On the way back to the hotel, the bus stopped to look for the Northern Lights, but unfortunately, they weren't visible. We also booked a second visit on our last day in Iceland. After some relaxing time in the lagoon and a quick bite from the cafeteria, we departed, and the tour bus delivered us to Keflavik Airport in plenty of time for our flight. It was a great way to relax before a long flight back to the U.S. [NOTE: You can stow your clothes and personal items in a secure locker and rent towels, robes, and swimsuits if you need them.]

The Blue Lagoon is a manmade lagoon in the middle of a lava field. The water comes from a natural hot spring a mile below the surface. The water is used to generate electricity and to heat fresh water before being pumped out over the lava field. Because the water comes from a natural hot spring, it has a slight sulfur smell to it. Additionally, the minerals in the water give it its blue color.

We took a dip in the Blue Lagoon and it felt wonderful. It was like taking a warm bath. The air temperature was in the mid 30's but the water temperature was around 100. Some spots were hotter than that. You are required to take a shower before getting into the lagoon. This serves two purposes. One, it helps keep the water clean and two, it warms your body to reduce the shock of stepping out into 30 degree weather in your bathing suit. You can also enter the lagoon from a wading area inside the building and then wade through a door that leads to the outside area. Traci and I wimped out and waded from the inside instead of entering the lagoon from the outside.

We relaxed in the Blue Lagoon for about a half hour. Each of us took turns getting out, running to grab the camera to take pictures, and getting back in before the cold wind got us.

After getting out of the lagoon, we got dressed, checked out the souvenir shop, and used our discount coupon at the restaurant (the fish was excellent --almond-crusted haddock for Traci and curry trout for me). The waters of the Blue Lagoon are supposed to be good for the skin, so naturally the souvenir shop was selling all types of cosmetic and skin care products made from the water and minerals of the lagoon.

We took some time to take pictures from the overlook area of the Blue Lagoon. While we were up there, we saw a man in nothing but his swimming trunks taking pictures of the lagoon and the surrounding lava field. Traci and I were dressed and had on our winter jackets, but still got a little chilly when the wind blew. We could not believe this man was standing out in this cold weather for so long. There he stood for at least 15 minutes taking pictures, without even a shiver. Unbelievable!