Icelandic geothermal pools – the Blue Lagoon

Iceland is a land of ice, fire and geothermal energy. This series of blogs will show you the beauty of Icelandic countryside, waterfalls, ice, black sand beaches, craters, lava fields, amazing geothermal pools and more. The world you will see is beautiful but also fragile. Icelanders have learned how to live in this not always most welcoming environment. They also make the most out of the natural resources of the island, such as the geothermal pools.

Geothermal pools or hot lakes are not exclusive to Iceland, they are found also elsewhere. Water in those pools is heated by the energy coming from the earth’s crust. Temperatures in some pools is too high to be used for bathing, but in others it is just perfect for relaxation. The one I will show you today – the Blue Lagoon, is between Reykjavik and Keflavik International Airport. In contrast to some others, those pools are are man-made, the water comes from close-by Svartsengi power station. It is also one of the most frequently visited geothermal spas in Iceland.

The Blue Lagoon is a great place to visit, especially when you are tired from a long flight. You will be relaxed and refreshed in no time at all. There are different packages or tickets you can purchase and you need to pre-purchase those selecting your preferred time of entry at the time of purchase. There are secure lockers you will be able to leave your stuff in, there is also a luggage storage by the parking if you want to leave your large suitcases. Basic package includes a towel and a drink but remember that the outside temperature in Iceland is pretty low, even in summer so an upgrade to next package with a robe can be a good solution.

Once you are ready to enter the pool area, you can check out the temperature in the pools. It is handy but you are unlikely to remember details once you are in the water. Do not worry though, water is comfortable, not too hot. You can swim, walk or just soak in the pools. As you play in the water, you may get thirsty, to take care of that there is a drink bar in the lagoon. It offers a selection of drinks, from water, through healthy juices, smoothies, soft drinks to wine or beer. Do not worry about money, at entrance you will be given a band to put on your wrist and it is used to record all of your purchases while inside the spa.

There is also a second bar. It is a mask bar, where you can get your free silica mask or get an upgrade to one of their special masks. Putting it on can be fun but avoid getting any of the masks into your eyes or on your hair. In this part of the pool you can see plenty people walking with the masks on their faces, shoulders and even backs.

Another option at the Blue Lagoon is to get a special package with in water treatment included. In a separate area of the lagoon, there are in water massage beds. And if all this is not enough for you, there is also a wall of waterfall, steam rooms and sauna. You can also stay on-site in a hotel. Rooms are definitely expensive but you will get a lot for your money. Some of the rooms include even a private lagoon. Yes, your own geothermal lagoon! Staying at the hotel on site lets you enjoy the spa when you want and pick and choose what you like. Being close to Reykjavik, it makes it possible to go there for an evening if you wish as well or spend your evening in a warm pool under the stars. This obviously not in the middle of the summer, when there is no real night to talk about.

As you can see area surrounding the lagoon is pretty surreal with the black volcanic rocks everywhere. In the distance you can see green grass on the hills surround the lagoon as well as the power station itself. The mist over the pools is hot water mist, as the pools are much warmer than the air around you. The moment you get out of the water is memorable, you suddenly feel cold, this is when it is great to have a robe to wrap yourself in it.

 

Relaxing in the water or outside water is great. You can get pampered in the water, you can also use relaxation lounge and sitting area inside, grab a snack or drink. Once you are too hungry to carry on relaxing, there is a snack bar, as well as full restaurant. And you do not have to get changed, just go right in, get seated and enjoy a meal with a view of the lagoon. Food is local and delicious.

Once you have relaxed enough and had some food to get you going, there is a shop, which sells cosmetics to keep your skin perfect once you are back home. As you are leaving the spa it is also good to see the surrounding area, which will take you close to the other pools which are not a part of the lagoon and offer views of volcanic rocks, delicate moss growing on their surface.

The Blue Lagoon is just one of the geothermal spas in Iceland and you can enjoy many others even around Reykjavik. Once you get into the countryside, there are some spas with fantastic views. So whatever your choice might be, you need to see at least one of those spas, they are unforgettable. It is a true experience in healthy lifestyle and relaxation. Perfect moment in time to enjoy.

 

World Cancer Day

Today was World Cancer Day. What is that all about? It is about a lot of things: people we knew and lost to cancer, those who survived the fight with the disease and raising number of people who are diagnosed with it. We can make it about the things most important to us, whatever they are: life, friendship, love, courage…

The first time cancer touched my life was still in primary school, one of our classmates got sick with bone cancer. He fought bravely but unfortunately died at the age of 11. This was a shock to us all, there was nobody there to help us cope with it, we just had to get over it or not on our own.  A few years later my Mum’s friend was loosing her son to a brain tumor over a couple of years. The sad part was there was no way to operate and other treatments were very limited. The young man was a gifted musician. Then my friend’s father suddenly got diagnosed completely by chance and very quickly lost his battle even without realizing what was happening. There was so much sadness and suffering. Those who were left behind were wandering if this could have been prevented, could have someone help to stop the disease. I think that we were all praying for a miracle.

I wanted to help and studied cancer for my degree, but the more I studied the less clear things were.It seemed like cancer was getting more complicated the more we discovered about it. Today we know a lot but in many cases we are still powerless to stop it doing the damage. There are so many factors that can cause cancer and the disease does not differentiate between young and old. It is often a brutal disease killing you slowly for years before it shows up and gives you visible trouble. In Australia and especially in Queensland, we are very well aware of dangers of skin cancer, so we cover up and put on sunscreen. I am still amazed how many people risk their health by sunbathing for hours on beaches around the world.

However, it was not skin cancer but breast cancer that attacked two of my friends with a very different outcomes. One beat the disease, while the other unfortunately died. Susan got diagnosed suddenly with an aggressive form of disease. Despite it, the initial treatment seemed to have worked, she was slowly recovering, started coming back to the gym and we were running together one more time. She felt optimistic despite the toll the treatment was taking on her. However, it did not last long, a sudden turn and she was not there anymore…

There are many more people who died of cancer, but we are now fighting back and more people have a chance to survive and live longer than ever before. Let’s fight it together and support those who get sick and those who care for those that are sick.