The greatest gift La Vida Liverpool has given me is friendship and thanks to this magazine I have met some truly wonderful people during the past seven years. One of those people is Icelandic life coach Linda Baldvinsdottir and we have worked together on some beautiful collaborations, including our Happiness Podcast.
In January 2025 she visited Liverpool with her fantastic partner Björgvin and it was great to show them around — including a historic pub crawl. In May 2025 they returned the favour in a massive way as I stayed with them in Iceland — a four day whirlwind of exploration, nature, culture and connection.
I flew out on Sunday morning (just £200 through Easyjet and there are now flights from Liverpool too) and arrived at midday after less than three hours in the air. I was greeted by my two dear friends and glorious sunshine — the weather was exceptional during my stay and was, in fact, one of the hottest few days in May on record.
Whereas Icelandic winters are long and dark with only three hours of daylight most days, the spring and summer days are the exact opposite — with very little darkness at night — yet often rainy and very rarely above 20 degrees. I was extremely lucky to experience some incredible weather during my visit!
The Icelandic weather saved its best for me, it seemed, and an epic mini-adventure commenced from the moment I arrived. I was met at the airport by the warm, welcoming smiles of Linda and Björgvin and was whisked away on an awe-inspiring road trip straight away!
The first thing that struck me was the barren, rugged and other-worldly terrain, before driving through Grindavik — a small town located perilously in a danger zone with the threat of an earthquake at any time. Only the brave, stubborn and foolish remained living in the mostly abandoned town.
We travelled along many winding roads as I looked out of the window in awe at the alien landscape, with mountains bearing down on us wherever we were, before reaching our next destination. The blue lagoon at Metið was truly breathtaking, whether admiring it from above or at surface level, and I managed to capture a beautiful photograph of my hosts at the basin of the lagoon.
We then visited þingvellir or ‘World Of Peace’ — a famous tomato plantation and eatery that sells THE best tomato soup imaginable! Not to mention tomato beer, tomato cocktails, tomato ice cream and pretty much anything you can think of using tomato as the main ingredient. It was here that the reality of the cost of things in Iceland dawned on me — all I can say is that most things are double the cost of the UK so basically, take twice the spending money you’d usually budget for.
As we travelled further along the mesmerising land, Linda and Björgvin answered my endless questions about their country. They told me about their menacing volcano Eyja Fjalla Jokull (I still can’t pronounce it, even after Linda buying me a mug with its name on) — a volcano that erupted in the 1700s and caused widespread deaths in Iceland and as far as in Europe. It was a stark reminder of the power of nature in this surreal country.
The next stop on our epic road trip was Seljalandsfoss and gljúfrabüi waterfalls — powerful and beautiful in equal measure, with a rainbow posing perfectly across them for a photograph. We explored the caves and waterfalls that gushed into them — the sheer beauty of nature at its finest!
We then headed to the capital, Reykjavik — a quaint and charming little harbour city with lots of cool bars and restaurants. If you visit one of the bars, be sure to play ‘Spin The Wheel’ where you can win up to 10 beers for the price of two — saving you a fortune if you win — although on second thoughts, don’t listen to me!
Linda and Björgvin were the best hosts and I managed to get a few hours sleep despite it never truly getting dark. The following day, we visited the outdoor baths — a popular concept in Iceland (their tiny little hometown of Hafnarfjörður 20 minutes outside of Reykjavik has three) — where showering before entering is both mandatory and customary. It’s these little things that set countries apart — I mean, could you imagine public outdoor baths in the UK? Absolute carnage for sure and good luck policing the hygiene rules!
We then embarked upon another epic road trip that I will never forget! Once again, the striking landscape captivated me as we travelled along roads that felt like they shouldn’t be there — man-made concrete paths built for vehicles on an island where nature is at its most dominant.
Let’s be truthful here, there’s only one winner in this battle and visiting the Gullfoss waterfall was a stark reminder of that — the sheer power and sound of the water was breathtaking and the thought of falling in was extremely humbling. I think we all need that realisation sometimes — that nature always wins and there is a greater force that rules us.
We next visited the Geysirs — spectacular and strange in equal measure. Yet again, nature showcasing its sheer strength and dynamism — this time through both heat and water. There really isn’t a country like the ‘land of fire and ice’ and despite there being long, dark and bleak winters, Iceland remains one of the happiest countries on earth.
Linda and Björgvin taught me a saying, þetta reddast, which essentially means ‘we’ve been through so much already, so everything is going to be alright’. I think the fact that Icelanders have survived, thrived and become happy on and island that’s constantly under threat from volcanos and earthquakes is a most inspiring example of the strength of human spirit and this quote will remain instilled within me forever.
We enjoyed pizza and pints at one of their popular food halls before watching the stunning midnight sunset over the golf course and ocean in their picturesque hometown. Apparently, such is the light in the summer, they have golf tournaments that go on through the night!
The sunset was one of the best I’ve witnessed anywhere on the planet and I managed to sleep well again despite it being pretty much constantly daytime and never truly getting dark — I attribute that to the epic road trips, lots of conversation and laughter and one or two beers, of course.
On the third day I did a little work (this positive news machine won’t run itself) before exploring Linda and Björgvin’s hometown — a peaceful little fishing village where everything is so different, from the buildings to the way of life. The air is so clean and everything seems so basic, simple and relaxed.
I particularly enjoyed a couple of pints with Björgvin at a rather plush restaurant and bar overlooking the harbour — before being treated by Linda to the most spectacular lamb dinner. You know, I think it pays to be a good person — it can result in meeting friends for life from Iceland who take hospitality to another level!
As if things couldn’t get any better, my gorgeous hosts whisked me away to the Sky Lagoon for a unique and invigorating experience. We enjoyed a few drinks in the giant hot tub overlooking the ocean and indulged in a spa journey — a delight for the soul, yet what filled me with the most joy was my connection with Linda and Björgvin. With every conversation our connection became stronger and I will forever cherish these very special days we shared together.
To end this whirlwind four day VIP tour of such an awe inspiring country, Linda and Björgvin took me to Fly Over Iceland — a simulator attraction in Reykjavik that takes you on a virtual reality flight over the country. We experienced a brief tour that delved into the history and culture of Iceland before embarking upon an immersive journey above the majestic island.
As incredible as it was, the thing that struck me the most was that during the cultural tour the words þetta reddast were mentioned by the mystical troll narrating on the large screen. This cemented my admiration for this country and its people — an island dominated by nature yet a place where the hardy and positive can thrive.
My adventure was complete with a few drinks in Reykjavik at a couple of the bars located on the city centre square — a very cultured and sophisticated city centre square in my eyes — before heading to one of Reykjavik’s highest rated restaurants. The Icelandic capital is renowned for its fine dining and grillmarkaðurinn, The Grill Market, was certainly up there as one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in my life!
I was tempted to opt for something exotic such as puffin, reindeer or whale but was delighted with our set menu choice! The cool, basement setting played host to a fiesta of flavours, as we enjoyed a trio of seafood starters, the finest steak I’ve tried in a long time and heavenly desserts alongside silky smooth Malbec — every bite and every sip a sensation!
What made this dining experience so special was, of course, the company. Linda and Björgvin truly excelled themselves during these four days — both as hosts and as human beings. Linda, a wise, strong and motherly life coach paired with Björgvin, a calm, dependable and good man with a mischievous sense of humour, make a perfect couple and I am honoured to have been their guest on this adventure. And do you know what makes this story even more special?
I write this article having just received the incredible news that Linda and Björgvin have got married — a private affair announced to an outpouring of love on social media! Having shared unforgettable memories with this beautiful couple — first in Liverpool followed by my adventure of a lifetime in Iceland — I am absolutely delighted for them both from the bottom of my heart. To be a part of your journey is an honour and to be invited to your big wedding celebration party in October even more so — it seems there are more Icelandic adventures to come!
