In April this year I went with my friend Linda to Reykjavik, which was fascinating and was unlike anywhere else that I had ever been. We went there at Easter, which one might (hopefully) call spring in the UK; but it was definitely winter in Reykjavik. Indeed, we were told by a tour guide that winter in Iceland lasts from the end of September to the end of April. He also said that the warmest temperature ever recorded in Iceland was 23 degrees Celsius – I think this was one day in July some years ago. However, having experienced spring and summer in the UK this year, I think that it is not so very different here!
The highlight of our visit was definitely a trip to the Blue Lagoon during a particularly cold day. I have never had an experience quite like that of swimming in the hot springs during a snowstorm and of dashing from the warm water (39 degrees) to the steam room (even warmer) with sub zero temperatures outside! It was even worth the expense of buying a – very expensive – swimsuit in the shop as I left mine on the bus! However, I did later retrieve it from the lost property office. Talking of which, I must say that I was very impressed by the honesty of the Icelandic people. One of the guests in our hotel accidentally left her handbag (containing all her money, cards etc.) hanging on a peg in the communal changing room at the Blue Lagoon and returned after about two hours to find it intact, with nothing missing. Would that happen elsewhere? I somehow doubt it.
I would definitely recommend a trip to Iceland if you want to try somewhere different, but do take your thermals and be aware that prices are very high.
