A woman travels to 90 countries around the world and points out the one she’d always return to: “I want to return again and again”

Visiting 90 countries is a feat only a few can achieve. It takes time, a love for travel, work flexibility, and, of course, money. But some people gradually add countries to their passport, filling it with stamps and becoming true globetrotters.

This is the story of our protagonist, an American citizen who has visited 90 countries. As she told Business Insider, her approach was clear from the start: she aimed to visit each country only once. “Why see the Colosseum again when I haven’t seen the Great Pyramids or Antarctica?” she wondered.

However, like any rule, there’s always an exception. Even though she always thought she would only visit each country once, there’s one that completely enchanted her: Iceland. “I’ve already visited three times and definitely plan to return,” she confirms.

“I’d always wanted to visit Iceland, but I never prioritized it until a close friend convinced me to take the plunge. She planned most of our trip and got me excited about seeing the country’s soaring waterfalls, hot springs, glaciers, and lava fields,” she told the outlet.

There are many things that draw her to Iceland. First, its proximity to her hometown of Washington, D.C. Accustomed to a huge country, she is used to long domestic flights, so the under-five-hour flight from D.C. to Reykjavik definitely appealed to her.

An LGBT-friendly country

Her connection with Iceland was love at first sight, as can be seen on her Instagram profile. “As soon as I arrived, I could feel myself falling for the country. Our first stop was Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital city.” As she explored, she became even more impressed. For instance, right after landing, in the old town, she came across a huge rainbow painted on a street, welcoming the LGBT community. “a beautiful and unmistakable sign that all are welcome in Iceland. It brought me so much joy,” she says.

On her first visit, her initial contact was with Reykjavik, and everywhere she went she was impressed: the art, history, quirky museums, and the city’s personality. “I was astounded by how much there was to do in Reykjavík, especially since it’s a fairly small city with a population under 140,000.”

But she loved it so much that she decided to explore the entire country. “I started by soaking in the warm waters of the Sky Lagoon and indulging in a multistep ritual inspired by traditional Nordic wellness practices. My life is stressful, and I find it hard to relax, but I felt rejuvenated when I left,” she recalls. She also visited black sand beaches formed by volcanoes, hiked glaciers, explored massive waterfalls, and, of course, enjoyed the local cuisine.

Local kindness

She also experienced how open and friendly the locals are. “They seemed proud to show off their country,” she says. “I felt at home in Iceland. I loved the adventure, the food, and the people. I didn’t want to leave,” she admits.

But even though the trip ended, it was only the first visit. Despite her rule of visiting each country only once, she made an exception for Iceland. And the opportunity to return came quickly. A family trip fell through, and she decided to go back—just three months after her first visit. “This time, I booked an expedition cruise to the north. We saw puffins and whales, crossed the Arctic Circle, and hiked in mountains and lava fields so beautiful that the views didn’t seem real,” she recalls.

The Northern Lights and Iceland in winter

But it still wasn’t the last time. She had visited nearly every corner, but she hadn’t yet seen the Northern Lights or experienced Iceland in winter. “Iceland looked totally different covered in snow, and I got to briefly see the northern lights,” she says excitedly.

“To me, this was more proof that there’s always something new to discover in Iceland, and I’m already plotting a return trip. Next time, I want to see a volcanic eruption,” she concludes, thrilled at the idea of returning to the country that is becoming her favorite in the world.

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