TRAVEL|ICELAND
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon
Saving the best till last
Our last day in Iceland was spent soaking in the therapeutic waters of the Blue Lagoon, a bucket list item of mine since 2014. We stripped off, lathered up, and put our togs on (mine went on inside out, but I was so keen to get into that hot water I didn’t care) while everyone was waiting in line for a private shower. They were all wrapped in their bathrobes and afraid to show any skin.
The lagoon was so large the end was invisible through the thick layers of steam rising from the surface. Surrounded by a lava field, the edges are just huge outcrops of lava. We managed to find our way to the shed where the face masks are distributed. We chose the free silica mask and left it on until it dried. My daughter Stacey took photos. My resemblance to the Joker was uncanny!
The waterfall was beckoning so we waited our turn both to wash off the mask and let the falling water massage our shoulders and back. Ah, heaven! I could have stayed for much longer, but people were milling about waiting for their turn at the waterfall massage, so we went to sweat it out in the steam room.
Back in the lagoon, we tried to find the bar to redeem the first of the drinks Stacey had purchased in the premium package. Through the mist and steam, we eventually found it and ordered prosecco. I was almost tempted by the fruit smoothies. They looked so good! Drinks in hand, we walked around looking for the hottest water. Unlike other thermal spas we’ve visited, where the pools are kept at a constant temperature, the Blue Lagoon wasn’t. Some places felt warm, while others were almost unbearably hot.
We searched for the almost unbearably hot, which just happened to be right beside a good looking lifeguard. Stacey stayed chatting to him, while she finished her drink. When I couldn’t tolerate the heat any longer, I headed off to refill our water bottles. You must keep drinking water to stay hydrated in the pool. Most of the rescues are from people fainting from dehydration.
For the second facial mask, we chose the algae one for dry, decaying skin. Oh, my skin really needed it! Seven weeks with very little skincare routine had taken its toll. We checked the time. Oh no! We had to get out of the pool to make it to our 2 pm reservation at the upmarket Lava Restaurant.
Lunch here was Stacey’s very special birthday present to me. I don’t know how much it cost, but I know it was a lot! My seventieth birthday was looming. As it happened, my 70th birthday didn’t happen — you know Covid — I was so happy I’d been spoiled at the Lava Restaurant for my birthday. We ordered our second prosecco and chose the three-course set menu: Stacey the Icelandic and me the seafood. For entrée, I was served langoustine soup. I cannot even describe the glory of the flavour. The yummiest soup I’ve ever tasted! I was hesitant to even offer Stacey a mouthful, but I wanted her to experience it too, so gave her the last little bit. It was like parting with my firstborn.
My main was fish, which was nice, but my taste buds had been ruined by the superb soup. Stacey got the better choice for mains. Her lamb really was the loveliest lamb I’ve ever tasted. They say Icelandic lamb is the best in the world and I tend to agree. It’s because the lambs roam freely over the mountains all summer so it has more of a wild game taste to it. I don’t know about that, but it definitely just melted in my mouth — so tender and tasty.
We were starting to clock watch. It was almost 3 pm and had to catch the 3:15 pm bus to the airport or otherwise miss our flight back to London. Just as I suggested we skip dessert, it was served with a special birthday message written on mine in chocolate. Of course, in Icelandic!
I barely tasted my crème brulée as I shovelled it in as fast as I could. I gave Stacey my mango sorbet as eating it would be far too time-consuming.
Stacey paused to pay, while I kept moving towards the building where our suitcases had been stored. Stacey ran ahead just in time to catch the bus pulling out. She signalled the driver to get our cases while I came panting up from the rear. He waited for us. Whew! That was close! It was 3:18 pm as the bus pulled out of the Blue Lagoon’s carpark.
On the way to the airport, Stacey told me they hadn’t charged her for the suitcase storage (1,650 Icelandic krona) as they realised the delay would mean we would miss the bus. How lovely was that! And also, she hadn’t been charged for my dessert. Still, I know it had cost more than she could really afford, but we had saved money eating breakfast sandwiches for lunch every day!
What a perfect end to our wonderful Iceland adventure together. We had only one day of sunny skies and there was no chance we’d see an aurora, but Iceland didn’t disappoint us. We would come again in a heartbeat. Maybe in summer …