The Blue Lagoon and Our Airbnb in Reykjavík, Iceland

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland by Melanie Biehle

Our summer vacation to Iceland and Germany marked the longest trip I’ve ever taken (3 weeks), the first time traveling to multiple countries on the same trip, and the first time taking an extended international trip with our son. We experienced so many amazing things and learned a lot about what we want in our next trip abroad.

I’ll be sharing some of our photographs, experiences, and thoughts about travel over the next few weeks. I’ll also share some of the artwork that I created while we were on our trip and some that has been inspired by our journey. Enjoy!

THE BLUE LAGOON

In 2012, I began reading about other people’s adventures in Iceland (Lisa Congdon, Mr. and Mrs. Globe TrotTeam Woodnote, and more) and I became obsessed with visiting the country. Especially The Blue Lagoon.
You guys are familiar with my water obsession, right? Hanging out by the pool for years, monthly floats, and more? When I first heard about and saw photos of The Blue Lagoon (click and scroll down for Björk) I knew that I HAD to go there. The day that we actually went probably wasn’t the best day weather-wise, but it was still an amazing experience that left me wanting to visit again.
The Blue Lagoon Iceland by Melanie Biehle
I loved being submerged in the salty blue-green water. I could see spending at least a couple of hours curled up with a book in the relaxation area above the outdoor entry to the spa. I even enjoyed the contrast of water and air – super warm, sleep-deprivation soothing, silica-filled water versus biting cold, sharp pellets of rain and wind once your body was exposed to the air.
The Blue Lagoon Iceland by Melanie Biehle
The Blue Lagoon Iceland by Melanie Biehle
The Blue Lagoon Iceland by Melanie Biehle

Nathaniel LOVED it. He was so happy in that pool. Like me, he loves being in water even if he’s not quite ready to put his face in. Take a look at how relaxed he felt at the LAVA Restaurant, post-spa.

If you need a place to spend a few hours until your Airbnb is ready like we did, I highly recommend making The Blue Lagoon your first stop on your trip to Iceland. We landed in Reykjavík at 6:30 AM (after leaving Seattle around 4:30 PM) and didn’t sleep a lot on the plane, and I really think that the spa helped with jet lag. I know I felt it much more when I returned to Seattle than when we arrived in Iceland.

Nathaniel's Post-Blue Lagoon Nap at LAVA Restaurant
The Blue Lagoon Iceland by Melanie Biehle
The Blue Lagoon

AIRBNB IN REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND

Speaking of our Airbnb, here’s the apartment that we rented in Reykjavík and some of the area nearby. The location was good and the hostess was fantastic. Drew wrote a review if you want to scroll down and see it. I spent a lot of early morning and evening time sitting in the kitchen at the chair right in front of the window drawing in my sketchbook and thinking about the day.

Airbnb in Reykjavík by Melanie Biehle
Airbnb in Reykjavík by Melanie Biehle
Along the Walk from Our Airbnb in Reykjavík Iceland by Melanie Biehle
Along the Walk from Our Airbnb in Reykjavík Iceland by Melanie Biehle
Art is part of who I am. Melanie Biehle, sketchbook

From the moment I arrived at the Keflavik International Airport, I started observing and collecting creative inspiration – like these beautiful photographs for Geysir. Warning: The Geysir site is taking a LOT of time to load today. Not sure if that is a normal thing or not. 

Geysir 2014 Campaign
Geysir 2014 Campaign

Okay…I think this is enough for one day. I have to get ready for art class (abstract drawing) – more on that another time. xo