Hi everyone. So I’m going to Iceland for the first time in March and was wondering if anyone on EC has been or lives there and could give me some cool places to go and see and maybe some advice on what I should wear over there.
I've had friends go. A couple things that they mentioned as amazing were Seeing the Aurora Borealis at night (Northern lights) and sitting in massive hotspring spas's overlooking the landscape (not sure where in Iceland those are located though) On another note, why do you feel crappy? It sounds like you are about to go on an awesome vacation!
I am planning on hopefully seeing the northern lights (fingers crossed) and I think the hot springs are on the to do list aswell but that one depends on if we have time i think. I’m really looking forward to it as I’m a bit of a Viking geek and I know there is some interesting Viking museums out there. As for feeling crappy I always feel this way as I’m really struggling with my gender fluidity and finding it hard to find a release if that makes sense? (Thank you for asking by the way)
Yeah, the Nordic culture is fascinating to look at. Interesting fact: Even though it has been proven false, In the United States we are taught that Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover america, but in reality it was Norseman Leif Erikson. Amazing how learning history yourself can completely change your view of history. I feel for you in your struggle, and if you ever need anyone to talk (or rant) to, throw a post on my wall. I'm about to upgrade to a full membership, so I won't be able to PM until then. While I've never dealt with gender fluidity, I am Demi/pansexual and am friends with a couple people who have gone through what you are right now, so I've gained some perspective into their minds and struggles.
Interestingly enough, I actually jokingly looked up Iceland for one of my coworkers over the summer when she was mentioning farfetched places her son wanted to go (it was a slow day). From my recollection, the big things we found were the Northern Lights, hot springs, and seeing the architecture. Fun fact: I don't know how long you've been out of the public school system but the Columbus viewpoint is pushed a lot less given newer knowledge, a lot of educated Americans are actually very aware that it was Leif Erikson and the Vikings who got here before Columbus; it's even brought up in some children's lit, so it's not like that's just being taught to older students.
Iceland is awesome, it really looks like an entirely different planet in a lot of areas. There's nowhere I know of with more stunning natural beauty than there. Reykjavik is a pretty cool city too, with a very different lifestyle than most people are used to. These are not professional pictures, my friend took them a few months ago in Iceland.
It's funny that I actually know a surprising number of people who have gone to Iceland. I don't have anything to add to the list people have already come up with but the people I know who have been there were all oddly taken with it. I hope you have a great time! As far as Leif Erikson it's not exactly a newly discovered thing. I'm 47 and attended public school in Utah--we were taught about him in junior high.
I did know that and like you I found that out after school. Thank you I’ll drop you a post . I’m a full member so when you do because one too PM me
That's awesome! Yeah, its been a dozen years or so since I was in grade school. I'm glad at least some school districts are teaching it. The reason i brought it up was it sparked a memory about preparing for a TAKS (state) test, and I had recently learned about Lief Erikson through a show on History. (When History channel was about history) I argued with her that she was wrong until I ended up in detention. Only later when talking with my parents at the counselors office did they explain she was right because that is what the Texas state testing said was the answer, not because that is accurate. I remember that day vividly as that was the day I began questioning the validity of everything being taught to me.
I've never been, but I hear there are tons of natural sites to enjoy - northern lights, hot springs, whale watching, glacier hiking, lagoons, waterfalls, fjords, etc. Their tourism board has a website. I think it's called Guide to Iceland...
My uncle lives in Iceland and I remember hearing when I was younger that he had to leave home for a little while due to a volcano erupting. He has sent books with beautiful pictures of volcanoes. Depending on where you’re going in Iceland you can tour volcanoes.
Does anyone know what the weather is like in March? Like I know it’s cold but is it so cold that I’ll need thermal clothes? Or will I be ok with a warm winter coat?
It's usually between 20 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit there around March. It's also oddly very sunny at the same time though.
