People have extolled the virtues of traveling alone for years, but I’ve never had the opportunity to do it. That is, until I had to organize a developer summit for Google in Madrid, which necessitated a semi-solo trip. The plan was, I would go to Madrid first and PAAAAAARTY... err I mean explore the Spanish capital amidst all the event prep, and then Saad would join me after for a much-needed, post-work vacation through the other cities.

Through time and experience, I have realized that there is a difference between going on a “vacation” and going on an “adventure.” A vacation is a break from your routine, focused on changing your scenery and often spent lounging. An adventure, on the other hand, is about discovery, going into the unknown, and stepping outside of your comfort zone. While a vacation resuscitates you, an adventure transforms you. One slows you down so you can rest, the other makes your heart beat faster.

Iceland holds a special place in my heart. It is the country that awakened my adventurous spirit and forever changed the way I travel. Before visiting this Nordic island nation, located just beneath the Arctic Circle, I thought “vacationing” meant going somewhere warm and tropical to rest and relax. I never envisioned myself on a trip that included treks to snow-capped mountains and volcanic valleys in the bitter cold. Never did I think that I’d enjoy a vacation that took me so far out of my element. But Iceland taught me that life and magic lie at the end of my comfort zone.