the bus to the airport. And if to remind us that there is a reason for the Ice in Iceland…just as I’m putting our four pieces of luggage back on the bus, take a guess as to what happens next? Please. Just one guess. That’s right. You guessed correctly. Huge chunks of hail, yet again. A farewell gift. Oh, but wait…there’s still one weather condition we hadn’t experienced yet so it wouldn’t be a complete vacation experience without…snow. It’s snowing….of course, it is.
But remember, the Blue Lagoon can be enjoyed regardless of the weather. Right...... :)
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