Before I set foot on a glacier, stood beside a waterfall, crossed a lava field, or watched puffins soaring above Iceland’s rugged coastline, I spent several hours at Perlan’s Wonders of Iceland in Reykjavík.
Looking back, it may have been the most important stop of my entire journey through the Westfjords with Aurora Expeditions, as part of ACTA’s Immersive Expedition Cruise program.
One of the things I love most about travel is that every destination has a story. The more you understand that story, the more meaningful the experience becomes.
At Perlan, I walked through a man-made ice cave, learned how glaciers are formed, and explored exhibits on Iceland’s volcanic origins. I came away with a far deeper appreciation for the geological forces that continue to shape this remarkable island today.
Suddenly, Iceland wasn’t simply beautiful.
It made sense.
Every lava field became evidence of a volcanic past. Every glacier became part of a living landscape. Every mountain, waterfall, and coastline became another chapter in a story that began millions of years ago.
As an expedition cruise specialist, I’m always encouraging my clients to go beyond simply seeing a destination. Understanding the science, history, culture, and geography behind a place is often what transforms a good trip into an unforgettable one. It’s the same precision I once brought to actuarial work — except now I’m mapping connection, not risk.
And Iceland rewards curiosity.
One day, I found myself standing before Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík’s most recognizable landmark. Rising above the city skyline, its striking design was inspired by Iceland’s basalt lava formations — the same geological features I’d learned about just hours earlier at Perlan.
Standing beneath its soaring façade, I could suddenly see the connection.
This wasn’t just a church.
It was architecture inspired by the land itself.
Just outside stands a statue of Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer believed to have reached North America centuries before Columbus. As a Newfoundlander, I couldn’t help but think of L’Anse aux Meadows and the Viking history linking Iceland and Newfoundland across the North Atlantic. A reminder that these connections have existed for more than a thousand years.
But some of Iceland’s most meaningful places aren’t famous at all.
One of the sites that left the deepest impression on me was Bessastaðir Church, beside the official residence of Iceland’s President.
At first glance, it seems modest compared to Hallgrímskirkja.
A small white church overlooking the sea.
No crowds.
No tour buses.
No dramatic architecture.
Yet standing there, surrounded by lava fields, ocean views, and centuries of history, I felt something every traveller seeks but rarely finds: connection.
Connection to the people who built this nation.
Connection to the landscape that shaped them.
Connection to a culture defined by resilience, community, and an extraordinary relationship with nature.
The longer I travel, the more I realize the places I remember most are rarely the biggest attractions.
They’re the places that help me understand where I am.
The small church.
The local guide.
The museum that provides context.
The unexpected conversation.
The quiet moment when a destination shifts from being somewhere you’ve visited to somewhere you’ve truly experienced.
That philosophy followed me throughout Iceland.
It was there while watching Atlantic puffins on Vigur Island in the Westfjords.
It was there while standing beneath the towering cascades of Dynjandi.
It was there while watching Icelandic horses graze beneath Kirkjufell, one of the country’s most photographed mountains.
And it was there every time I looked at a glacier, a lava field, or a volcanic landscape and understood not just what I was seeing — but why it existed.
That’s the difference between sightseeing and meaningful travel.
One creates photographs.
The other creates perspective.
And in a destination as extraordinary as Iceland, perspective may be the greatest souvenir of all.
If Iceland — or an expedition like it — is calling to you, I’d love to help you understand it the way I did. #AskSheila
❤️ Sheila Gallant-Halloran
Founder, Lush Life Travel Virtuoso Cruise Icon | Expedition Cruise Specialist Helping travellers maximize their Return on Life. #ReturnOnLife
Warmly,
Sheila Gallant-Halloran
Virtuoso Cruise Icon
www.lushlife.ca