MEDICUS MARCH 2016

T R A V E L

Picture perfect: Reykjavik.

Landmark: The country is proud of its Nordic Viking heritage.

bubble not far below the surface. Active volcanos churn and spit – Eyjafjallajokull was, in fact, the volcano that gave global newsreaders so much pronunciation trouble when it spewed ash across Europe in 2010. Massive glaciers move, crack, shift and change with the seasons. The Silfra channel (a rift between two tectonic plates boasting exceptionally clear snorkelling) expands

heritage, the stories of many of the national heroes always seem to involve a goodly amount of rape/pillage/plunder. Despite this long history though, the country feels young – the buildings are new, there are few man-made landmarks and independence occurred only in the 20 th century. On reflection, I can’t help but think that we hit the touristic sweet spot in Icelandic history. We found a nation with the perfect balance of tourism infrastructure and magnificent untouched landmarks, yet somehow, magically, not

yearly. Icebergs break off a glacier to float across Jokulsarlon lagoon and out to the ocean. Waterfalls across the country thunder as tonnes of water pour down across the landscape. It sounds corny, but the physical earth of the country seems to crackle with life. The weather too, has a life of its own. Far from the reliable forecasts of Perth, Icelandic weather is entirely changeable, able to shift from clear skies to complete snowy white-out in a matter of minutes. These white-outs are no joke – driving becomes near impossible as you can barely see the bonnet of the car let alone the road in front of you.

Surreal: The Dorevitch family on their ‘unusual’ holiday.

overrun by tourists. Centuries of complete isolationism (so much so that the Icelandic population was often used in genetic studies) have begun to shift and the country is changing rapidly – Reykjavik is expanding by the year. Overall, an adventurous destination that I couldn’t recommend highly enough. ■

Thankfully our guide also enjoyed four-wheel-driving as a personal hobby, as we found ourselves completely stuck in a snowstorm on the way up one of the country’s famed glaciers.

The people too are fascinating. Proud of their Nordic Viking

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