Hello Adventurers,
We meet again. Going through the hundreds of photos that we all took, I can't help but wish I was still on my spring break or that I could start over and relive that week. While each day seemed to be long, looking back, I'm not sure where the week went. But isn't that how all good adventures make us feel? Nothing is long enough, but at least the experiences we encountered will be with us for a lifetime. In a week of driving to see as much of Iceland as we could, I think I learned some pretty valuable lessons that will stick with me until the next time I travel and can learn more.
First and most important, eat all the food. I mean all of it. Especially those 'American' snacks. When we landed in the airport, Iceland welcomed us with Dunkin' Donuts. Of course, their size medium was equivalent to our small, but I was still a huge fan. And now I can say I've had Dunkin' Donuts in another country. I can also say this about KFC and Dominos. (It was a week of too many treats.)
You also get to see new types of animals. Did you know Icelandic ponies are the only type of horses you'll find in Iceland? I also learned that when you see horses on the side of the road, you should stop (when it is safe to do so) and PET THE PONIES. When in doubt, stop and pet the ponies. You'll thank me later.
Okay, so some of my lessons learned are Iceland specific, so I'll try to include some universal lessons. One of which is, explore your outdoors. When you go to a new country, there's nothing greater than seeing what's around where you are. You can also see how incredible nature is.
If you're lucky enough to get a group of friends together to organize and plan a trip, you're lucky enough. I'm so thankful that I found a group of girls that wanted to explore as much as me (maybe even more!) Encourage each other, plan, re-plan, and make what seems to be the improbable, possible.
See everything. Walk through waterfalls, attempt to hike in your bean boots, and make sure you have a list of things so you don't forget what to do.
Remember when I mentioned that you should eat the food? Definitely eat some food from a street vendor. It'll be worth it. (I also probably paid $6 for this. You've got to splurge when you need to most.)
Lastly and also very important, take a risk.
Sure, there are other ways I could've spent my money. Save it. Keep it for a rainy day. Or give myself a hard-earned vacation. I'd rather spend my money on experiences instead of material items. You'll be happier making memories than buying a new, over-priced sweater. (I promise.)
