The weather had hardly improved by morning: it was raining, heavy clouds obscured the sky, and a fierce wind hit us as soon as we opened the cabin door. But Silke wasn’t about to let that dampen her spirits and was enjoying the hot spring right next to our cabin. With a view of the glaciers and the vast high landscape, as the gray clouds drifted by and a ray of sunshine occasionally broke through, the moment felt almost magical.
Later, we continue our journey and stop at Gullfoss, where we suddenly find ourselves surrounded by tour buses and tourist groups – a stark contrast to the solitude and silence of the highlands. The Gullfoss waterfall immediately takes our breath away and makes us forget everything around us: it plunges into the depths in several stages, powerful, thunderous, and yet beautifully elegant. We stand still, letting ourselves be swept away by the force and beauty of the water, simply awestruck.
We spent the evening – as so often in Iceland – at a swimming pool. The warm water was a true blessing after a cold, wet day. And once again, we were delighted by the free admission for people with disabilities. While sitting in the hot tub, we talked about this topic and how not every disability is visible. Unlike in Germany, where we often had to explain why we had a severe disability because it wasn’t apparent, Icelanders trust us. This is another reason for our trip to Iceland: to show people that there is often much more to life than meets the eye. Understanding, respect, and trust are values that we can all practice more in our daily lives.
After letting ourselves drift and warming our bodies and souls, we spent the night at the campsite right next to the geyser. The site was simple but beautifully situated, and in the evening we were lucky enough to witness the spectacle of the Strokkur geyser with only a few other people. It repeatedly receded, bubbling deep inside, the water level dropping, and then the fountain suddenly shot powerfully into the sky. A spectacle full of life, energy, and beauty. We stood there under the rising moon, in awe and completely still. Iceland once again showed us its full power, and we allowed ourselves to be enchanted by it. Tired, content, and full of impressions, we finally fell into our tents while outside the earth breathed and churned.
