Joao Oliveira is in Iceland
To my shame, I realize that this will be this years first content-on-Iceland entry. Mostly.
Then again, with the following to report one understands why posting something meaningful is quite a challenge.
Oddly enough the source is located quite far away. NZ Herald (May 8), no less, looks at what could be similar to an authentic NZ experience, were it not halfway round the world. It concerns the Blue Lagoon, the soaking icon of Iceland:
'The geothermal waters of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon pools draw visitors from around the world for their health qualities and stunning appearance. However there are some unusual side effects of dipping in the famous spa pools that are less appealing.On Friday visitor Marissa Carlino uploaded a video to TikTok titled “PSA don’t put your hair in the blue lagoon!”The 25-year-old influencer shared her hair horror story of salt water frizz which is proving almost impossible to treat. The PSA has racked up more than 9.5 million views....The FAQs section of the Blue Lagoon’s website does warn visitors that there are less desirous effects from the concentrated mineral waters.One of the most searched help topics is how to repair ‘Blue Lagoon hair’ after a visit to the spa pools....Other visitors have complained that bathing costumes and objects worn into the Blue Pools have been affected by the waters.Visitors are advised to rinse swimming suits “with cold water and soap after using the lagoon” to stop crusty salts forming in the materials....Jewellery has an effect of rusting and dissolving anodized metal coating in the brine, which is full of salt ions.The pools advice that metal objects can be damaged by geothermal seawater, which has high levels of silica, algae, and minerals“We recommend that you remove any jewelry (rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.) before entering the lagoon.”However, unlike some naturally occurring hot pools the Blue Lagoon is self-cleaning with nine million litres renewed by the aquifers every 40 hours.The pool is checked regularly by the spa for “foreign bacteria” and waterborne diseases, which are a risk in other geothermal pools including in New Zealand.The Blue Lagoon says it is perfectly safe to submerge your head in the Blue Lagoon, although your hair may not thank you afterwards'.
Well. The above surely must brings my readers back to earth. Heaven on earth? Not. Your hair might go fizzy. Yawn
More on cash generating soaks. Saunatimes, otherwises a quite authentic source of sauna related info, heads over to the Sky Lagoon (Aug. 3). Conclusions:
'My visit to the Sky Lagoon Hot Springs Spa was an enchanting and unforgettable experience. Amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland, this haven of relaxation and tranquility provided the perfect start to our Icelandic adventure. From the well-designed facilities to the captivating seven-step ritual and the exquisite sauna, every moment at Sky Lagoon was a testament to luxury and serenity.As a writer passionate about saunas, I wholeheartedly recommend this blissful sanctuary to any traveler seeking an unparalleled spa journey. Here we are, in the heart of Iceland’s geothermal wonderland. The deliberate use of temperature fluctuations and the resulting thermal shock added a rewarding dimension to our experience. This left us us feeling rejuvenated and ready to embrace the rest of our Icelandic journey. I eagerly await my return to this mesmerizing oasis. Sky Lagoon: where serenity and rejuvenation converge in perfect harmony'.
J U I C YColor’s of Icelandic summer 🌞#summervibes #summervibes #summeriniceland #icelandicsummer #hottop #hotsprings #inthemiddleofnowhere #icelandnature #icelandphotography #blondegirl#tatoo #tatoogirl #tattoostyle #sun #lovesundays❤️
Waste
We then head to the more natural then. My favourite Icelandic website of the moment, TotalIceland (Sep. 25) provides the perfect antidote to the gibberish above on their post concerning Myvatn hot pools:
'We used to love visiting what has become known worldwide as the Blue lagoon of Iceland. The very same lagoon the journalists at National Geographic deemed to be worthy as a world wonder. Which led us to wonder if those same journalists had not traveled the world much or are simply doing too much fentanyl.You see, describing a pool of waste-water from a geothermal plant as a world wonder is totally beyond us and we think it belittles true world wonders as the Amazon rain forest, the Himalayas or the arctic regions to name but a few....But for better or worse, the Myvatn Nature Baths is also a large pool filled by warm waste-water from a nearby geothermal plant and has, more or less, the exact same qualities as the water in the Blue lagoon.But what makes the Northern one better is the fact that it has much grander views from the lagoon over the Myvatn lake and lava area, secondly it is much less expensive, thirdly it is not pretending to be some grand-pampering factory for the rich and lastly, the steam baths here are quite unique for the fact that the steam inside rises directly up from the resource rich ground. Hundred per cent natural.
They continue. TotalIceland (Sep. 24) with their intro on Laugarfell:
'If Icelanders are known locally for anything it is the fact that if anyone happens to start something that makes money there will be hundreds of copycats arriving within the hour.A case in point: the blooming of “super-expensive luxury hot springs” all around this fair island hoping to leach into the millions upon millions that the Blue lagoon can rip off foreigners.At this point in time you can find similar luxury spots in at least six other places here (notwithstanding the industrial silica-induced water the Blue lagoon offers.) Most of which were totally free and enjoyable for all before folks with money to spend, with help from retard local politicians, decided anything free and popular was a bad idea.Be that as it may.If it were the case that local folks were benefiting from mafia-like prices to hot springs around the country then we´d shut the fuck up. Sadly that´s not the case.Laugarfell hot springs is a quite remarkable place in the area of remarkable places in Iceland....In theory, these are not “natural hot springs” in the sense that mother nature had nothing to do with things here. Rather, the springs were opened after hot water was discovered after drilling in the area. In fact, you can see the actual borehole from both springs.However, these are nice to dip into after a long drive or hike and decent food can be had in the restaurant'.
Missing Iceland and it’s super stellar public hot springs.♨️#icelandhotsprings
Reykjavik Grapevine (Jun. 10) goes "hot pool hopping" in the Westfjords:
'In Iceland, swimming pools are not merely places to take a dip; they are a way of life. With more geothermal swimming pools and hot springs per capita than anywhere else, Iceland has elevated ‘pool time’ to an art form. They appear in places where you would never expect – with the next one being better, bigger and sometimes hotter. On our recent journey to the scenic southern Westfjords, we tried to visit as many pools as possible in a single day. Get ready to steam, soak and surrender to pure relaxation!All of the thermal pools we visited on this trip were free, with donation boxes available on-site'.
All experiences are real experiences, a good read. And even better soaking.
17 Júní í gær🦋🇮🇸 #westfjords #icelandicsummernights #independanceday #skinnydip #icelandisopen
Back to TotalIceland (Sep. 28), this time on a not so-secret Secret hot pool on Iceland:
'Few things in this world are as horrible as marketers. Those folks whose sole job is to lie, exaggerate and put an overall positive spin on anything beneficial to particular companies or governments.Thanks to those guys you may have come across ads about a special and “secret” pool in Iceland lately. Perhaps that has something to do with the marketers of the pool itself calling it the Secret Lagoon. The link to the more famous Blue lagoon is obvious.Problem being, that the “secret” lagoon, is just about the oldest swimming pool in the whole country and as old stuff, as old people can can verify, is never very popular. Thus, the pool fell into disrepair and indeed, the name of this “secret” in Icelandic is simply The Old Pool and not fancy or sexy Secret Lagoon.But now it has been returned to former glory and it is indeed a fab place. Kinda rustic but still really warm fed by natural springs found right by'.
TotalIceland (Sep. 15) never seems to fail.
'It should not come as a surprise that in a few remarkable places you can even take a dip into a perfectly fine natural, or partly natural swimming pool and have it all to yourself....Infinitely more stunning than anything manmade these are more often than not located at stunning locations. In some you can lay back in the warm waters and stare literally into the abyss from the very best vantage point.Team Total Iceland has mapped all the geothermal pools in Iceland to give you an opportunity to plan your trip here better. This will be published soon but in the meantime here is one pool to give you a taste.The Krossanes pool could be described as the pool at the end of the world. It is not a natural pool in the strictest sense but its warm water comes straight from the earth. Built in such a remote place as to defy imagination and its located on the beach of the same name in the Nordurfjordur in the Westfjords of Iceland'.
Twowanderingsoles (Aug. 25) head to Fosslaug hot spring:
'The lukewarm waters of this riverside hot spring create the ideal conditions for a longer soak so you can spend more time soaking up those mineral-rich waters and taking in the picturesque views. It tends to stay around 40 C (100 F) year round.Like many other remote hot springs in Iceland, this pool is rather small and can only fit around 6 people comfortably, so you’ll want to arrive early in the morning or late evening for the best chances of having this pool all to yourself.Depending on the strength of the river, some opt to take a chilly dip in the river, then warm back up in the waters of the hot spring'.
[ Když zakončíte parádní den tím, že se před půlnoci vykoupete v teplém prameni uprostřed pustiny a s vodopádem "za zády", tak víte, že dokonalejší už to být prostě nemůže ❤️ ]#hotsprings#weroamabroad#traveliceland#discovericeland#hellofrom#northiceland#wowplanet#campervanadventure#vanlife#vanlife_czsk#minveciviczazitku#horyapriroda#fotkyplnekysliku#fotkukazdejden#dnescestujeme#jecozazit#wildculturecz#czechroamers#igerscz#cestounecestou#naszlaku#natgeolandscape#horskyholky#zenyvhorach#cestounecestou#zahorizonty#loudavymkrokem#objevujemesvet#objevsvet#podrozemaleiduze
TotalIceland (Mar. 14) on Seljavallalaug:
'Seljavallalaug which translates as the Pool of Seljavellir. It is one of the oldest man-made swimming pools in the country and sadly an excellent stop to make. Natural warm water flows in from the ground and the surroundings are both beautiful and surreal at the same time. Fab place for some reflection and tranquility.We say sadly because although a fantastic place there has never really been anyone taking care of it. This has worked for decades as locals made sure to to clean after themselves, keeping the small pool free of dirt and garbage and thus guaranteeing the next guest a pleasant visit too.Which is not the case with a lot of foreigners. A lot of folks now arrive to find trash on the floors, sand and dirt on the bottom and even condoms and other less impressive things floating in the warm water. Needless to say, no one has much interest enjoying a dip into such waste.Naturally, you could say someone should take care of it, and some volunteers do try but the throngs of people now arriving make that difficult. There is also no money in it. The government has no interest in protecting unique things of this nature and you know what happens to things not taken care of'.
Icelandwithaview (Sep. 18) heads over to Reykjadalur and gives 8 reasons why you should. As a parting they also have an fyi:
'Yes, you need to get naked in the wilderness with people around. Get over it. In Iceland, nobody cares....Spoiler alert, the worst part of this whole experience is getting out of the hot spring and trying to change back into your clothes in the freezing cold Icelandic windy weather. This only lasts for a few minutes, and then you realize that it was still worth it!
Icelandic hot springs 🧊Spent 3 months in this beautiful Nordic country last year. Have you visited Iceland?! If not.. Is it on your list? ✍🏼⤵️
Tricks
Back to the generic sources of recently shared info.
Icelandprotravel (Jan. 9) shares their most beautiful hot springs:
'Not without reason,the island is home to hundreds of public geothermal baths. There are different types of baths: On the one hand there are firmly established spas, which are financed by a usually quite high entrance fee, but on the other hand there are also hundreds of small hot springs in nature, which can be used for free or for a small donation. Most natural springs have temperatures between 95 °F and 104 °F and it is a real treat to bathe in them. To get a small overview of the many springs, we present some of the most beautiful hot springs in this blog article'.
TravelAddicts has updated their Icelandic hot springs overview (Aug. 23):
'On each of our five trips to Iceland, one of the highlights has been soaking in the Icelandic hot springs, and finding solace and serenity in the hot waters. We’ve traversed the island numerous times searching for off-the-beaten-path springs and cannot-be-missed pools'.
Icelandin8days (Mar. 28) delves into navigating Iceland's seemingly different aspects on nudity. It´s an updated article with 2023 in mind:
'In this article, we’ll explore the history of nudity in Icelandic culture, the etiquette at public swimming pools and hot springs, and the presence of nudity in Icelandic art and media....One of the most common places where visitors will encounter nudity in Iceland is at public swimming pools and hot springs....Nudity in Iceland, while perhaps surprising to some visitors, is deeply rooted in the country’s history and culture. By understanding the customs and etiquette surrounding nudity in public spaces, as well as the role it plays in Icelandic art and media, you can better appreciate and respect the unique perspectives that Iceland has to offer'.
Vök Baths (Apr. 23):
'Að fara í sturtu fyrir náttúruböð og sund er íslensk hefð en líka nauðsyn til að halda böðunum okkar hreinum-Showering before swimming is an Icelandic tradition but also a necessity to keep our hot springs clean. To do your shower ritual more privately we have shower-cubicles in our changing areas'
CampervanIceland (Oct. 2) recently adds a likewise article.
'Wondering where and when you can embrace your natural state and go nude in Iceland?...Being nude in Iceland isn't as taboo, but it's not exactly a free-for-all either....But if you stumble upon a remote hot spring in the middle of nowhere, feel free to take a dip in your birthday suit....For those who want to merge themselves into the geothermal goodness while being nude in Iceland, the country is home to numerous secluded hot springs that offer naturist-friendly experiences. While there are no official nude hot springs in Iceland, there are secluded hot springs that offer naturist-friendly experiences.One such location is the Landbrotalaug hot spring, a small but enchanting lagoon hidden in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula'.
Finally, away from the natural, back to the human cesspit. Reykjavik Grapevine (Feb. 24) has an interview with the Shift manager at Vesturbæjarlaug pool (sourced by thermal waters):
'What was the weirdest cause of a sudden closure?It’s the classic one: somebody poops in the pool. And I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but once there was a fish in the kids’ pool. It was dead, and we didn’t know if somebody had put it in there, but then we figured a seagull had flown over and dropped it.....Are tourists getting better at following the showering policy?It’s still a big issue. I tell them that if they put on their bathing suit and try to approach the showers, the locals will scream at them. Usually that does the trick. They don’t want to be screamed at. Recently I heard a bunch of girls up there like, “there are so many rules here!”Aside from not showering, what’s your biggest pet peeve?We have different problems for different pools. I can’t remember which pool it was, but they had to put up a sign that read “don’t dry your balls with the hairdryer.” Old men were doing this'.
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