There's No Place Like Iceland
The land where nature is at its absolute finest
Hello and welcome if you are new to, from the desk of Rachel Leeke!
This newsletter is where I share weekly observations on two important forces in my life: love + travel.
In addition to narratives, I provide tools to support you in creating the confident, loving, and adventurous life you deserve.
Read up on my last newsletter about pre-pubescent train travel here or the entirety of my work here.
Shout out to my 100th subscriber
! At the time of publishing, there are 120 of you receiving my heart in your inbox. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I gave myself until the end of February to hit the triple digits... you all helped me meet my goal in 9 days.And without further ado, this week's serving.
My husband asked me earlier this month, "If we could have a home anywhere in the world we've visited, where would you choose?"
I responded, "Iceland," without missing a beat.*
It was our first international destination together, and while I fell deeper in love with him within the first six hours of touching down, that's not why it's my favorite.
From the moment we arrived in Reykjavík, I could tell I'd connect with nature like never before. Not to be too cliché, but the grass really did look greener.
We made it through customs, grabbed our luggage, got lucky with the car rental, and made our way from the airport to our home away from home. I selected our lodging, and it was an introvert's dream come true – a tiny wood-paneled abode shrouded by trees in the middle of a valley. To arrive, we went from highway to paved residential road until we came to where the pavement ended and a dirt road began. Its dimpled existence split the landscape into two equally stunning scenes. On one side was farmland, complete with horses, weathered machinery, and massive hay bales the shape of wine corks on their sides.
The other revealed the area's true elevation. To take in the height of the hillside and also its depth, one must poke their head out of the window to gain the whole scene. Briefly, the dirt road gave way to a narrow bridge overlooking a river. Its winding path carved its way through the elevation en route to open water. As we motored along, I'd trace the current with my eyes for as far back as the terrain allowed. Its mountainous origins, an exciting mystery to me.
Eventually, we arrived, cut the engine, and were pleasantly disturbed by how quiet it was. It was so silent I could hear the distant buzz of a bee and nothing else. We gathered our belongings, unloaded way too much luggage, and settled into what I'd quickly call paradise.
One afternoon, we followed the hillside down to where the grass met the slippery rocks of the river bed.
We did nature things like trying to approach horses**, standing barefoot on grass, and dipping our toes in the river. Upon return, we were winded, a little muddy, and grateful to make it in before the heavens opened up. The sky changed from blue to the color of wet cobblestone as soon as we stepped through the door. With a pane of glass separating us from the elements, we watched as a fog extended and enveloped everything in its path, like tea steeping in hot water. Eventually, the hovering vapor gave way to steady rain. Each droplet nourished land and living as Phil and I stood, marveling at what seemed to unfold for our eyes only.
The following day, after the downpour, the landscape, which I felt couldn't contain any more beauty, delivered its final display of divinity. Runoff escaped the brush, grass, and neighboring rocks along the hillside, sprouting small waterfalls in search of level ground.
I hope nature and all of her goodness blows your mind this week.
All my love,
RL
*Full disclosure: he had to ask me twice since I had follow-up questions the first time and needed clarification. But the second time, I said Iceland without missing a beat.
**Thankfully, they wouldn't even let us get close 😂
If water also inspires you, consider adding the following destinations to your travel list. They’re some of my favs.
Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
Kaaterskill Falls, Hunter, New York
Blue Lagoon, Portland, Jamaica
Hoover Dam, Boulder City, Nevada
LET ME KNOW:
Are you a fan of nature? What elements feel like poetry to you?
Have you visited any of the locations I listed? Tell me about it!
Is Iceland now on your travel list?
Where should I visit next?
When I feel lost, nature guides me home. Here’s more on the topic.
- I shaved my head and went to Jamaica.
-Spring is rejuvenation season.
-Witnessing a leaf’s last moment of Attachment
-Inviting fresh air into an old House
oh myy! those mountains look gorgeous. I feel like I'm there right now just by staring at them, Rachel.
as for your recommendation "Kaaterskill Falls, Hunter, New York" I'll go there soon and give a feedback.
I didn't become a faux nature girl until my mental health started to decline, go figure. The best nature trip I've ever experienced was to the country side of Jamaica. While there I had the best meal I've ever had in my entire life, a vegan dish at that. I swam in a body of water that is said to take away ailments and I'll be damned if I didn't come out of that water feeling brand new. Maybe it was magical, maybe it was the temperature, but I told myself the next time I went back to Jamaica, I needed to visit the countryside again. The sky was beautiful, the grass green, the most pure tree I've ever indulged in, and the people are my favorite. Iceland hasn't been on my list but I'd love to travel there one done.