Not So Roughing It
By Alexandra Hertell
For those of you contemplating a voyage to the mystical country that is Iceland but may be holding back due to economic restraints, I have some handy tricks to share. The easiest solution to withering pockets is to camp. There is nothing cheaper or more satisfying than camping. There are some campsites that provide showers and hot plates but I prefer the wild camping where the wind’s roar can be mistaken for an ogre’s snarl. Camping in Mother Nature’s belly is free and you are rewarded with her embrace, a solitude in which your thoughts and the rustling of leaves are intertwined, in which the morning dew reflects your gaze and the ocean’s spray seduces your salty skin. For those of you “roughing it” neophytes that deny yourself this privilege for the fear of the uncomfortable or who simply equate camping with people who haphazardly bathe, camping in Iceland might make you a believer. It is the equivalent to skiing on a bunny slope: easy, fun and accident-proof. Furthermore, there are no animals to hide your food from. (Except for the once in a blue moon polar bear, but chances are non-existent that their floating iceberg will land near you. Trust me.) With the hundreds of geothermal pools, hot pots, natural hot springs, lukewarm lakes and even a couple of lovely warm waterfalls, bathing is luxurious. The numerous times I have gone camping around Iceland, I have felt as if I was on a spa vacation. If I was at a campsite, I never used their showers. Instead, I would find the nearest watering hole heated by the Earth’s inner cores and immerse myself. Hot springs have been used for bathing at least since Paleolithic times and who am I to disagree with this traditional delight. After the gratifying soak, your skin feels like silk and your nasal passages are free to breathe in the most delicate scent of wild blueberries. So not only are you camping with the amenities of a world-class natural spa but you are healing your body’s ailments because hot springs often have a very high mineral content. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the two countries with a hot spring obsessed demographic have the longest life expectancies. Japan has the highest ratio of Centenarians and Icelanders are the second longest-living nation with a life expectancy at birth of 81.8 years. So if you follow these tips and do camping my way, you will not only give your wallet a break but you will soothe your soul as well. Now that you are deeply relaxed and smelling of sexy sulfur you can partake in the innumerable activities and horizons to enjoy. Since you have camped you can splurge on whitewater rafting. If you are still counting your pennies, there are endless options like awe-inducing treks all free of charge because Mother Nature’s beauty is for all to share. City slickers fret not, there is a great campsite in Reykjavík so you can dance till dawn in your high heels and sleep under the nocturnal beaming sun. If your ears are deaf to the call of the wild, camping is still an option since all towns in Iceland have their own campsites. If I still haven’t been able to convince you that camping is the way to go, you can take advantage of the farmhouse stays. Not only is this cheaper than staying at a hotel, but it is snuggly cozy and feels more like your visiting that cute funny relative you’ve always adored. You can get a glimpse into Icelandic culture and learn how a smile goes a long way. In the farm stays, I have awoken to views unrivaled by any five-star hotel and have encountered a genuine sincerity that goes hand in hand with people who aren’t surrounded by cement monsters. I have stayed with Icelanders who know no English and seen the insignificance of a language barrier when we were all paralyzed by a fuchsia and ripe orange sky or when a proud grandmother pointed to the picture of her grandson, the captain of his soccer team. The people who open their doors to you just make your memories that much harder to forget. Check out www.farmholidays.is if this seems more like your cup of tea. It really is easy to stay in Iceland no matter your budget and your monetary hindrances might just be a blessing in disguise because you will force yourself to find a much more meaningful way to spend the night. [rc] Alexandra Hertell Email: alehertell@gmail.com © Copyright icelandreview.com (Heimur hf)
