When we emailed our trip itinerary to our family and friends, we received the most questions about Iceland, the least populated country in Europe. "Why do you need 10 days in Iceland?" "Won't you be cold? It's all ice there!" "What made you choose Iceland?" "Don't you mean Ireland?"

Known for its striking natural beauty, extremely hard-to-pronounce street names, hot springs, and very active volcanoes (we found out firsthand about this!), Iceland has been on my bucket list for years. And the fact that you can drive a circle around the perimeter of the island seemed like a great way to check out the whole country. Who doesn't love a good road trip?

Only 315,000 people live in Iceland and about two-thirds live in Reykjavik. On most days, we felt completely isolated (or ice-olated, ha ha), running into at most 5 other cars. It was amazing to feel as though we had the entire country to ourselves.

The best way to express how beautiful Iceland is is through our photographs in a series of posts. Here goes!

Flying over the North Atlantic:

Landed in Iceland. The road trip begins...

Blue Lagoon, a man-made geothermal spa located in a lava field, only 20 minutes from the international airport.

Finally at the Blue Lagoon.  We were mesmerized by the milky blue water against the stark black backdrop. — Finally at the Blue Lagoon. We were mesmerized by the milky blue water against the stark black backdrop.

Blue Lagoon from above.  There are stations around the lagoon where you can buy drinks and plaster on a mud mask. — Blue Lagoon from above. There are stations around the lagoon where you can buy drinks and plaster on a mud mask.

Relaxing in the perfect warm water.  The strong smell of sulfur was a small price to pay for the amazing experience. — Relaxing in the perfect warm water. The strong smell of sulfur was a small price to pay for the amazing experience.

Continuing the drive down the southwestern section of Iceland...

Icelandic horses are everywhere and are incredibly beautiful.  They are pony-sized and have fuller manes than any other horses I've seen. — Icelandic horses are everywhere and are incredibly beautiful. They are pony-sized and have fuller manes than any other horses I've seen.

Thingvellir National Park - This park contains the remains of the national viking parliament site established in 930 that lasted until 1798. It is also where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

There is a church on the grounds of Thingvellir, on which site the original Thingvellir Church was built in 1015.

Back on the road...the natural beauty was simply mesmerizing. Hundreds of waterfalls, rock formations, mountains, horses, sheep, lakes, rainbows...we saw it all!

The weather in Iceland changes in an instant. It can be cold and rainy, then foggy to the point where you can't see more than 20 feet in front of you, and then sunny and bright. We didn't see much sun for the first few days, but other than obstructing some of the sights, the fog added another level of eerie beauty.

We came to see a glacier.  A glacier covered by fog was all we got. — We came to see a glacier. A glacier covered by fog was all we got.

One minute, all we saw was fog.  The next, this beautiful rainbow! — One minute, all we saw was fog. The next, this beautiful rainbow!

Haukadalur geothermal area is an attraction in southwestern Iceland, which consists of a constantly erupting geyser called Strokkur and another called Great Geysir that is over 10,000 years old. The site also features mud pools and steam vents.

Welcome to Strokker.  This geyser erupts every few minutes, and the eruptions can be as high as 130 feet! — Welcome to Strokker. This geyser erupts every few minutes, and the eruptions can be as high as 130 feet!

Stephen smiling in front of the erupting Strokkur.  It was so nice to have this whole area in front of the geyser to ourselves... — Stephen smiling in front of the erupting Strokkur. It was so nice to have this whole area in front of the geyser to ourselves...

Ummm yea...no one stands where we were for a reason.  Drenched! — Ummm yea...no one stands where we were for a reason. Drenched!

Gorgeous blue pool at the Geysir geothermal area.

Not far from Geysir is Gullfoss, or Golden Falls. The enormous and fast-rushing waterfall cascades down two levels of rocks and into a very deep crevice.

The final stop on our first day was to Kerid, a volcanic crater lake in southern Iceland. The vivid reds and greens were striking. There is a short walk around the crater rim that allows views down into the lake and out to the surrounding areas.

Our cottage on the first night of our road trip.

The following morning, we came across Seljalandsfoss, a 200 foot waterfall not far from the main road circling Iceland. This was one of our favorite stops on our trip because you can also safely walk behind the falls.

...and behind it!  It was amazing, but the water was freezing! — ...and behind it! It was amazing, but the water was freezing!

Back on the road, we came across the first of many "turf houses" we would see on our trip. Here, a small structure is built into the ground, and right behind it, a cave that was once a smithy.

Next stop was Skogafoss in the town of Skogar. Skogafoss, another 200 foot waterfall, is said to have treasure buried in a cave behind it. Speaking of legends and superstitions, the Icelandic people also believe in elves and trolls. I hope they're wrong!

A crazy tourist climbing down to the edge of the waterfall.

Exploring the Skogar folk museum, an indoor collection of artifacts as well as an open-air museum.

Class clown in the schoolhouse replica at the Skogar Museum.  I now have a sense for what the poor teachers at Orange High School must have experienced. — Class clown in the schoolhouse replica at the Skogar Museum. I now have a sense for what the poor teachers at Orange High School must have experienced.

Replica of a house at the Skogar museum.  We were able to walk through the house as well. — Replica of a house at the Skogar museum. We were able to walk through the house as well.

Next we arrived at Dyrholaey, a small peninsula in southern Iceland, not far from the town of Vik. This part of Iceland is known for its black sand beaches and rocky coastline.

Back on the road to the next black sand beach, Reynisfjara.

Reynisfjara, a black sand beach with a huge cave, was so incredibly beautiful to see. The sea was angry that day my friends...

View of Dyrholaey from Reynisfjara beach.

Stephen walking to the water at Reynisfjara.

Gardar, an amazing cliff of basalt columns at Reynisfjara Beach.  It was breathtaking to see in person. — Gardar, an amazing cliff of basalt columns at Reynisfjara Beach. It was breathtaking to see in person.

Around the corner from Gardar is a huge cave.  It was awesome!! — Around the corner from Gardar is a huge cave. It was awesome!!

Looking back to the beach from Gardar as the sun was setting.

Stay tuned for more about our road trip in Iceland!

-Michelle