The Iceland Countdown

A Winter’s Day on Talacre Beach

Vibrating With Excitement!

There are holidays and then there’s my spontaneous trip to ICELAND, the anticipation for this trip that has me bouncing around the house like Tigger after three espressos! With less than two months to go, this TravelChickFrom76 I’ve officially entered the checking the weather in Reykjavík four times a day zone.

So instead of quietly counting down on my phone app like a sensible adult, I asked ChatGPT to make me a list to refer back to on the days when the job is just dragggggging!

✨ The Iceland Happy Countdown: 50 Days of Pure, Unfiltered Joy ✨

50. The clouds look painted by Norse gods. Even your airport transfer will feel cinematic.

49. The tap water is glacier-born — you’ll drink it and feel like a baby Viking being reborn.

48. Every café glows with candlelight. Icelanders are professional hyggers; you’ll be an apprentice by day two.

47. Hot chocolate that could start a religion: molten, rich, topped with whipped-cream architecture.

46. Reykjavík’s street art is a technicolour dream — puffins, poetry, planets, and the occasional cheeky troll.

45. You’ll find a wool jumper that costs a fortune but hugs your soul forever.

44. The air smells faintly of adventure… and maybe a bit of sulphur, which somehow makes it more authentic.

43. There are more swimming pools than you expect, and every one is warm enough to melt your worries.

42. At some point you’ll watch steam curl from the ground and think, this planet is alive.

41. You’ll realise “sunrise” and “sunset” basically blur into one long golden hour.

40. Puffins exist. They have clown noses and chaos energy. Even if you don’t see one, just knowing they’re around helps.

39. You’ll get addicted to pylsur — Icelandic hot dogs. Crunchy onions, remoulade, bliss.

38. Every shop seems to sell lava rock candles, moss soap, or Viking beard balm. You’ll want all three.

37. You’ll hear a waterfall before you see it, and it’ll give you goosebumps in places you didn’t know had skin.

36. The ponies (yes, horses) will strike poses for your camera like they’re auditioning for Vogue.

35. You’ll say “wow” so often it stops sounding like a word.

34. Somewhere on a dark road you’ll pull over, look up, and the sky will dance just for you.

33. You’ll find a tiny local bar with fairy lights and craft beer brewed in a volcano’s shadow.

32. The bread baked in geothermal heat — hverabrauð — tastes like caramelised sunshine.

31. You’ll laugh at a road sign featuring reindeer, because of course there are reindeer.

30. The Northern Lights forecast app will become your new obsession.

29. Someone will tell you elves are real — and you’ll half-believe them.

28. You’ll start saying takk (thank you) without thinking. It feels good in your mouth.

27. There’s something wildly satisfying about zipping up a thermal coat and facing the wind like a champion.

26. You’ll spot a little red house perched against black cliffs and think, I could live here.

25. You’ll eat Skyr and suddenly understand why Vikings were jacked.

24. Icelandic Christmas lights look like the aurora came down to decorate the houses.

23. You’ll have that moment — sitting in silence, surrounded by snow — where everything feels still and right.

22. Music drifts out of cafés; everyone seems to have the voice of an elf and the soul of a poet.

21. You’ll meet a dog in a wool jumper and it’ll be the highlight of your day.

20. Even the petrol stations sell pastries so good they could ruin other countries for you.

19. The landscape will trick your brain — it’s like walking on Mars but with better snacks.

18. You’ll step into a lava tube cave and swear you’ve entered a fantasy novel.

17. A stranger will smile at you in that “we’re all tiny specks in nature’s glory” kind of way.

16. You’ll learn how good silence can sound.

15. Snowflakes sparkle under the streetlights like glitter thrown by mischievous elves.

14. You’ll try liquorice chocolate, hate it, then crave it three days later. It’s witchcraft.

13. There’s a moment when the cold hits your face and instead of flinching, you grin — alive.

12. You’ll see a rainbow that seems close enough to walk into.

11. Every photo you take will look like a travel brochure even if your glove thumb’s in it.

10. You’ll share a knowing nod with another traveller — the unspoken “can you believe this place?” bond.

9. You’ll realise you haven’t thought about work, bills, or nonsense in days.

8. A local will tell you a story about trolls or hidden people and you’ll secretly hope it’s true.

7. Your reflection in a pool of hot-spring water will look so peaceful you might not recognise yourself.

6. You’ll pack your bags to leave and feel that weird ache that means a place got under your skin.

5. You’ll promise yourself you’ll come back. And you will.

4. Tomorrow you’ll be too excited to sleep.

3. You’ll be at the airport, passport in hand, grin unstoppable.

2. You’ll watch the plane door open, smell the cold air, and every part of you will spark alive.

1. You’re in Iceland, baby. Snow crunches underfoot, lights shimmer above, and the world feels impossibly, beautifully wide open.

Why I’m Spinning Like the Sugar Plum Fairy

Reading through this countdown gives me a I a tiny spark, a daily reminder that life is bigger than deadlines and digital marketing. And the best part?

IT’S ONLY GETTING CLOSER.

The Bounce Is Real

I’ll be sharing it all - what I’ve packed, the lagoons, the trips, the jumpers, the cafés, the weird snacks, the drama of trying not to slip on ice - right here and over on Instagram at TravelChickFrom76.

If you’ve been, drop your favourite spots. If you haven’t… brace yourself. This countdown might tip you over the edge into booking!

Until then:
takk, snow angels.
Let the bouncing continue.

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