Another fantastic day, with two iconic Icelandic experiences in one day - the geothermal Jardbodin at Myvatn, and a fantastic display of the Northern Lights after dinner, from just outside the hotel.

We had a slowish start to the day - the plan was to visit the Nature Baths after 12 as that is when it opens. After breakfast etc, we set off to explore the Myvatn area. The lake was mostly defrosted, but there was still a lot of snow and ice on the ground. We made our way down to the lake edge and explored - while trying not to slip and break an ankle! Took lots of photos then headed to the Nature Baths.

After a very yummy ghoulash soup at the cafeteria (autocorrect repeatedly tried to write ghoulish...) we went into the Baths. Interesting societal note - Thro dropped his ice cream and a man at the Baths with his wife picked it up - we were informed by the cafeteria staff that he was the President - of Iceland!! No pomp, no entourage - Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson - just out at the Nature Baths with everyone else!!!

Stepping outside in a swimsuit in temperatures around zero was a hit challenging but thankfully there was a steam hut ten feet away from the changing room exit so I nipped in there to wait for the others - when we were already we headed for the lagoon - quickly!

As soon as you get your body in the water it's fine - it's about waist height and hot! The lagoon was reasonably busy, with lots of groups of tourists who seem to be either elderly northerners from Harrogate or Lancaster - or Tokyo! We spent a very enjoyable 4 or so hours there, moving from hotter to cooler spots and back again, swimming, chilling out, and generally having a really relaxing time! The weather cleared after a while and fabulous blue skies could have fooled you into thinking you were in the Caribbean - if it weren't for the snow and the very cold temperatures!

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a place called Grótagjá Cave - this is a natural cave that has a hot pool twenty foot inside down rough rocks - used to be used by locals in the '70s and '80s but due to thermal activity it got much hotter and you can't bathe there now. Lola and I climbed down into the cave for a look, (not a bathe..) and took some pics!

Thought that that was pretty much it apart from dinner....but then about half ten got a knock at the door - "the aurora is visible"!!! We were left for dust as Mary-Ann got her coat on, picked up her camera and was out the door! A wonderful half hour of nature's beauty danced across the sky right outside the hotel!! The night was very clear, VERY cold, but we hardly noticed it as we craned our necks and took dozens of fabulous photos!!! Simply amazing and a fantastic end to the stay in Myvatn