Our fifth day in Iceland was just as magical as all the rest. We started our day out at Þingvellir National Park! Here we saw þórufoss waterfall and hiked the Almannagjá gorge. The entire gorge is 8km long and ends at a boastful waterfall! Iceland is divided by the Mid-Atlantic Rift. Part of it is on the North American tectonic plate, with the other side on the Eurasian plate. Iceland is the only place in the world where this rift is above sea-level, and where can you see the edges of both plates! The plates move apart an average of 2.5 cm per year. Fun fact time! Almannagjá gorge was the venue for the world’s longest-running assembly/parliament. In between the plates is a spot called SnorrabúÐ. Essentially these are “booths” that were built in the 17th and 18th centuries (although remnants are seen from 930-1262/64) to house people during a general assembly called the Alþing. This was a two week event during the summer where laws were established. From there we headed to Kerið crater that formed 6,500 years ago. The crater was a small magma chamber that explosively erupted then collapsed. Intense colors can be seen from the red scoria, moss covered walls and blue water at the bottom. Strokkur is an active geothermal area for the last 1,000 years. Here you can see tons of bubbling springs, mud pots and multiple geysers with the largest one erupting every 6-10 minutes! After that we trekked over to Gullfoss waterfall, back to Reynisfjara beach where we got married then off to our glass cabin to watch the aurora borealis from our bed! #iceland #þingvellirnationalpark #Almannagjá #þórufoss #Kerið #strokkur #gullfosswaterfall #reynisfjarabeach #panoramaglasslodge #auroraborealis #northernlights #stars #livethelifeyoulove #geology #caughtbyacallison #glt #girlslovetravel #livingthedream
VESTRAHORN!!!!! It’s really hard to understand that this place is real! It was one of the most beautiful locations we went to. Vestrahorn Mountain is located in southeast Iceland, near the town of Höfn. It is a prominent mountain featuring two peaks, reaching an elevation of 1,394 ft. The land was used by Irish monks before they were enslaved by Viking invaders c860. The mountain is composed primarily of gabbro, a dark, greenish-colored volcanic rock formed from intrusive lava flows from near the earth’s core. This super-heated lava formed 8–10 MYA and cooled slowly, forming large crystals. The lower flanks of the mountain are covered by glacial moraines, gravel, and sand deposited by glaciers during the Ice Age. Every sand dune is made of black, volcanic sand. Walk to the east through the sand dunes, and you will come to the Stokksnes shore. The beach is mostly sandy. The coastline is shallow, so waves can come a long way inland and surprise you. The Icelandic horse is small, and pony-sized. Icelandic horses are long-lived and hardy with few diseases. Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported into the country and exported animals are not allowed to return. They are the only breed of horse in Iceland. The horses were brought by the Norse in the 9th and 10th centuries. Natural selection has made the breed hardy to withstand the harsh climate. They are extremely friendly and playful. Every time we pulled over they would happily trot up to greet us! Jökulsárlón is a glacial lagoon in of Vatnajökull National Park at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. The south side of Highway 1 is known as Diamond Beach. It gets this name from the black sand beach littered with icebergs and chunks from the glacier that are mostly clear or blue giving a “Diamond” like appearance. We also saw reindeer in the side of the road! #Höfn #vestrahorn #Iceland #icelandhorse #VatnajökullNationalPark #Jökulsárlón #Diamondbeach #Breiðamerkurjökull #braidedstream #glacier #iceburg #geology #reindeer #caughtbyacallison #glt #girlslovetravel #livingthedream
Sunday evening after a long day of driving Craig and I sat down for dinner at Fosshótel Vatnajökull. While sitting down, I looked out the window and said to Craig, I think that’s the northern lights. To which he replied, I don’t think so and then our waitress looked over and confirmed they were in fact the aurora borealis. We jumped up from our table and ran outside in the freezing cold with no jackets, gloves, or hats to watch the sky put on an amazing spectacle of colors for about 10 minutes! At first they were so bright and colorful slowly fading over time. Craig and I held each other while I cried. I never imagined I’d see them like that. I truly am living the dream and what an amazing dream it is. #auroraborealis #northernlights #Iceland #caughtbyacallison #glt #girlslovetravel #livingthedream #flosshotels
Sunday in Iceland we spent cruising around and checking out so many beautiful spots. We went to Gígjagjá cave, then along Highway 1 to Skaftareldahraun where moss covers everything as far as you can see, Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon cut by glaciers 2 MYA, Foss á Síðu waterfall, Dverghamrar basalt columns, then we took a dirt road and got lost by Jökulsárlón Glacier to wind up in an ice lagoon! It’s crazy how every corner you turn leaves you breathless with how beautiful this county is. #Gígjagjá #Skaftareldahraun #Fjaðrárgljúfur #Foss á Síðu #Dverghamrar #Jökulsárlón #geology #iceland #icelandgeology #basaltcolumns #waterfalls #caughtbyacallison #glt #girlslovetravel #livingthedream #glacier #lagoon #glacierlagoon #cave #canyon
When I imagine perfect…. This is what I think of. I think of marrying my best friend in a really bad ass geological setting and dress, with sun, snow, love and laughter. I imagine telling him how much he means to me and hearing how much he loves me and vows to keep me safe, wanted, and everything in between. When people ask me how I’m doing and my reply is “living the dream!”. I mean it. @carolinevphoto @perla_iceland #Reynisfjarabeach #geology #iceland #icelandgeology #basaltcolumns #vik #Seljalandsfoss #Gljúfrabúi #caughtbyacallison #glt #girlslovetravel #livingthedream
Day 2 in Iceland! This was my favorite day because Craig and I got married by the basalt columns on Reynisfjara beach! We had an absolutely amazing photographer and celebrant and the ceremony was perfect with hand fasting and vowed to love each other every day in every place for all of time. Craig looked stunning in his suit and it was a prefect day to tell this him how much he means to me. I am so lucky to have him as my husband! Our amazing photographer took us to three magical locations that day. We had our ceremony at Reynisfjara beach then went to Sólheimajökull glacier and Seljalandsfoss as well as Gljúfrabúi waterfalls! The last one was fun where we had to crawl through a cave and wade through water where we only lasted about 5 minutes but it was worth it! We ended a perfect day going to the Lava Show in Vik where they reheat cooled lava! We had an exceptional French volcanologist tell us all about the volcanic history of Iceland! He really made the experience memorable! To say day 2 was perfect is an understatement! @carolinevphoto @perla_iceland #Reynisfjarabeach #geology #iceland #icelandgeology #basaltcolumns #lavashow #vik #Seljalandsfoss #Gljúfrabúi #caughtbyacallison #glt #girlslovetravel
Iceland day 1!! We decided to take a red eye to maximize our time that day and we figured out pretty early that we are not as young as we used to be lol! Our first stop was Hallgrimskirkja church. The parish church was built in 1945 and its designer Guðjón Samúelsson kept to the Nordic and Icelandic architectural styles. The Rainbow Street in Iceland, also known as Skólavörðustígur, is a vibrant and colorful street located in the heart of Reykjavik and was painted in 2015. The street is a sign of joy and support for diversity. It is a hub for festivals in the city. Our next stop was the Sun Voyager, Sólfarið, is a sculpture designed by Jón Gunnar Árnason. The sculpture represents, “the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom”, an ode to the sun. We then went to breakfast at the Laundromat Cafe. The cafe had excellent food and guests are invited to do laundry and read a book while there! Our final stop was the relaxing Sky Lagoon. We spent hours here in the natural water heated by geothermal energy. We did a seven step ritual that included a cold plunge, sauna, cold mist, body scrub, steam, and shower. Afterwards our skin felt smooth, hydrated and we were so relaxed to start our adventure. #iceland #Reykjavík #hallgrimskirkja #rainbowstreetreykjavik #Skólavörðustígur #sunvoyagericeland #Sólfarið #laundromatcafereykjavik #skylagooniceland #caughtbyacallison
Boston you were a blast! Great way to spend a long layover is exploring! Craig and I ate some authentic New England clam chowder and lobster rolls, explored the harbor and took a tour of Fenway Park! Our next stop is……. 🥶 🩵 #NewEngland #boston #eventide #fenwaypark #bostonmassachusetts #girlslovetravel #caughtbyacallison
Craig and I had a date night last night at the Lone Star Flight Museum. We went to a candlelight concert where they played music from Pink Floyd. This was the second one we’ve been to and they put on such a good performance! Definitely go if you have the chance! #candlelightconcert #lonestarflightmuseum #pinkfloyd #datenight #caughtbyacallison
Still living on cloud 9 after an amazing long weekend in Broken Bow, Oklahoma! Can’t believe I have a fiancé and life is so good. I am so fortunate to have such a good man that wants nothing but happiness for me! Craig makes life so amazing every day. He is my biggest supporter, cheerleader and makes every day better than the next. I have walked through a thousand rooms, met thousands of people but not one could make my heart beat they way it does with him. Can’t wait to be his wife! #caughtbyacallison #herecomesthecallisons #callisonpartyof2