Iceland 2022

Landscape at Thingvellir National Park

First things first, this country is bewilderingly gorgeous.

I’m very lucky I got to visit Iceland in the company of Hayley, my only-friend-in-London, because she lived here for a year, so she Knows Things. I’m always much more comfortable in a new place with someone who Knows Things, so that helped hugely. Partly because one day, she hired a car and ferried me around the Golden Circle (Thingvellir National Park, the Great Geysir, and Gullfoss).

At one point, Hayley said to me, “the thing about Iceland is, everywhere you look it’s just… beautiful. Everywhere.”

I don’t think she’s wrong. Even in the most industrial parts of Reykjavik, you look up and there’s a mountain in the background wearing a floaty cape of cloud, with the later afternoon sun hitting it in the most pleasing way you could imagine.

I can understand why Icelanders are so creative - after all, we were there nominally to attend Iceland Noir, a festival celebrating Nordic crime fiction. It must be difficult not to be inspired by this place.

I feel so lucky I got to spend some of my November on this glorious island.

They might not have a lot of light at this time of year, but what they do have is sensational. I mean… just look at that sunset.

In so many ways, this was the perfect holiday.

A mix of adventure, nature, relaxing in geothermally-heated pools, and many, many discussions about literature from some really interesting authors both local and international.

I was genuinely gutted to come home, except that I missed my boyfriend.

Plus, Iceland Air might be the kindest airline I’ve ever flown with.