The not so green lagoon

Last summer I found myself with a month to spare and a sudden desire to go to Iceland. A few weeks later, I was there. Given the location and duration of my trip, I decided that logistically and economically the best way to go would be with a volunteering programme to give me a better insight into Icelandic culture (also a cake competition was part of the project and I love cake). Based in the small Eastern town of Egilsstaðir with a very international team, our tasks ranged from blowing up hundreds of pink balloons to moving reindeer antlers but we also had some free time.
We had heard of the infamous ‘Blue Lagoon’, a tourist hot spot (literally as they are thermal baths) just outside the capital Reykjavik but our local friends told us about the little known alternative ‘Green Lagoon’ based in the Northeast town of Myvatn. The easiest way to travel around Iceland is by car so as a nearby volcano was imminently due to erupt, we opted for ‘volcanic ash insurance’ and excitedly set off in search of this mysterious green water. The journey through a magical landscape that looked very similar to what I imagine Mars to look like ended two hours later in a car park close to an impressive giant crack in the earth. Fuelled by our curiosity to finally see what we had heard so much about, we quickly got changed in anticipation of green thermal joy. Remember those three key words. First of all it was not green. I mean maybe a slight tinge but even through my now rose-tinted glasses (they aren’t actually rose either), it was pretty much just transparent water. Secondly it was also not overly thermal. As it is a natural hot spring, it means the water is warm but only in certain places and it is hard to identify where exactly these are. This lead to the rather amusing sight of huddles of people in the warm spots with the occasional yelp as someone got mildly scorched resulting in huddle relocation. This soon became less amusing when I was part of a huddle. Joy. It may seem as if this was not a joyful experience but whilst it may have been distinctly lacking in primary colours and consistent water temperatures, it was one of those situations where adversity prevails and hilarity ensues. In my opinion, these are without doubt the most memorable experiences and although if I were to go again I would recommend going on a warmer day, I am glad that I opted for the not so green lagoon instead of the more popular blue lagoon. To be honest it probably isn’t even blue anyway.