Seljavallalaug
On this morning, the sun was shining brilliantly, the air was exceptionally fresh, and we set off on what would become our most cherished hike, the one to Seljavallalaug pool.
This geothermally heated, manmade swimming hole is located below Eyjafjallajökull Glacier, near the town of Skógar. The trail is not marked, and even with our phone’s GPS, we were often left on our own to navigate the landscape. The area was lush, but also quite industrial, dark, and haunting. With the help of footprints left behind from other travelers and one kind local who encouraged us not to scale rockfaces and follow an easier path, we made it to Seljavallalaug without hurting ourselves.
We found the pool in a state of disrepair, and we weren’t able to get in the water, but after the journey we went on to get there, the moment was still monumental. Looking around, tiny waterfalls ran down the mountains, steam rose from the ground, and the sky was so vast it could have swallowed us whole. It felt as if we were standing in a place where timelines converged, and we could feel the energy of those who were there before us.
Selfoss
Later in the day, we travelled west to the more urban area of Selfoss, where we attempted some light shopping (everything was so expensive!) and treated ourselves to ice cream at Groovís, including this sassy, winking, clown cone enrobed in pink cotton candy.