Elopement in Iceland
We exchanged vows on July 21st atop the Svöðufoss waterfall in Iceland.
It was a cold, windy, rainy, blustery, absolutely perfect day.
We got ready for the ceremony in our teeny campervan and then hiked to the top of the waterfall, where we had to shout our vows to be heard above the wind and roaring water.
From the waterfall, we headed to a nearby lava field, created by a long-ago volcanic flow, where we were greeted by the most perfect rainbow.
We visited the Djúpalónssandur black pearl beach, strewn with the rusted remains of a 1948 shipwreck.
There, we were also visited by an Arctic Fox!
We ended our night at Arnarstapi, a seaside town with incredible cliffs, a stone arch bridge, and a delicious pizza restaurant.
Iceland
We spent the remainder of our time in Iceland happening upon hidden waterfalls, relaxing in fjord-side hot springs, hiking to basalt column cliffs, and exploring gorges and geothermal vents in our campervan.
Scotland
We headed to the Scottish highlands next, starting in Glasgow and indulging in afternoon tea at a 1903 tea room. We survived driving on the left side of the teeniest roads we've ever seen, and spent the evening in an 1801 lochside estate. We hiked in Glencoe, endured a steep rainy climb in the Isle of Skye to visit the fairy pools, stayed in Inverness by Loch Ness, walked the battlefield at Culloden Moor, and visited the ruins of Slains Castle - the inspiration for Dracula.
Shetland
From Aberdeen, we drove our rental car onto the overnight ferry to the Shetland islands - a 14 hour voyage. In Shetland, we explored the capital city of Lerwick and stayed in the Laird's room of a 1749 estate, where our host, a gourmet chef, prepared a three-course dinner. We visited the Jarlshof ruins, a 4,000-year old prehistoric Norse settlement. We saw nesting puffins, peeked over the edge of the cliffs of Eshaness, and greeted Shetland ponies. Our favorite part of Shetland may have been the cake fridges throughout the island - an honor system of fresh-baked goods made by locals, available 24/7. We also joined a Sunday tea - a Shetland tradition where residents contribute potluck-style at their local community hall, paying a £5 fee for all-you-can eat treats and all-you-can drink tea to fundraise for a chosen charity.
Faroe Islands
After a return ferry to the mainland and a quick stop in Edinburgh, we were off to the Faroe Islands! We landed on July 29th, which happened to be Ólavsøka, "Saint Olaf's Wake," the National Day of the Faroe Islands. We joined in as the population of the entire country poured into the capital city of Tórshavn in their traditional clothing to celebrate, culminating in Midnáttarsangurin, "midnight song," when a large crowd gathers in the town square to sing old and new Faroese songs and ballads at midnight. Every place we had visited so far on this trip had been breathtaking - but the landscape of the Faroe Islands was otherworldly. Our AirBnB overlooked the Mulafossur waterfall. We ate fresh seafood and fermented lamb and traveled between islands via underwater tunnel - including the world's only underwater roundabout!
Iceland - again!
Our trip home included one more layover in Iceland, and one last soak in a lagoon overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, where we experienced their seven-step ritual: soaking in the hot lagoon, a cold plunge in the glacial pool, warming up in a sauna with a view, a refreshing cold mist, a full-body herbal sugar scrub, a relaxing steam, and a cold shower before returning to the hot lagoon. We also enjoyed a final day in Reykjavík, including one last Icelandic hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, "Best Hot Dogs in Town," and one final scoop of Rye Bread ice cream. We boarded our flight back to KC and enjoyed slices of Hjónabandssæla, "Happy Marriage Cake," on the plane. While we were sad to end our trip of a lifetime, we were happy to be back home with Pascal and Scoresby.