Joe standing in geyser valley, with the famous Strokkur geyser erupting in the background.<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Why I went to Reykjavik<\/strong>
\nFor as long as I can remember, I have wanted to see the northern lights. Despite numerous forays into the north of Europe, from Finland, Sweden and Norway to the Faroe Islands, Shetland and Orkney, I’d never got so much as a glimpse of them. However, one place I hadn’t yet been (which happened to be one of the best places on earth to see the phenomenon) was Iceland. So, with tourism booming in the country, my wife and I decided to book a trip.<\/p>\n

My highlight of the trip<\/strong>
\nWe stood in a car park, slowly freezing. It was midnight, and we had been there for an hour, experiencing nothing except the gradual numbing of our extremities. But then, all of a sudden, it began. First, a shadow of green flashed above our heads. And then another. Swirls of yellow began to gather in the sky and dance together. Wisps of pink joined the party, and before I knew it, the whole sky had burst into a blanket of bright colours and shapes. I forgot all about my frozen feet and aching fingers, and watched a truly extraordinary half-hour display of celestial beauty.<\/p>\n

How’s that for a highlight?<\/p>\n

What else I love about Southwest Iceland<\/strong>
\nSeeing the northern lights fulfilled a lifelong dream, but there were many other incredible experiences during our short stay in Southwest Iceland. We travelled to the Blue Lagoon, a natural geothermal spa in a lava field, to enjoy a welcome dip on a cold winter’s day. We also visited a geothermal valley of geysers, which includes a jumbo jet called Strokkur that erupts every five minutes, shooting water up to 40 metres into the air. We also got to see the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall, as well as the rift valley at Thingvellir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was formerly home to the Icelandic parliament. Another thing we loved about Iceland was the capital, Reykjavik. Overlooked by many visitors who are (understandably) seeking Iceland’s natural wonders, we found it charming and picturesque.<\/p>\n