Springing back to Iceland to see it in the green! COMPLETED 6/29 About This Page:

[chezp]

Tuesday 2 May – part two: is there any shelter here from the wind?

When we arrived at the Blue Lagoon, the car park looked packed. In fairness, I don’t think we’d taken any notice of how busy the car park was on our last visit. Equally, I suspect a lot of people will have arrived by bus at that time of year, whereas potentially more people will drive at this time of year. We eventually found a parking space, then battled to open the car doors against the wind (I am not joking! ), and headed down to the Blue Lagoon.



This was the only shot I got on the way down, as the wind was piercing, and it felt as if there were icicles hitting me. I kept my head down, and battled my way forward, honestly with the mentality that every step forward was another step closer to getting inside, that’s how bad it was. At least the lines weren’t outside the door, like they were last time, and there were no signs saying there was “no availability until 6:00pm”, which is what greeted us last time around.

We got in the right line, although I did get Mark to double check I had the right line, as it was moving so slowly. We were in premium or luxury, as I’d bought the premium package, and I assumed we’d get better service as a result. The standard or comfort line (the cheapest packages) moved way faster than we did. I’m glad we pre-booked though, as if you didn’t, you had to just stand and wait until there was no-one in line, before they would even see you.

Eventually, it was our turn, and we got our robe and towel, and made our way in. Again, for some bizarre reason, Mark had to go upstairs for his changing room, while mine were open downstairs.

When I went in, I kept looking for a locker area that didn’t seem to be too busy, but every single one seemed to have loads of people changing, and I wasn’t sure how many (if any) lockers were free, as it’s one of those systems where you don’t know until you literally walk up to them, and tug them and see if they’re open. I ended up about as far away from the entrance to the Blue Lagoon and the showers as it was possible to be. Oh well, lesson to learn for next time, if we come back.

I got changed, and headed over to the showers, but this time there were no staff on hand to tell everyone that they had to shower without their swimming stuff on, like last time. I’m afraid I only saw one woman who did that, but I went into a cubicle and did as you were supposed to. However, without staff and with only limited signage, people aren’t likely to obey the rules. I applied plenty of conditioner to my hair, as this is supposed to stop it from going frizzy in the silica water.

I headed outside, and Mark was waiting for me. Having learnt from last time, we both left our dressing gowns and towels in our lockers, as last time Mark’s robe was taken and he had to get another from reception. And frankly, if you’d have left anything outside, it would’ve been blown away by the wind. More of that later…

It was absolutely freezing when we headed outside, which wasn’t a surprise. However, the water didn’t feel as warm as on our last visit. We both suspected the wind whipping away was taking the edge of that temperature. We also remembered the lagoon being deeper, and we were spending a lot of time having to duck down to keep as much of our bodies under the water and out of the wind as we could.

I’d stupidly forgotten my goggles as well, so I was constantly worried about my contact lenses. Here, they tell you that wearing them may not be a great plan, but apparently wearing glasses isn’t a great plan either, so it’s a choice of the devil or the deep blue sea (excuse the pun ) as to which you choose to wear, if you have major sight problems, as I do.

My other problem was the band I was wearing (you have it to show your package) had already come loose in the shower, so I spent most of my time hanging on to it, as obviously I didn’t want to lose it in the lagoon, as it was the only way to open my locker. Trust me, if you let go of it, you’d probably never see it again, as you literally cannot see anything in the water at all.

We waded out as far as we could, hoping we’d find a point in the water that was more sheltered, but sadly there didn’t seem to be anywhere. For goodness sake, somewhere must be out of the wind, surely? If there was, we didn’t find it.

The closest we found was behind the bar, where you get a free drink with our package, so we both had a Fresita – remember the strawberry wine I’d had a couple of nights ago at dinner? Well, this was the same stuff. We hid behind the bar, and enjoyed our drink, and ended up chatting to a group of youngsters from Boston, who’d just flown out here for a “long weekend”. Good for them, and I guess it’s not too far. I think they said it was a five hour flight, so just a couple more hours than us. Wow, that’s a bit freaky…

Once we’d finished our drinks, we headed over to another section to see if it was more sheltered. Short answer? It wasn’t. At least it did have seats around the edges of the water here, which was an improvement on the other parts of the lagoon. We hadn’t found a single seat so far, which hadn’t helped, as I’d been bobbing up and down on my feet, which isn’t good for my chronic fatigue, and much of the time, I’d been on one foot, so as to try and give my bad ankle a break. Of course, that was placing quite a bit of stress on the remaining foot. Not exactly good!

We settled down on our seats, only found once a couple moved away, and I discovered they were there (up until that point, we’d been hovering in a hot part of the pool). We were there some time, although Mark had a close encounter with the guy next door… he was floating along, going backwards, and almost went into Mark. I said “you’ve got a new friend there”, and Mark’s face was a picture when he saw him! Mind you, the guy’s face was even more of a picture when his other half pointed out what he’d done… talk about embarrassed! It turned out they were from the Netherlands, and we chatted for a little bit. They said they’d been to a similar spa near Akureyi (on the north eastern coast of Iceland, about six hours drive from Reykjavik), and it had been lovely, the weather perfect. Today, not so much…

We drifted a bit closer to the horrible moment where we’d have to get out, admiring the way the silica had coated the lava rock, and the sidewalks on top of them, where shivering lifeguards walked along. There was also a lifeguard in the pool, and we later found out what his role was…

We didn’t exactly make a run for it when we got out of the lagoon, but I was delighted and pretty surprised to find my flip flops where I’d left them – result! I was happy to get back inside, as my goodness, it was cold! I decided to go and shower, wash my hair, take my contact lenses out (as I was worried I’d got some of the silica water in my eye while I’d been in the lagoon), and then I headed upstairs to meet Mark in the relaxation area.

Next: so that’s what the lifeguard in the water is there for!

[Tara O'Hara]

It sounds like the Lagoon was quite the experience today!! I'm glad you guys found a seat eventually to rest your ankle and a nice drink as well!!

[disney_duke]

What a shame the weather played such a role in the water today. But you made the best of it, as always! And made some new friends.

[Colexis Mom]

Sorry the weather made the hot springs less enjoyable!

[cubfancolleen]

The weather sounds so miserable. I'm now making note to pack Mike's prescription mask he uses for snorkeling - he is beyond blind without glasses, and I'd hate for something to happen to his glasses on day 2 of a 2.5 week trip!!
Have you found in each trip that slathering on conditioner saves your hair?

[Alaskan Mom]

You two are such adventurers! Even with the whether and no seating for awhile, it sounds like you enjoyed the lagoon.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

The weather sounds so miserable. I'm now making note to pack Mike's prescription mask he uses for snorkeling - he is beyond blind without glasses, and I'd hate for something to happen to his glasses on day 2 of a 2.5 week trip!!

Yes definitely take that...

Have you found in each trip that slathering on conditioner saves your hair?

I've had no problems whatsoever with my hair after our visits to the Blue Lagoon and I've just followed their directions about the conditioner, so I assume it's down to that?

[SuperDave]

Sounds like a great time so far! Too bad the cold temps and wind made it a bit unenjoyable at times! Mice going with hiding at the bar in the beginning for a while!

[Cam22]

Kind of ironic that the Blue Lagoon could be more enjoyable in the winter than the spring. That winter sounds awful!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by Cam22

Kind of ironic that the Blue Lagoon could be more enjoyable in the winter than the spring. That winter sounds awful!

I know - that's what we kept saying. I really was expecting much better weather in May than February... but apparently not.

[chezp]

Tuesday 2 May – part three: so that’s what the lifeguard in the water is there for!

They have a set of loungers inside in the relaxation lounge, where you can just sit there and watch what’s going on outside. He’d done a great job of keeping it for me, as apparently quite a few people had tried to get it.

We sat there for the next half hour or so, just watching the world go by outside, and it was so much fun people watching. There were so many people who were braver than me, let’s just put it that way, as they spent a lot more time out of the water when they were wet and in their swimming stuff. We saw one couple photograph each other in the water, then do a selfie, then she legged it back inside! Two minutes and that was it! Even better, her other half got a photo taken with the lifeguard in all his different layers – showing what “normal people” wear and what idiot visitors wear when they come here….



There was another woman in a white costume (not a good choice, let’s just say that now, as it was almost see through… ) and she was in and out, in and out, grabbing her phone, rearranging her gown – you name it.

On the subject of dressing gowns, and towels, I’m sorry but you were nuts if you took anything outside. When I went back to shower, there were staff in there, who were telling people to leave their towels by the showers, as anything that went outside would be blown away. Sound advice! Frankly, having watched some of the dressing gowns fly out at 90 degrees, how they stayed put, I don’t know.

We also found out what the lifeguard in the water was there for. I don’t know if you can see it here, but he was rescuing flip flops that were blown into the water! At one point, he turned up with six in total. We had great fun watching him.



I did mention selfies, and you may be wondering about people taking cameras and/or phones into the water, and it’s not something I’d do. Some people took them in as they were in waterproof packaging, but even then, if it was an expensive phone, and you were maybe halfway through your vacation, I wouldn’t want to risk it packing up!



As we sat there, the couple next to us were listening to all our comments about what we were watching, and they were laughing at everything we said. I think when we left, their entertainment for the day dried up!

We also found out that the loungers would tip backwards. Oh my goodness, it did not look natural at all! Mark tried to tip mine backwards, but I told him in no uncertain terms that he could forget that!



Eventually, we’d had enough of watching the activity outside, so Mark went to shower and change, and I braved the elements again. At least this time, I was wearing my dressing gown, and was dry, so although it was still cold outside, you didn’t feel it for the first couple of minutes or so…



I then went to dry my hair. Wow, their hairdryers are really something! Now I love the Thermae Bath Spa and we visit it regularly, but honestly, they could really learn from this place in terms of changing room facilities. The showers are much bigger, the hairdryers are more powerful and plentiful, and they just seem to do things much better. Mind you, I guess they have more people every day.

We met outside, and headed out, both nearly getting our fingers snapped off, as we handed our band back (it’s like a MagicBand), as it was very quick to grab it…

We made our way over to the Lava Restaurant, where we had a reserved table at 2:00pm.



On our way, we nipped outside again, braving the spray off the water, and the wind in our faces, to get a few photos.



I really cannot begin to tell you what the weather was like here. Unless you’ve been out in severe winds, you cannot imagine what it’s like. It’s not fun.

Next: another wonderful Lava lunch

[Tara O'Hara]

Your time inside sounds relaxing and fun!! I love your pictures and the weather sure looks like it didn't scare people away!! I am looking forward to hearing about your lunch at Lava.

[Colexis Mom]

Just looking at the pictures the weather just looks miserable.

[cubfancolleen]

Please let our weather be better, please let our weather be better, please......you get the idea. My mantra for the next 100 days! (We fly in 99)

[disney_duke]

Ahh yes, people watching. Highly entertaining as always!
Winds that whip off the water are always worse than anywhere else. Having experienced that off Lake Michigan, yeah, it's not fun. At all.