Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik, Iceland

     Regular readers know I don't "do" water.  They also know I usually restrict my entries to cycling only.  Know now that I did not ride a bike to the Blue Lagoon.  However, this is a longer post than what I would do on Facebook, so this is the venue to express my reactions to this phenomenon.
     This is a really slick operation.  They have anticipated 99% of everyone's needs, including the totally inept and stupid tourists.  Marilane booked us with the Premium package, and we highly recommend doing this.  You get shower clogs (which are then yours), a towel and bathrobe, and a drink at the swim up bar.  I suppose for those who go regularly, this isn't needed.  You can pay through a tour company which includes the 45 minute bus ride, but we just booked through the Blue Lagoon and took a bus.  So, the experience.
     We arrived about 9:00am, some of the first.  The attendants were friendly and knowledgeable, asking if this were our first visit (duh, 98% only come here once), and explained what we were to do and got our stuff.  They give you a plastic bracelet which is encoded with your information.  You use it to open gates, lock and unlock your locker (which isn't assigned until you get to your locker room), and can also buy drinks, lunch, souvenirs etc.  Slick.
     Yes, men and women have separate rooms.  Once assigned, you strip down and head to the showers to shower before going into the pool.  Shower naked, cleaning 100% of your body.  You are advised to leave the hair conditioner in until afterwards in that the pool water can damage it.  I remembered to do that for my head.  Folks who were reluctant to take off their bathing suits or uninformed were reminded by an attendant that they couldn't enter the pool unless they did.  Nice showers, warm water, great shower gel and conditioner.
     The robe came in handy, in that Iceland is not Miami Beach.  Until you get into the water, it's chilly.  We didn't explore the whole lagoon, but the part we were in was anywhere from four to five feet deep.  So mainly we just walked around.  There was a spot where Marilane needed to tread water for a few feet.  We just milled around like the other tourists, enjoying the pool. The water is milky blue.  You can only see a few inches down.  There are lifeguards patrolling the perimeter, watching to see if anyone is having difficulties.  Little kids have floaties for their arms, if needed.
    

Then we went for the facial.  There is a kiosk (you never leave the water) with a pot of silica gel.  We spooned up some and applied to our faces, leaving it on for ten minutes.  The instructions say five to ten, but for us it felt as though it really didn't start working until about eight minutes.  There were a whole bunch of folks meandering around with white mask faces.  Then we washed it off, using water from the pool, and went back for the second mask, this one algae.  The attendant spooned it up sparingly, and this time we applied each other and left it on for another ten minutes. 
More wandering, then over to the bar for our included drinks.  Beer, wine, smoothies, juice.  I had red wine, Marilane had sparkling wine.  More wandering, other than a quick pit stop (this time I had to leave the pool and was thankful for the robe).

     After about an hour, I was ready to continue our adventure outside the pool.  As I returned to the showers, I felt mildly lightheaded.  It's a blood pressure thing, same thing happens when I take a hot bath.  And like a bath, it passed quickly enough.  Another shower and shampoo.  The changing facilities are very nice, including hair dryers.
     We had lunch in the Lava Restaurant.  It included sparkling wine.  The meal was excellent, with a great view of the lagoon.  Some folks do the pool, put on their robes, eat lunch, then return to the pool.   Again, part of the whole experience.
     The bus leaves every hour, so we had a little time to browse the souvenir shop.  This was a great day for the visit, in that it was cloudy with showers off and on.  Thanks to Marilane for the pictures.  I somehow let my iPhone run out of juice.
     If you go to Iceland, be sure to put this on your agenda, whether you like water or not.  But don't go to Iceland if spending money gets you uptight.  Things are ridiculously expensive.