15 Things to LOVE About Iceland

1. It's clean. Really clean. Do.Not.Litter. Ever!
2. It's safe - unless it's payday, in a bar and you're being an asshole, then you might get beat up. (Yes, that was printed in a local guide book)
3. Unlimited supply of hot water. Which makes it a great place to raise teenagers or have a long shower after a day of hiking.
4. Hot Dogs, Pizza and Lamb - oh my! Who knew? Hot Dogs are a thing. So is pizza. Lamb and fish are the foundations of the diet with both being very plentiful and tasty.
   
5. Trolls. Yes, they believe in them. 
   
6. They are environmentally friendly. Because they are acutely aware of the impact:
1.  being an island with limited 'dump' space and  
2. having glaciers disappearing and a quick pace. Giant recycle bins shaped like bottles are all over. Disposables are made from corn so they are biodegradable. Garbage is separated and recycled. It's a good thing.
7. Heated streets. Reykjavik gets snow (but not the amounts you might think), so to control the need to de-ice and sand the roads constantly, they have geothermic water lines underneath that help keep the roads clear.
8. Outdoor pools. They are all over the capital region. Open from early morning to late at night all year long. Did I mention they are also geothermically heated? So winter, spring, summer, fall, you can swim outdoors and the Icelandic do. Many important decisions are made in a hot pot!
   
9. Their sense of humor. It's wicked and cynical. If you are (or know someone) from the NE US you'll get it.

   

   Front door of a bar

   

   Chalice made from a coconut. Go Figure?

   

   Icelandic Food Truck

   

   These are not bands appearing but actual things.

   
   

   

   Eat, Drink, Sleep

   
   

   

   Only one in the world

   
   
10. 90kph speed limit. Makes it easy to drive. Also the fact that there are only about 330,000 people on the island which is slightly larger than Ohio means there are not a lot of people on the road. But the roads are well maintained and people don't speed.
11. Foul weather gear is your friend. In fact, North Face and 66North constitutes formal wear. If you plan on visiting you will definitely need water repellent outerwear. Wellies go with anything and you wear them all day, every day.
    
    
12. They are super efficient at the stuff that matters. Energy, hot water, exploiting their limited natural resources in an environmentally conscience way and airport check-in. 
13. Outdoor art. It's everywhere, parks, streets, municipal buildings and in ponds. Then there's the art inside the museums.
    

    

    Mermaid in "The Pond"

    
    

    

    Rainbow street with art exhibit

14. It's the only place in the world you can go Inside the Volcano. Really! You hike 3km (45 minutes) over a lava field to be geared up and dropped 120M (= 2 statue of Libertys) down a magma shaft into an extinct volcano chamber.

    

    Window washing elevator lowers you inside

15.  The natural beauty

Blue Lagoon

Geysir

Gullfoss

On the road to Gullfoss

Seljalandsfoss

Lava field

Random Viking Sheep!