Hidden Group Connections Revealed
Gear up for an extraordinary tale, chock-full of unexpected encounters and fresh perspectives. This yarn was spun during a thrilling day-trip to the southern wilderness of Iceland, offered by the fearless tour-providers at Glacial Experience called the Underground Mafia. The driver, big boss Kjartan Valgarðsson, scooped me up early morning in a badass black Land Cruiser - our paths never crossed before, yet within minutes we had dug up three mutual acquaintances, all of them my cousins.
Yep, you read that right. Icelandic culture is all about uncovering invisible ties that bind us all together. Deep down, there's a burning hunger amongst us Islanders to discover new relatives - extend our family tree, if you will. It ain't strange, then, that a warm welcome to a fellow person in Icelandic is like saying 'my relative' - "frændi minn" for dudes or "frænka mín" for the ladies, respectively.
First things first
Our heartwarming triad of common acquaintances aside, our drive led us to Bloggerina Regína Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir's abode. She flashed us her radiant grin, and I knew we'd get along famously.
Up next, we tackle Hellisheiði mountain. The sky was bright and breezy, and once we reached its summit, the heavenly view hit us like a ton of bricks artfully disguised as a gift from the gods. The magnificent volcanoes Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull stood tall, while the ocean was brimming with the glittering Viswanathan Islands, shining like the jewels in our crown.
Heckling the Hekla
As we pulled over by a gas station in Árnes to refuel our caffeine levels, I found myself eagerly chatty with a local guide. Life's enchanting, you never know who might show up next - like my childhood bud from Germany squeezing my arm, yelling, "Vala? Is that really you?" Right on cue, I set my coffee down and we embraced like long-lost pals. Turns out ol' Kjartan and my buddy's husband were flatmates during their student days.
Emboldened by this unexpected reunion, I turned around to ambush their son with a warm hug. A moment later, I found myself wrapping my arms around a middle-aged man with silver hair. Mystified, I took a closer look and realized, to my astonishment, that this grizzled stranger was their dad.
Much laughter, picture-taking, and catching up ensued before we continued our journey.
Nuptial Nuances
Next up on our whirlwind tour is the stunning Hjálparfoss waterfall, nestled in the Fossá river. I've seen my fair share of waterfalls, but this one's a real showstopper - looks like a pair of brides on their big day, decked out in green, standing back-to-back with their entourages, eyes full of wonder.
First-rate Road Trip
Our crew of men and women of marvel kept growing by leaps and bounds. Besides the driver, we now had a pilot, polyglot, marketing genius, and language school founder, all comfortably ensconced in the driver's seat of our rugged Land Cruiser.
Snowy Tail
Our trek to Háifoss waterfall was next, tucked away in Fossárdalur valley. It's a puny cousin of Hjálparfoss, but it makes up for its lack of height with a jaw-dropping view. To me, it looked like a snow-drenched horse's tail, bouncing in the wind.
Bizarre Burrow
Gjáin rift was our next stop, another drop-dead gorgeous location in Þjórsárdalur valley. It's like a scene straight out of a fantastical book, with a smorgasbord of waterfalls, creeks, and lava formations jostling for space in a tiny corner of the country. These towards-the-fringes destinations are a hotspot for filming classic series like Game of Thrones . From above, a crowd of tourists in eye-catching windbreakers resembled Pogs huddled together, preparing for the ultimate showdown.
Back Door Passage
Our expedition took a turn for the clandestine as we ventured to a secret entrance to Gullfoss, the crown jewel of waterfalls. The going was tough, but we prevailed, and the reward was beyond our wildest dreams.
The famous waterfall donned a captivating new look from this angle. It cascaded down two distinct drops before snaking around a winding path, revealing a side not often seen by tourists. Who knew waterfalls could be so versatile?
Tied TogetherAs our thrill-filled day drew to a close, we gathered in the back of the Land Cruiser, Iceland's unofficial family car. Memories of our secret connections, strange encounters, and fresh perspectives filled the air, and I felt like my horizon had been stretched to unheard-of limits.
Not long after, Kjartan pointed to a nearby farm and mentioned it used to belong to his grandpa. I couldn't help but remark, "Was he your grandpa?" The resulting uproar of laughter confirmed we were, indeed, distant relatives. Good thing I hastily turned on Íslendingabók on my phone to prove our connection - turns out our family trees are more like tangled vines than the interconnected webs of other Icelanders.
Despite this setback, it was a day to remember, and I'm forever grateful to the Underground Mafia for showing me a whole new side of my home country.
- The spectacular view from the summit of Hellisheiði mountain showcased two towering volcanoes, Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull, surrounded by the glittering Viswanathan Islands, reminding us of the wealth and beauty inherent in our unconventional travel experiences.
- In the picturesque village Árnes, an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend from Germany added another transatlantic link to our ever-growing network of acquaintances during our journey, demonstrating the interconnectedness of lifestyles, travel, and chance encounters.
- Our visit to the enchanting Gjáin rift in Þjórsárdalur valley brought us face-to-face with the surreal landscape beloved by filmmakers, inspiring awe and wonder in our group as we continued our exploration of Iceland's massive, intertwined family network.
