Iceland : Fire & Ice

Located on a bay, presided over by mighty mount Esja, Iceland’s sprawling capital city stands in stark contrast to the quiet fishing villages and minute hamlets found in this remarkable island nation. It is extremely progressive, yet proudly traditional; exceedingly remote, yet surprisingly cosmopolitan; inextricably tied to its natural landscape, yet embracing of modern technology. The tiny city centre is characterised by an eclectic mix of brightly painted houses, elegant shops, stylish bars, and highbrow museums. A slew of restaurants serves up a delicious range of culinary delights as well as an array of exotic treats such as pickled ram’s testicles and putrefied shark meat! Whether you plan on spending your vacation gallery-hopping while listening to Bjork on repeat, scuba diving between tectonic plates, or relaxing in the myriad geothermal pools, Reykjavik is the ultimate destination for pleasure seekers and adventure junkies alike.

Thingvellir (Þingvellir) is an expansive lava field lying on the banks of the largest natural lake in Iceland – Pingvallavatn. It is situated directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the European and North American tectonic plates are slowly shifting away from each other. This was a historical meeting place of the first parliament called the Alpingi where representatives all around Iceland came together in an open-air assembly from 930 to 1798. It is now listed as a Unesco World Heritage site and the area around Pingvellir has great geological significance because of its unique mineral rich landscape combined with an abundant diversity of animal and plant life.