by Wendy
Our day of steam in Iceland began at a geyser and ended at the Blue Lagoon. I wish anyone under pressure from stress or worry could have this day.

As we drove through southwestern Iceland, we stopped by the geyser, which simply goes by “Geysir.” The day was cool but with a warm sun. We walked around and watched Geysir erupt several times. Water shot up into the cornflower blue sky. Wispy steam sailed by to blend into the puffy clouds.

Streams of boiling hot water – and smaller geysirs – crisscrossed the area. Steam rose from the ground in various places and the smell of sulfur was in the air.

The landscape was gorgeous, which seems to be par for the course in Iceland.

Later we drove to the world famous Blue Lagoon. Some people will tell you this is a tourist trap. Maybe, but I’d gladly be trapped there again.

Walking through the chilly air into a steamy, warm geothermal pool felt extremely therapeutic. There is lots of room to wade through the water and find quiet spots. The space is very well-designed, with plans underway to expand. There are swim-up bars to order drinks or facial masks. There are rocky borders, bridges, a waterfall, and even a sauna. It’s one giant spa party.

We don’t have that many photos of the Blue Lagoon. For one, we didn’t want to drop our phones or cameras in the water. They sell protective covers that many people were buying, but we didn’t care that much about getting the requisite photo with the algae or silica mask on. We just wanted to relax. And relax we did.

A few other notes on the Blue Lagoon:

• Reserve your tickets in advance. We skipped a long line by doing this.
• Our package included a robe, slippers, towel, complimentary drink, and extra beauty mask – all things we were glad to have. You can keep the slippers if you want.
• You will receive a plastic bracelet that you must wear at all times. You can use it to open and secure a locker to store all of your stuff, or scan to pay for any extra drinks or amenities.
• The changing room is crowded chaos. There are a few private dressing rooms available, and there are private shower stalls. A shower is required before you enter the water. Don’t stress out about this too much. Just get to the Blue Lagoon and feel annoyances melt away.
• We had dinner at the restaurant and it was good, but busy and pricey. Would probably skip.
• Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm – even on chilly days, the glare of the sun on the water feels strong.
• There is a gift shop with lots of different products, including travel size, so you can bring a bit of the Blue Lagoon experience home. Thanks Mom for the algae mask and lotion!
• Use the complimentary conditioner and consider leaving it on your hair while you are in the Blue Lagoon. The water still made my hair very dry, and I’ve already written their customer service with the suggestion of adding a blowout salon to their premises! Girls, you know I’m on to something here – leaving the Blue Lagoon with a fresh hairstyle to match your glowing skin could take the spa experience to a whole new level.

Everyone needs to let off steam now and again, and I’ve often thought of this trip when I’m feeling tense or depressed. Beautiful scenery plus a long soak can do wonders to help a person unwind. While it doesn’t have to be in Iceland, I’d welcome the chance to go back to this spectacular country.