Michi Photostory

Europe, a continent renowned for its rich history and diverse cultures, is equally celebrated for its stunning natural landscapes that captivate the hearts of travelers. From dramatic mountain ranges to picturesque coastlines, Europe boasts an array of breathtaking scenes that seem almost otherworldly. Let's embark on a virtual journey to explore the top 10 most awe-inspiring natural landscapes that define the continent's unparalleled beauty. 

Iceland is on my travel bucket list but I never thought that this dream will become a reality. When we were planning for our summer vacation in Norway, I was looking forward to a Sweden trip since it is just near Norway but our Sweden trip turns to an Iceland trip. Little did I know that it was also my mother’s dream to visit Iceland so we became travel buddy. Hehehe! “Family that travels together, stays together”

My mom checked her schedule so she can file a vacation leave and then we booked a plane ticket three weeks before our trip. But unexpected things happened, few days after we bought our plane ticket my mom was confined in the hospital for 5 days. The doctor advised her to rest and do not drive yet. And because of that, I thought we could no longer push our trip kasi baka mastress siya sa biyahe.


But God is so good, we were able to go to Iceland. So off we went to Trondheim Airport to catch our flight to Reykjavik, we flew via Icelandair. Travel is more or less two hours and 8 hours time difference in the Philippines. We only booked a 4 Days Trip because we have limited budget and we need to fly back to the Philippines. We all know that traveling to Iceland is not cheap so accommodations, tours, and foods are expensive.
Yes, everything is expensive.
Read: Icelandair Experience

When we booked our flight, we knew that we will be staying in the hotel. We have relatives in Iceland but of course, we don’t want to disturb them anymore since we knew that they have work too. So we are looking for a hotel in Reykjavik that is accessible and my mom asked for my aunt’s recommendations. My aunt (cousin of my mom) asked my mom for our travel date and she said, no need for us to book a hotel because we can stay in their house and nakabakasyon din siya that time (one month off). Yehey!

This was my planned itinerary, we’re supposed to book a package tour to visit these places but since we will be staying in my aunt’s house, I just go with the flow.

Day 1: Reykjavik City Tour or Blue Lagoon Tour
Day 2: Golden Circle Tour
Day 3: South Coast Tour
Day 4: Back to Trondheim Norway

4 Days in Iceland with Kid 

Day 1: Reykjanes Peninsula Tour in Iceland 

We arrived at Keflavik International Airport past 3PM and my aunt fetched us. On our way to my aunt’s house, I was thinking, wala ba puno o halaman sa Iceland. Then I remembered that Iceland is a Land of Fire and Ice so expect to see lava fields, rocks, mountains, glaciers and black sand. It is indeed an interesting country because you will learn about history, culture and geology.


After few hours, we went back to the airport to fetch my uncle and then he toured us around Keflavik and Reykjanes. We were able to visit Strandakirkja Church, Gardskagi Lighthouse and Lava Fields.

Read: Reykjanes Peninsula Tour in Iceland

Day 2 Blue Lagoon 

I told my mom that I don’t want to go to Blue Lagoon anymore because I don’t want to wear a swimsuit so we did not pack any swimwear. But when my aunt fetched us at the airport, she immediately told us that we’re going to Blue Lagoon the following day. We could not cancel it anymore since my aunt already talked to her friend about it. Nakakahiya naman magback-out.


Iceland is known for Blue Lagoon so it is one of the popular tourist spot and because of that you cannot walk-in. You need to book an appointment prior to your trip, they only limit the number of guest per visit so expect that the entrance fee is expensive. Like I said, I don’t want to wear a swimsuit so my mom enjoyed her Blue Lagoon experience while my son and I enjoyed the view from the restaurant.

Read: Blue Lagoon in Iceland

Day 3 The Golden Circle Tour + Bridge Between Two Continents

For our third day, we left as early as 6AM for our DIY Golden Circle Tour. You can book a tour from a travel agency, you can rent a car or if you are lucky like us, your family or friends can drive for you. Most of the places in the Golden Circle Tour has no entrance fee like Thingvellir National Park, Great Geysir, and Gullfoss. So you can enjoy this beautiful places for free. This is my favorite part of our Iceland Trip.


Read: The Great Geysir in Iceland
Breathtaking Gullfoss in Iceland
Thingvellir National Park

Bridge Between Two Continents 


After our tiring day, we packed our bags for our morning flight. But after dinner, my cousin persuaded us to visit Bridge Between Two Continents and malapit lang naman daw. It was past 9PM and off we went to the bridge. It was a nice experience knowing that I can cross Europe and North America in less than a minute.

Read: Bridge Between Two Continents

Day 4 Back to Norway 

My cousin wanted to tour us pa in Iceland since off niya on our last day but we could no longer extend our trip because my son and I have to go back to the Philippines. How I wish we have more time in Iceland but I know that this won’t be the last time. Someday, we will revisit this country with my husband.

If you are going to Iceland, the most popular tour is Golden Circle Tour and I highly recommend that you get this package tour. But if you want to explore it on your own, don’t forget to visit Geysir, Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park. Since we have relatives in Iceland, we had DIY Golden Circle Tour last year. We started our tour as early as 6AM and our first stop is Thingvellir National Park.    



Since we’re all first timers (yes, even my relatives haven’t visited this park yet) we don’t know where to start. The Visitor Center was still closed, I think we arrived around 7:30AM so we just look for a parking lot and started our tour. There is NO ENTRANCE FEE so we just followed the signs. Honestly, I have no idea about this park so all I thought, this is just an ordinary park but I was wrong. This park surprised me and this is my favorite place among the three tourist spots that we have visited. 


Thingvellir National Park is a protected national shrine and if you want to know more about Iceland, visit this place. It is where the general assembly was established in the year 1930 and a lot of major events held in this park. In 2004, this park became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. 


Aside from the history, Thingvellir National Park is considered a natural wonder because of their geologic history. It is where you can see the evolution and formation of Mid Atlantic Ridge. It is located on the tectonic plate boundaries so you can see the evidence that the Eurasian and North American plates are drifting apart. 

What can you see in Thingvellir National Park? 

Kastalar lava hills
Almannagja 
Drekkingarhylur (Drowning Pool) 
Lorberg (Law Rock)

Hakid View Point
Gestastofa 

Flosagja 
Thingvallakirkja Lake
Valholl 
Silfra 

Stekkjargja 
Oxararfoss Falls
Langistigur 

Watch the video here 

This park is so huge, there are four parking lots and it is not free so we just parked at P2 and started our walking tour. Thingvellir National Park is so wonderful and stunning so even though this park is so big and our feet were tired, we're not complaining. My son was enjoying this park this park too, sa laki nito siguro ilang kilometro na rin ang nalakad namin. We arrived around 7:30AM and inabot na kami ng lunchtime, kakalakad. For lunch, we had baon so we ate in the parking lot where picnic tables and comfort rooms are located.  







Despite the beauty of this park, there are also sad stories. This park is also a reminder of the harsh punishments and executions that happened in the 16th and 17th centuries. According to the information post, there are seventy-two people known with certainty to have been executed at Thingvellir from 1602 to 1750; 30 males were beheaded on Hoggstokkseyri, 9 burned of alleged wizards and witches in the Brennugja, 18 women were drowned in Drekkingarhylur and15 men were hanged in Stekkajarja. There were also offenders who were flogged in Kagaholmi. 

As the quote says, "Travel - it leaves you speechless then turns you into a storyteller". This park leaves me speechless and now I’m sharing it with you and hopefully, you can visit this too. 

Read: IcelandAir Experience
Blue Lagoon  
Reykjanes Peninsula Tour
Bridge Between Two Continents 

Our third day in Iceland was exhausting because we did the Golden Circle Tour but I have no reason to complain because I enjoyed our trip to Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, and Gullfoss. I thought that it was our last itinerary for our Iceland trip but out of the blue, my cousin (second cousin) persuaded us to visit Bridge Between Two Continents. 


My second cousin loves to explore Iceland so he is very knowledgeable about all the tourist spots. He was willing to tour us around on our fourth day because it was his day off from work. Unfortunately, we’re going back to Norway on that day. How I wish we had more time to visit other places. So if ever you are going to Iceland, make sure to allot one week.

It was already late at night but off we went to Reykjanes to see the bridge between Europe and North America. It was evening already but the sky is still clear, sa tototo lang hindi ko nakita na dumilim sa Iceland, maybe dahil maaga tulog ko?



If you are getting a tour, it can be part of Reykjanes Peninsula Tour but if you are renting a car, you can just go there. It is open and no entrance fee. It is just a few minutes walk from the parking lot. 



When you see the bridge, you might say that “This is it?”. You won’t appreciate the small footbridge but if you know why it is there, you will learn to value the bridge. This bridge is not just an ordinary bridge. This bridge is clear evidence that the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are drifting apart. It is estimated that the plates drift apart around 2cm/year or 2m/100 years. That is the wonder of nature, the earth moves and reshapes. 




The Bridge Between Two Continents was opened on July 3, 2002. It is a symbol that illustrates the phenomenon of continental drift. The small footbridge is 18 meters long and 6 meters in height. 

It was a surreal experience.

1. This bridge connects two continents, Europe and North America. 
2. You can see and stand between the two continental plates above sea level. I can’t imagine that I’m standing between two continents. 
3. I can go to Europe and North America in less than a minute. 
4. When you cross the bridge, you see an information board “Welcome to the North American Plate” and “Welcome to the Eurasian Plate” 

Welcome to the Eurasian Plate 

Imagine yourself standing on the Eurasian Plate, Earth’s largest continental tectonic plate. The plate contains some of the oldest rock formations in the earth’s crust, in East Siberia on the most expansive plains on Earth. 

The North American plate is drifting to the west away from the Eurasian plate, widening the Atlantic Ocean in the process. In the east, the Pacific and Philippine plates flow under the Eurasian plate and form an arc of the volcanic island. In the south, the Indian and Australian plates are drifting to the north. The collision of these plates forms the highest mountain range on Earth, the Himalayas. 

Welcome to the North American Plate 

Imagine yourself standing on the North American plate, Earth’s sixth-largest continental tectonic plate. Around 200 million years ago, it was joined with the Eurasian, African, and South American plates until this supercontinent, known as Pangaea, started to break apart. The Atlantic Ocean began to form to the south between Africa and South America about 135 million years ago, while the separation of the North America and Eurasian plates began around 65 million years ago.

The western part of the North America plate has some fairly young mountains where it collides with the Pacific plate. The eastern part of the plate, on the other hand, has the Appalachian mountain range that formed more than 250 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangaea was forming. 

5. No visa is needed to cross North America. Wow, I’ve been to America without a visa. :)
6. Don’t forget to go down the bridge. America to the West and Europe to the East. 
7. I saw some love locks on the bridge. I wish I had an extra lock and my husband was in Iceland too. 

I’m so happy to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Better to include this in your itinerary if you are going to Blue Lagoon or before going to the airport. You only need a few minutes here. You can also see the tectonic plate at Thingvellir National Park, it is located in Mid Atlantic Ridge too. 

Read: Reykjanes Peninsula Tour in Iceland 
Icelandair Experience 
Blue Lagoon in Iceland  
The Golden Circle Tour in Iceland  
The Great Geysir in Iceland
Breathtaking Gullfoss in Iceland
Thingvellir National Park in Iceland

Our country is blessed with wonderful nature, we have so many beautiful beaches, hot spring, cold spring, and even waterfalls. So far, I have visited 6 waterfalls in the Philippines and there are more waterfalls to visit. It is nice to visit waterfalls especially now, it is so hot in the Philippines.

Read: Amazing Waterfalls in the Philippines


Last year, we were fortunate to visit another falls in Iceland. The first waterfall is located in Thingvellir National Park, tuwang-tuwa na ko dun when I saw that waterfall but little did I know na may maganda pa pala dun. As I mentioned in one of my posts, we visited Gullfoss which is part of the Golden Circle Tour. It is located in the canyon of Hvita river.

Read: Golden Circle Tour in Iceland

Gullfoss means Golden Falls, it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Iceland but honestly, I have no idea about this falls. All I know it is part of the Golden Circle Tour but little did I know that this will be the highlight of our tour.


Tourist started to visit Gullfoss around 1875, at that time the waterfall was hard to reach because of the rough terrain and impassable rivers. Sigridur Tomasdottir and her sisters acted as guides for the visitors and built the first trail that led down to the waterfall. Sigridur died in 1957 and the stone memorial that you can see in the Golden Falls was erected in 1979.


Thanks to them because now, it is easy to reach the waterfalls. From parking, we need to walk to the falls and there is a pathway so you won’t be lost. While walking, you can already hear the sound of the waterfall so in my mind malapit na. But the truth is, malayo pa pala and the reason why I can hear the sound is ang laki pala niya.



I can already see the waterfalls from the stairs and it leave me breathless. It was my dream to visit Niagara Falls but when I saw Gullfoss, napalitan bigla. In my opinion, this is more beautiful. I will run out of adjectives describing the Gullfoss, it is breathtaking, wonderful, amazing, spectacular, magnificent, stunning and astounding waterfall.



I will post here what I’ve read in their Tourist Information Board.

Gullfoss is Like No Other 

No waterfall in Europe can match Gullfoss. In wildness and fury it outdoes the Niagra Falls of the United States. Thousands of unharnessed horsepowers flow continuously into the gorge, year in and year out.  

Gullfoss is a unique natural phenomenon that triggers varying impressions in people. Its conservation, and thereby its existence in its present form, has a unique history.  

Gullfoss and the surrounding area were made a nature reserve in 1979 to give people the best possible opportunity to enjoy this unique natural scene. The area’s ecosystem is also protected and its vegetation remains untouched. Attempts are made to minimize man’s footprints to keep man-made structures to a minimum and not to disturb the land and geological formations. 

Even we’re all tired, tanggal pagod namin when we saw the waterfall. I am afraid of heights but it does not stop me from walking, ingat na ingat nga lang kasi one mistake ko, mamatay ako pag nalaglag ko sa falls. hehehe! While walking, you might get wet because of the waterfalls, sa lakas ng buhos niya there are floating water droplets everywhere. Kaya pati camera ko nababasa at nagmoist. Hehehe!

Watch the video here.

According to Wikipedia, the wide river moves southward which is about one kilometer above the waterfalls, it flows down into a three-step staircase and plunges in two stages. 140 cubic meters per second (summer) and 80 cubic meters per second (winter) is the average amount of water running down the waterfalls.


Indeed this is the highlight of our trip and would you believe that this is FREE. Yes, just like the other tourist spots that we have visited, there is no entrance fee for this attraction.

Read: The Great Geysir in Iceland
Discover the Wonder of Blue Lagoon in Iceland
Reykjanes Peninsula Tour in Iceland
Icelandair Experience 
Bridge Between Two Continents
Thingvellir National Park in Iceland

The Great Geysir is one of the popular landmarks in Iceland hence it is included in Golden Circle Tour. Geysir or geyser in English means intermittently hot spring that erupts in a tall column of heated water and steam into the air.


It is located in Haukadalur valley and approximately 100km away from Reykjavik. According to study, it became known more than 1000 years ago, though it is no longer active, you can still see the active Strokkur, other hot pools and little geysir around the area.


Geysir is our second stop on our Golden Circle Tour. Surprisingly, it is just a few steps away from the parking lot. Do not forget to read the reminders for your own safety. Take note that the nearest hospital is 62km away.

Reminders: 

1. Do take utmost care when walking in the area
2. Respect fences and barriers - for your own safety.
3. Do not break or collect sinter.
4. Do not throw rocks, coins or litter in the geysers.
5. Never stand on the edges or close to the hot springs.
6. Remember that the water is 80-90C (176-194F) it will burn badly.
7. Don’t test the temperature with your hands, it will burn.
8. The nearest hospital is 62km away.



The Great Geysir is no longer active so I did not bother to check it and we just stayed at the Little Geyser and Strokkur. As of this writing, how I wish I had checked it so I could take a picture, it is once in a lifetime chance din makavisit sa Iceland. But at that moment, our feet were already aching, napagod talaga kami sa ilang oras na lakad namin sa Thingvellir National Park.

Patience is a virtue if you want to see how geysers erupt, it can go up as high as 30 meters. The height of the eruptions varies, we saw small and tall eruptions. For Strokkur, you need to wait for a few minutes to see the eruptions. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the moment. You can watch our video here.


It was a surreal moment, seeing the Geysir up close and personal. It is not something that you usually see during your travel. So if you are going to Iceland, don’t forget to include the Golden Circle Tour and one more thing, there is no entrance fee. Yes, you can see the Geysir for FREE.



Beside the parking lot is a hotel and Geysir Center where you can eat or buy souvenirs. We had snacks at the cafe. I just can’t remember the price because my mom paid for it but one thing I know if you will compute it in PHP, it is really expensive. We just ordered drinks and pastries.

Read: Blue Lagoon
Reykjanes Peninsula Tour
Icelandair Experience
Gullfoss in Iceland
Bridge Between Two Continents
Thingvellir National Park

I just received my Iceland Photobook a few days ago and this reminds me that I haven’t finished my Iceland Trip series, so let me continue my series. If you are going to Iceland and you only have few days, a lot of people will suggest that you book Golden Circle Tour, Blue Lagoon, and Reykjavik Tour because this is the most popular tourist spots in the country.

And because it was our first time to visit Iceland last May, it was also my dream to visit those places. I did not book any tour since we are staying with my aunt (mom’s cousin) and they said, they will tour us. But if you don’t have any family, relatives or friends, you can rent your own car or book a tour from different travel agencies. The rate may vary depending on the package that you will get but for sure you won’t miss these three famous places, Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park. Other stops are Kerio volcanic crater, Hverageroi, Skalholt Cathedral, and Nesjavellir geothermal power plant.

We left as early as 6AM to start our DIY trip, even my aunt who lives there for more than two decades, she hasn’t visited the popular tourist spots so we’re all first-timers. Lol. So when we reach the Thingvellir National Park, we don’t know where to go, we just keep on driving till we saw a parking lot. Then we just walk and follow the signs and finally, we made it.

Thingvellir National Park 



Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you learn more about the history, culture, and geography of Iceland. The park is so huge that we spent most of our time there, we literally walk from north to south of it. Among the spots that we have visited in the Golden Circle Tour, this is my favorite.

Read: Thingvellir National Park
Watch the video

The Great Geysir 


After exploring Thingvellir National Park, off we went to The Great Geysir. It is located in Haukadalur valley where you can see different active geyser hot spring. It is just a few minutes walk from the parking lot. The most active geyser is Strokkur because it can sprout water as high as 30 meters, you just need to be patient because it takes several minutes before you can see the eruption. You can watch the video here.

Read: The Great Geysir in Iceland

Gullfoss Waterfall 

Gullfoss or Golden Falls is located in Hvita river, this is an iconic waterfall in Iceland. I’ve seen a lot of waterfalls in the Philippines but when I saw this waterfall, I was really amazed. No words to describe, it is really beautiful. It was so huge so even I’m afraid of heights, I still walk just to see this waterfall up close and personal.

Read: Gullfoss in Iceland
Watch the video here



After this trip, I feel so blessed because I was able to see these wonderful places. It was really a memorable experience and one of my favorite travel trips. Would you believe that you can see these places for FREE. Yes, there is no entrance fee. So, if you are planning to visit Iceland, don’t forget to include Golden Circle Tour in your itinerary. I will share each tourist spot in a separate post.

Read: Blue Lagoon
Reykjanes Peninsula Tour
Icelandair Experience 
Bridge Between Two Continents

They say that your trip to Iceland won’t be complete without visiting the famous Blue Lagoon. Blue Lagoon was formed in the year 1976 during the operation of Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant. People began to bathe in the lagoon and apply silica mud on their skin. Those people notice that it has great effects on their skin and even people with psoriasis notice an improvement in their skin condition too.


And because of that, public bathing facilities where opened, followed by a special clinic for psoriasis patients and now they are also offering skin care products. Blue Lagoon is one of the 25 wonders of the world so there is no doubt that this is a popular tourist destination in Iceland.

Since it would be my first time in Iceland, I also wanted to visit this place but after reading a lot of reviews and blogs, I did not include this anymore. I’ve read about the “Shower without Bathing Suit” and wala daw cubicle or curtain so open bathroom. I told my mom that I was not comfortable taking a bath na walang cubicle and I don’t like wearing a swimsuit because I have psoriasis so she agreed with me, even though I knew that she likes to go there.

The rates of Blue Lagoon is not cheap, the cheapest rate is more or less PHP3000 per person. My son (2-13 yrs old) is still free of charge but like his mom, he was not interested.

Standard ISK6100
Comfort ISK8100
Premium ISK10200
Luxury ISK53000

* Free entry for children is limited to general admission. No additional services or products are included. But it's possible to purchase add-ons upon arrival – towels, bathrobes, meals, etc. Blue Lagoon has an age limit of 2 years old. Guests from 2 to 16 years old must be escorted by guardians while visiting the Blue Lagoon.

They also offer a guided tour for 40 minutes but it can only be booked by a group of 11 or more. So hindi kami pwede dito. The price is ISK2000 per person.

Day 1 in Iceland

Upon arrival, my aunt (a cousin of my mom) told us that we were going to Blue Lagoon but my mom said, that we were not interested anymore since I have psoriasis. But my aunt told us, na mas okay nga daw yun because the unique water of Blue Lagoon is good for psoriasis patients. To be honest, I already knew about that information because they have special rates for psoriasis patients pero maharlika ang presyo. You can choose from Introduction Treatment or Out-Patient Treatment and the price is ISK25000 for one day, so PHP12k+.

And ayaw ko nga maghubad at swimsuit. Hehehe! So day before our trip, my mom and I were contemplating whether we would go or not. But prior to our trip, my aunt already informed her contact about us so her contact was already reserved for us. Yes, pre-booking is required, you cannot just go there because they also limit the number of people inside their facilities.

Day 2 Blue Lagoon

To make the long story short, we still went to Blue Lagoon. Of course, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the wonders of the world. So after breakfast, off we went to Blue Lagoon. Travel time is more or less 20 minutes from my aunt’s house. It is also near the airport so if you want you can go straight here before going to Reykjavik.

Watch my video here. 

Distances From Keflavik International Airport to Blue Lagoon: 23 km
From Reykjavík to Blue Lagoon: 47 km


When we got there, they tried to convince me to try it but I’m stubborn so hindi nila ko napilit. I told my mom na siya na lang magtry ng Blue Lagoon but she was hesitant kasi mag-enjoy siya tapos kami nasa labas. But I told her, that we’re just okay and I knew na bucket list niya yan. Hehehe! So grab the opportunity and enjoy, kukunan na lang namin siya ng pictures. The contact of my aunt works in Blue Lagoon, so the Pinay accompanied my mom inside. She said she reserved four persons, sayang daw.



As I mentioned before, we did not include this in our itinerary so my mom did not bring any swimsuit. But don’t worry because you can rent swimwear, towels, and bathrobes there. I just have no idea about the rates.

According to my mom, she was given a wristband that serves as the key to her locker. The wristband acts as an in-water credit card that you can use to buy drinks and of course pay before check-out. My mom said, there is a separate area for men and women. And sayang daw kasi may cubicle naman yung bathroom so may privacy. Shower gel and hair conditioner are already provided in the shower area. A Silica Mud Mask was included in the package too.

My mom did not stay that long because the Pinay needed to go back to work, she had a meeting that day. My mom was also surprised because she did not pay anything, the Pinay told her that since she is working in Blue Lagoon, meron daw sila mga free passes. Wow! Thanks for the treat, it is really nice to have kababayans abroad noh? Kaya pala sabi ng Pinay, sayang naman when I said, I don't like to go inside, treat pala yung nireserve niya sa amin. But anyway, my mom enjoyed her time in Blue Lagoon.


Before exiting, you will pass their souvenir shops where you can buy skin care products like the silica mud mask. Anyway, if you are planning to visit Iceland. Take note of this.

1. Pre-booking is required.
2. Open all year round.
3. Opening hours depend on the season.

Even though I was not able to try the unique water, I’m still happy seeing Blue Lagoon up close and personal.

Read: Icelandair Experience
Reykjanes Peninsula Tour


Read: The Great Geysir in Iceland
Gullfoss in Iceland
The Golden Circle Tour
Bridge Between Two Continents
Thingvellir National Park