Inspired by the summer solstice, and the fact that I don't currently have an apartment, I spent the last 5 days in a place I've always dreamed of going: Iceland! (click links to view photos).

Reykjavik is a truly pleasant city. Small, but not sleepy, it radiates a uniqueness that is hard to explain. Strolling around you are always aware that you're somewhere remote and different. Could be the 1am sunshine, could be the corrugated metal buildings that look like something from an Antarctic base, could be the monster trucks everywhere, I don't know, it's just definitely out there, and I really liked it.

Aesthetically, it's surprisingly suburban. Most people seem to live in apartment complexes on the city edge. But the streets at the city center are especially pleasant and quaint. There is art everywhere. Sculptures and murals, and nothing seems to be vandalized. Apparently there are more musicians per capita than anywhere else, and the busses even have books on board for your reading pleasure! Talk about civilized.

It's clearly at the crossroads of America and Europe. There are loads of American cars and trucks all over the place, and certain brand names you don't see in the rest of Europe. Yet you're clearly in Scandinavia. This crossroads manifests itself quite literally at Þingvellir where you can see the mid-Atlantic ridge pulling the island apart. On the right of that photo the rocks are headed for Europe, on the left to North America. Totally amazing.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see as much as I wanted and mostly hung around close to Reykjavik. The busses are not that practical outside of town, and a car rental would have been out of the question due to cost. Still, I did get to see a bit of the country and the requisite tourist sites, the Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir, and of course the Blue Lagoon, which is a bit of a marketing phenomenon. It's actually excess water from a geothermal power plant that sits around on a lava field. Because it's close to the main airport, Icelandair busses passengers over during layovers making it Iceland's most visited tourist attraction. Still worth an afternoon though!

I've got to make it back there. But next time it's gotta be with a group and a car. Want to come?