How often do you find a place where the water’s color is more intense than the sky’s? In the chilly island country of Iceland, the steamy Blue Lagoon is an oasis of heat. This little nation is quickly becoming a popular travel destination as it sits conveniently between the United States and Europe. With the absolutely highest regard for the environment, this beautiful location offers the busy tourist rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Heated by geothermal energy, the cloudy blue waters feel almost scalding at times and are chock-full of healthy minerals. Troughs of soft white silica mud sit warm in the water for visitors to slather on – all while enjoying the balmy sunbeams and the crystal clear sky. The entire area is blanketed in a fluffy cloud of steam which rises from the water, making the crisp Icelandic air less of a temperature shock. The spa also houses a sauna and steam room, areas for massage, and even a treatment center for skin ailments like psoriasis.

What makes Iceland and the Blue Lagoon even more of an attraction for tourists is that it is the perfect ‘long layover’ point between the United States and Europe. The long, crowded, and almost claustrophobic flight between the two continents can be almost unbearable. Traveling itself becomes a source of stress and frustration, which isn’t how anyone wants to start a vacation! So why not break up the flight? The Keflavík International Airport is about a five-and-a-half-hour flight from the U.S.’s east coast, which will get you a little over halfway to Europe. From the airport, simply check your baggage, hop a shuttle to the Blue Lagoon, and soak your cares (and jetlag) away for a few hours before returning the airport to finish your flight. The resort offers swimsuit and towel rentals, making it easier to visit without dragging along cumbersome bags. Visitors can even take a piece of their experience with them as the lagoon offers a complete line of face and body products made from its healing waters, silica mud, and special algae. Imagine how refreshing it would be to board an airplane feeling clean, rejuvenated, and with the knowledge that Europe is only a few more hours away.

Whether Iceland is the final destination or merely a stop along the way, The Blue Lagoon is truly a unique and relaxing experience!

See pictures of The Blue Lagoon and more of Europe’s hidden treasures in “Europe for the Senses – A Photographic Journal” by Vicki Landes. Available at Amazon.com and other major bookseller sites.

www.EuropeForTheSenses.com

Initially a skeptic, Vicki Landes was not thrilled when her military husband moved her and their new baby to Stuttgart, Germany – in fact, she went kicking and screaming. She quickly took to Europe and ended up living in Germany for a full seven years. During that time, Landes became an avid world traveler and published author. With a current list of 45 countries under her belt, Landes strives to find the overlooked details that make each place distinctive and unique. “Europe for the Senses – A Photographic Journal” is her first book.

Visit her website: http://www.EuropeForTheSenses.com – access information on the book, Landes’ blog, book reviews, press spots, book trailers, links to purchasing options, sign up for Landes’ weekly newsletter, and her new online photography galleries!