Iceland
ICELAND:June 27th - July 3rd
June 27th we arrived in Iceland at 8am after a delayed flight. We were greeted by 45 degree and overcast weather but that is just Iceland. I also could not help but notice that all over the airport and surrounding areas there were clearly market recycling bins. Rarely did I ever see a lone garbage can - there was always the opportunity to recycle. 
In order to experience one of Iceland's most well known "must do's" we went to the Blue Lagoon. It was simply magical. The hot spring provided the comfort and welcome of Iceland that was irreplaceable. The nature and beauty that the country has to offer is breath taking - it simply feels as if you are in a dream. The Blue Lagoon also offered all recycling and trash bins as a package deal in order to influence tourist to use them.
Arrival at our "home" for the week:
We stayed at an airbnb which was an apartment behind someone's home in Iceland. We were extremely surprised to be welcomed by a list of to do's and don'ts on how to recycle and compost within our home. Everything was so easily accessible to us when it came to being eco friendly. In comparison to the US. I was so taken back by how normalized and easy recycling is to the everyday person (including tourist). I know alone in my hometown the closest establishment that accepts recyclables is 40 minutes away- definitely not accessible or easy. Iceland definitely has the correct idea and plan to make it so easy and normal that you have no choice but to choose the best option for the environment.
Day 2/3:
Friday we decided to go into the city of Reykjavik for the day and explore! We first had to figure out how the bus system worked and luckily it was nothing crazy! Our first stop was the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center. It was built in May of 2011 and has attracted millions of people since then. When you approach you are greeted the beautiful glass building that carries its unique honeycomb features throughout the building. Inside you can find restaurants, shows, and much more. 
Following the Concert Center we went to walk around the city and saw pretty much all of it in our day adventure. There is a new modern side of the city that has modern shopping stores and eateries, all of which are very earthy and cool. Then just up the hill is the old side of town that has the brick roads and side walks, this is where a lot of artist display their artwork or handcrafted works (very cool). There are also quite a few eateries and quant book stores. At the top of the hill is the Hallgrimskirkja Parish Church that was simply breath taking.It was built in 1945 and is the largest church in Iceland.
We also experienced the port side of the city that was simply beautiful. Here there were a lot of restaurants and bars that allowed for a unique (and expensive) experience by the water. It was also very interesting to me how the main city is located practically on the water- that was definitely a unique aspect of Iceland. Everyone in the town were very polite and more than willing to help us tourist when we seemed lost or had questions. It was amazing to me how well they all spoke English.
Much like all other parts of Reykjavik, the port side was well equip for garbage and recycling, the water was so clear you could see straight to the bottom and it was quite rare that I ever saw garbage on the street or the water. It is simply amazing the care and love that the Icelandic People seem to have for their home, you can truly tell by how well kept everything is.
Pictured to the left is just one of many types of recycling and waste management seen throughout the city.
Day 4: Our First Hike
We decided to rent a car as it seemed the easiest way to get to all the "must sees" of Iceland. First we embarked on our adventure to the Glymur Waterfall. Glymur is Iceland's second tallest waterfall. It was simply a beautiful hike. There were clear paths for hikers to take and many signs warning not to go off the path so that the grounds would remain protected and whole. The hike was about an hour and a half to the top- there were many moments I didn't think I was going to make it- there were posts with rope attached that you had to hang on to in order to climb up the side of the mountain. There were very steep moments but each time you got higher and higher the view just kept getting better. It was simply breath taking. 
Day 5/6: The Golden Circle
In Iceland they have a grouping of must see spots that they named the golden circle. Today we embarked on that journey. Our first stop was Thingvellir National Park -this was the first National Park ever in Iceland. This is where the North Atlantic and Eurasia plates meet.
Next we went to see the Geysir's, this was such a cool experience - the Geysir will shoot up from the group about every 7 to 8 minutes. Also at this site you had to opportunity to hike up to the hill behind and see a simply breathtaking view over the Geysir. |
| Temperature of water ranges from 40 to 70 degrees. |
*Even in the middle of nowhere - far from the city center there were efficient and effective recycling/waste management opportunities for all guests.
Next, we arrived at Gullfoss Waterfall. This is a massive waterfall that seems to be fake due to how beautiful it is. When we approached the massive waterfall the wind picked up and there was a light mist from the water. As you venture down the path to approach to the waterfall there are several different angle and view points that offer so many approaches to enjoying the waterfall. There was also a monument for a young woman who would bring travelers back and forth in the late 1800's to view the astounding waterfall and experience its beauty. 
Our final stop for the day was the Kerid Crater. This is a Volcanic crater that created a pool of beautiful crystal blue water- the water never drains but only changes with the weather. You have to walk down very steep stairs to approach the crater but the climb is totally worth the experience. This is the only site we went to where we had to pay to gain access. We could not find out any information as to why but we thought it was quite strange. 
Finally we climbed to the top of the volcano Kopsvogur which has not erupted since the early 2000s. This was quite a unique hike as the rocky terrane posed as a challenge at times. There was also the opportunity to venture into the volcano for around $200 US dollars but that was not in the budget, so we settled on enjoying the beautiful view from the top instead.
Overall - Iceland was simply a dream the entire journey, I had to keep reminding myself that all my adventures were real and that it was not a dream. The nature and landscape is truly like no other I have ever experienced in this world. Alongside the beautiful nature is the architecture. Even though the architecture is quite new - relatively speaking- it is unique and simply wonderful in its own way.
Sustainability-
The rest of the world should truly take notes on the amazing progress Iceland has made in their sustainable energy plans. Currently, about 100% of electricity comes from renewable energy. However, they do have an advantage due to their location between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates- this location is home to a very active volcanic zone which paired with the tremendous amount of glaciers allows Iceland to have large amounts of geothermal resources at their disposal. Due to this advantage, 9 out of 10 homes are heated solely with geothermal power. However, they still do use fossil fuel to power their vehicles but even this is 95-octane which burns most efficiently, therefore less pollutants and higher prices. Also recycling and composting is available and quite common to the everyday person. While staying at our airbnb we have a container for recyclables, compost, and generic waste. Each with descriptions as to what is allowed in each bin. As well in each grocery store and retail store you had to purchase a plastic bag they were never given to you. Iceland showed me how easy it is to be "green" and eliminated any excuse I ever had not to contribute full heartedly to make our world a greener place.
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