The Blue Lagoon

My lovely friend Luis told me yesterday (via internet) that he cried when he visited the Blue Lagoon. I thought he was being a bit too sensitive, or exaggerating a little.  But as soon as we approached the Lagoon, that blue water brought tears to my eyes. 

This is one of the most visited places in Iceland and definitely one not to be missed! It is less than a hour drive from downtown Reykjavik, and even closer to the airport. 

 The Blue Lagoon is actually a man made lagoon. It uses water from a nearby geothermal power plant and it is renewed every two days.

From Wikipedia: The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulphur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases such aspsoriasis. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 37–39 °C (98–102 °F). The Blue Lagoon also operates a research and development facility to help find cures for other skin ailments using the mineral-rich water.

The lagoon is a spa and you can buy different packages: standard, comfort, premium and luxury. We chose the comfort one, which gave us the entrance, a bathrobe, a towel, skin care trial package, an algae mask scrub and a drink. All for 60 Euros, or about CAN $85, a person. Here is Julia getting her drink: a raspberry slushy. 

Mom and dad preferred something more substantial... like a beer.

The lagoon has a couple of spots for silica mud mask, for free.

The silica mud mask is supposed to exfoliate your skin. It just feels really good because the mud dries on your skin making it feel like you are really getting some immediate results.

Although, you never look as beautiful as the girls on the spa's brochures. But you sure feel good.

This was one of the girls favourite spots to hang out: a cave.

I preferred the waterfall.

This group of Chinese tourists were hilarious and insisted on performing "synchronized swimming" for my camera. 

Part of our package was the algae mask scrub, that is supposed to make you look younger. Maybe I didn't use enough...

According to Wikipedia: In 1976 a pool formed at the site from the waste water of the geothermal power plant that had just been built there. In 1981 people started bathing in it after the discovery of its healing powers for psoriasis. In 1992 the Blue Lagoon company was established and the bathing facility was opened for the public.

This is the scenery all around it. I guess that's the moon-like-view that people talk about.

It's just astonishing!

After 6 hours at the Blue Lagoon, we followed the rainbow and headed back to the city.

Since the girls took a nap in the car and were not tired at all when we got back to the hotel, we went for a walk in downtown Reykjavik.

This is the "Mother's Garden."

From Wikipedia: Tjörnin is a prominent small lake in central Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. Most visitors to the city pass along its shore, as it is situated in the city centre next to the Reykjavik City Hall and several museums. Tjörnin means "the lake" or "the pond". Tarn, meaning "mountain lake", is a northern English dialect word derived from the Norse word tjörn and its genitive/plural tjarnar. Bird feeding on the lake shore, a popular pastime, has led to the lake being called "the biggest bread soup in the world" (stærsta brauðsúpa í heimi). Tjörnin was the setting for scenes in the 2010 Icelandic movie Gauragangur.

 Some art to finish the day... and hopefully make us think.