Hello and Goodbye to Iceland

We recently returned from the land of the geysirs, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and geothermal used in heating homes, businesses and greenhouses. There are numerous hot springs that are also used by the locals throughout the country for their recreational soaks and social gatherings. Many have been made into outdoor pools, used through out all seasons because of their temperatures averaging 100 degrees. The American and Eurasian tectonic plates which are pulling apart at the rate of a few centimeters a year, can be seen right through the middle of the country.

I was confused. It is also the land of the Vikings. The Vikings were known as explorers, conquerors and pillagers. They could travel miles by water, on oceans and up rivers. It is known that they explored America long before Columbus. And yet, today, the people of this country appeared friendly, kind and extremely polite. You never heard the angry tooting of a car horn or saw the police. Crime is almost non-existent. We saw no beggars, homeless or indigent. The streets were clean and bike/hiking paths were numerous and well-used.

Parliament began here, long before any other country. They settled their disputes by law. When there was an issue over legal issues by two sides - pagans and Christians, it was settled by one man. He mulled it over during one night and made his decision: Christianity would be the official religion but paganism would be allowed in private. There was no bloodshed over this decision. All accepted it and went back to their homes and lives.

In present day Iceland there is no army. Tax money is used on health care and education. Where is the Viking spirit? Perhaps it is channeled into their environmental exploration and their conquering of world visitors through their extensive and convenient tourism spirit using all of their natural resources that appeal to both the adventuresome seeking adventure on the glaciers and river rafting and those who simply want to observe the natural wonders or soak in the warm healing natural mineral waters.

I left Iceland with appreciation for all they have achieved in our world of today, but, as always when I return from another country, with gratitude for my country, with all it flaws and struggles. We can learn from visiting other cultures, hopefully taking the best of what they have to offer and merging it gradually into our own.

Grandma may have had the best recipe for her marvelous bread or chocolate cake, but that does not eliminate some amount of improvement with a dash of a spice from some foreign land. Mixing, blending, while retaining the essence of a way of life, just might bring some enrichment in an unexpected way.

Perhaps when jet lag has evaporated I may return to some adventures in Iceland, but for now I will leave this journey and get some much needed rest.

Soaking in the mineral waters of the Blue Lagoon