ICELAND · AUGUST 2026
Sometimes the Thing You Travel Halfway Around the World to See Isn't What You Remember Most
We traveled to Iceland for a total solar eclipse.
For two years, the eclipse had been the date circled on the calendar — the reason this group of travelers was heading to Iceland in August 2026. But looking back on the trip now, something funny happened.
The eclipse isn’t what I remember most.
An Adventure From the Very Beginning
Our Iceland adventure began with a little reminder that travel doesn’t always follow the itinerary. Seven of our travelers were delayed getting into Iceland. Five made it later that first day, while two weren’t able to join us until the following morning.
It wasn’t quite the beginning we had planned, but that’s travel. We adjusted, kept going, and soon everyone was together.
And what a group it turned out to be.
Before this trip, I only knew four of the people who were traveling with us. By the end, it was hard to believe that so many of us had started out as strangers.
Iceland Was More Beautiful Than I Imagined
I knew Iceland would be interesting. I wasn’t prepared for just how stunningly beautiful it would be.
Around seemingly every corner was another landscape that made us stop and stare — waterfalls, dramatic coastlines, volcanic terrain and scenery unlike anywhere else I have traveled.
One of my favorite moments came on August 13 at Gullfoss.
There was something about standing there, surrounded by that incredible landscape, that captured Iceland for me.
We saw puffins up close, explored Iceland’s extraordinary natural wonders and experienced the country from above ground and below it.
Above Ground and Below It
At Perlan in Reykjavík, we walked through an indoor ice cave and experienced an incredible immersive volcano presentation that made it feel as though we were actually descending into the earth.
The Moments In Between
But some of my favorite memories weren’t attractions at all. They were the moments in between — the conversations over breakfast, the laughter on our coach and watching a group of people who barely knew one another become friends.
And Then There Was the Eclipse
Of course, this was the moment we had traveled all the way to Iceland to see.
And Iceland had other plans.
It was cold. It was rainy. And it was cloudy.
Some of our group wisely found tables inside at the bar and watched coverage of the eclipse on their phones. Others of us stayed outside with the crowds, determined to experience whatever Mother Nature was going to give us.
At one point, we put on our solar eclipse glasses for a photo — which was particularly funny because with the heavy cloud cover, we couldn’t see anything through them. Absolutely nothing. Just blackness.
And when the eclipse happened, we experienced the darkness even though we couldn’t see the sun itself.
What I remember most about that moment isn’t disappointment. I remember the camaraderie. People were laughing and talking, and there was a wonderful sense of excitement among everyone gathered there, not just our group.
We didn’t get the picture-perfect eclipse we’d imagined.
But we certainly got a story.
The People Became Part of the Journey
One of the unexpected joys of this trip was getting to know the people who came along.
Betty was one of them.
At 76, she made the journey from Florida by herself for what was her first-ever tour. She has lived an amazing life and has so many interesting stories to tell.
Everyone loved talking with her, and watching her experience Iceland was one of the things that made this trip particularly special for me.
That spirit carried throughout the group. Everyone contributed something to the fun and positive atmosphere. People looked out for one another, laughed together and genuinely enjoyed being together.
Somehow, it just meshed.
What I'll Remember
Iceland surprised me.
I expected the waterfalls, volcanoes and unusual landscapes. I didn’t expect to be quite so taken by its beauty. And I certainly expected the solar eclipse to be the defining moment of the trip.
Instead, when I think about Iceland, I think about the magnificent waterfall we stood beside. I think about puffins. I think about conversations over meals. I think about Betty. I think about everyone laughing in the rain wearing eclipse glasses that we couldn’t see a thing through.
I think about reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.
Travel doesn’t always go exactly according to plan. Flights get delayed. Clouds roll in. Sometimes Mother Nature simply refuses to cooperate.
And sometimes the thing you travel halfway around the world to see isn’t ultimately the thing you remember most.
Sometimes, it’s everything that happens along the way.
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