Reykjavík Grapevine - 23.05.2008, Blaðsíða 25

Destination | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 06 2008 | 25
I had been to the Blue Lagoon several times be-
fore but this time ‘round I had the company of my
friend who was visiting from Germany. While she
complimented the glossy advertisement for the
spa in her city guide (the one with the elderly, but
rejuvenated, man stretching a yoga pose alone in
the lagoon), she was sceptical about the place
living up to its pristine image. “I’ve heard it’s re-
ally touristy” and “It looks like Seaworld (a water
theme park in Australia),” were among her com-
ments. Crowded, yes. A theme park, not quite.
“Energy for life through forces of nature”
is the Blue Lagoon’s motto and people come in
droves to experience the relaxation and supposed
healing powers of the aquamarine geothermal
seawater which contains minerals, silica and al-
gae. We arrived at the newly renovated spa, set
among the barrenness of the surrounding lava
fields, one sunny mid-week afternoon.
The main focus of our visit was the massag-
es which we had come to try. Having little idea
of what to expect, we entered the massage pool
area 10 minutes before our appointments. When
my masseuse, Maria, arrived and explained that
we would each be receiving a 30 minute in-water
relaxation massage, my first concern was how on
earth she was going to go about massaging me,
presumably without me having to get naked. Ma-
ria soon explained that I was to lie on my back on
a floating mat, partially submerged in the water.
After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to bal-
ance on the drifting mat, I managed to lie still as
she covered me with a heavy, wet blanket – pur-
pose made to keep patients warm and to allow
them to lie with their bathers pulled down to the
waist – and began to apply some scented oil to my
lower back.
Once I was confident that I would not fall
off my mat, I closed my eyes and quickly drifted
into deep relaxation, the distant sounds of water
trickling soothing me. As Maria massaged my
arms, hands, neck and feet using a combina-
tion of gentle massage techniques, she made her
way around the secluded section of the lagoon,
constantly rotating me as she massaged – a re-
ally unique experience which, despite having no
sense of where exactly I was in the pool, I found
immensely relaxing.
Just minutes after closing my eyes, the
crowds of this isle’s most visited tourist spot
(around 400,000 visitors a year) seemed a distant
memory. My friend was also being massaged si-
multaneously by another masseuse. After half an
hour of pampering I was left to float on the murky
waters before I headed off to the nearby steam
bath and sauna. My only regret is not having worn
a swimming cap, as after being drenched in the
silica-rich waters your hair becomes incredibly
dry – almost straw-like.
Guests wanting to splash out on a massage
can also choose from a range of relaxation, water-
retention, cleansing, and firming treatments de-
signed for children, adults and expectant mothers.
And all sorts of people seem visit the Blue Lagoon
– well Icelanders generally excluded these days,
that is. This particular day there was a large group
of what I presume were business men, as well as
couples and families of all ages. Prince Fredrik
and Princess Mary of Denmark even stopped by a
few days earlier.
The original lagoon was first formed in 1976
and locals started to bathe there in 1981. Today,
international visitors make up seventy percent of
all visitors and the complex now includes a spa,
steam baths and saunas, a restaurant, a cafe, a gift
shop and a health clinic for those seeking treat-
ments for psoriasis and other skin disorders.
The waters were a perfect temperature of
39–41°C on this bright and sunny day. My friend
and I spent several hours lazing about, stopping to
apply the white silica mud in the pool side buck-
ets, which shouldn’t be replaced with the stinky
version found on the floor of the lagoon, to our
faces. Those who have reservations about the
hygiene of public bathing presumably need not
worry. The lagoon’s six million litres of water are
renewed every 40 hours. At least, the soothing wa-
ters of the Blue Lagoon certainly won my friend
over.
Text by Zoë Robert
Photos by GAS
Floating on Murky Waters
“The original lagoon was
first formed in 1976 and
locals started to bathe
there in 1981. Today, in-
ternational visitors make
up seventy percent of
all visitors and the com-
plex now includes a spa,
steam baths and saunas,
a restaurant, a cafe, a gift
shop...”
EDDAS AND SAGAS
Iceland’s national treasures
The Culture House - Þjóðmenningarhúsið
National Centre for Cultural Heritage
Hverfi sgata 15, 101 Reykjavik
Tel.: +354 545 1400, www.thjodmenning.is
Open daily between 11am and 5pm
The admission fee grants entry to all exhibitions at the Culture House. Adults ISK 300. Senior citizens ISK 200.
Students ISK 200. Free entry for children 16 years of age or younger. Admission is free on Wednesdays.
An open guided tour of the Manuscripts exhibition is offered every weekday except Wednesdays at 3:30 pm.
MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS – EDDAS AND SAGAS. EXHIBITION AT THE CULTURE HOUSE.