Sarah and I spent an extended layover in Reykjavik on our way to Denver and finally got to explore the tiniest bit of Iceland. Reykjavik has a stark charm, feeling somewhat like an old-world trading settlement trapped between cultures, and serving as a perfect gateway to the rest of Iceland.

Sadly we didn’t have nearly enough time, but we managed a visit to Þingvellir–the historical seat of the Icelandic parliament—which was a truly beautiful combination of waterfalls, inlets, lush vegetation and volcanic rock.