After coming home from Germany, I've definitely taken it much slower and chosen to appreciate Texas. I just finished my last year in school and will be walking the stage within a few days. To celebrate 13 years of education being over and finally being able to make my own choice on what comes next, I will be flying with my parents to Iceland for 12 days. I chose Iceland for several reasons.
First, I've always had an affinity for Mountainous landscapes because they always provide ways of making you realize how small you are. Something about gazing over miles of cliffs that have been there since before man lived on the island, then looking down to some small flower or moss growing out of a rock is sobering in a way and makes me appreciate the world we live in. Another reason I chose Iceland was for the hiking. My parents take annual trips to Colorado that I've been on several times and the name of the game is strapping on the boots and waking up at 4 am. I hope to be doing plenty of that with them, but in Iceland soon and enjoy the fair weather and looking like Walter Mitty on his way back from Afghanistan. My last reason is simply that I don't like loud tourist destinations. I've never been to Mexico, I don't go to the beach, I hate standing in lines, and a little part of me gets uncomfortable to see swarms of people taking pictures of someone or something that'd rather be left alone. I'm not condemning those people, and I will be taking pictures, but I can understand those who say tourism degrades the way of life where they live. Iceland has, in recent years, opened up to tourism and invested heavily into facilities and accommodations for travelers so I will be taking my turn to fly out, drive off the paved road, and enjoy the environment peacefully, then leaving it exactly as it was before for many others to enjoy.
One challenge I'm taking on is to learn as much Icelandic as I can prior to leaving in hopes that I can hold a conversation with a local and not have to ask for any help reading signs (furthering my idea of leaving the world alone as I travel) in the course of my trip.
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