Iceland is freezing cold in February. But winter holidays up north offer the unique opportunity to see the green light of the Northern Lights. A truly splendid phenomenon, though very rare.
We arrive at night and a distant glow immediately fills us with hope that this is the right trip to finally see the Northern Lights (dawn of the north).
The light is greenish, and I want to think it is really it, despite the crowd trying to dissuade me in every way. I tell myself that this is the reason I planned the trip so why shouldn’t I see it.
The next morning at 10.00 it is still pitch dark.
We head towards the first stop of the Golden Circle.
Thingvellir National Park. Here the wind and snow are so dominant that we canβt help but feel part of a North Face ad, the brand whose claim is never stop exploring. Next we stop to see the geysers and the Golden Waterfall of Gullfoss…
Evening.
Finally, we glimpse a few spots of blue through the clouds, which fills us with hope for the evening when we should (depending on magnetism, clouds, wind, snow and rain … and luck) finally see the Northern Lights. This hope obviously gives a boost of energy to everyone and in the sunlight our eyes finally see the lights and colors we came here for. Let’s face it, the Northern Lights would be incredibly exciting, but the wish to visit the northern lands came long before even knowing what the Northern Lights were and how they occur.
Here I see what Walter Mitty sees, and daydream. Same lights, same volcano (with its unpronounceable name), same horizon.
What weβve seen today makes the trip worthwhile, and makes me think I want to return here as soon as Iβll have the chance to leave in the summer again.
With a little less blizzards.
Last day. I know I’ll go back home without having seen the Northern Lights. Yet no regrets, no sadness or disappointment. They will still remain among the most amazing natural phenomena, nonetheless undoubtedly all these sunlight-mesmerizing landscapes are just as beautiful.
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