The name of the country itself hints that the climate there is not very warm. And this is where all of its charm is hiding: it’s like the Snow Queen looking at you with her cold piercing eyes. And you can spend ages looking at this country: the waterfalls, the rocks, the volcanos, the beaches with black sand, and 8 months a year when you can see the Northern Lights. All these things make Iceland a country from a parallel reality that anyone would love to go to, at least for a little vacay.
We at Bright Side think that there should be things to fuel our dreams and this article does exactly that. Now is probably the best time to start saving for a trip to Iceland to see its beauty with your own eyes. It’s definitely worth it.
“My sister rented an apartment in the north of Iceland for Christmas, and this is her view.”

Before 1987, every Thursday in Iceland, there were no TV broadcasts.

The people from Iceland born before 1987 joke that they were probably conceived on a Thursday. The thing is, Thursdays were the days of communication when people were supposed to pay more attention to each other. This is why the only channel in the country at the time didn’t work on Thursdays.
Footage from the Icelandic TV show Keeping up with the Kattarshians, where cats are filmed living in a tiny home

Black sand beach in Iceland

“In Iceland, you can hand-draw a map on your mail, without an address, and it will still make it to its destination.”

- That’s because buildings are so far apart from each other and there are lots of distinct geographical locations, so it is easy to determine the location. The-Daily-Meme / Reddit
Blue Lagoon in Iceland is a geothermal hot spring that wasn’t open to tourists until the 1990s.

- That’s insane, it simultaneously looks like the hottest and coldest place on the planet. obamium-11 / Reddit
The people in Iceland can see the Northern Lights 8 months a year.

- Wow… one of the things I’d really like to see some time in my lifetime… FrayAdjacent / Reddit
“There are places in Iceland where you can be standing on the North American and European tectonic plates at the same time. This rift was from an earthquake.”

There’s a cave shaped like Yoda in Iceland. Do you see it?

“Iceland does not want to deal with your stupidity — and I think that’s beautiful.”

“Traveling within Iceland because we couldn’t go elsewhere. Found these guys sheltering themselves from the wind…”

And there’s a magnificent glacier in the background!
Glacier rivers in Iceland

- I used to have an art teacher who went to Iceland every year. He had hundreds of photos of the countryside. I have never seen anything like this country. The bizarre colors and shapes that naturally occur there are nothing more than breathtaking. JanJaapen / Reddit
A black church called the Heimaey Stave Church

- I was fortunate enough to see this church in person last year. There is a spring/fountain very close nearby with some of the cleanest and tastiest water I’ve ever had. Hard to even describe. Sletzer / Reddit
The Kerið Crater in winter is unreal.
“A photo of a road and landscape I took”

- Looks like wallpaper for an iPad pro. maurosauro / Reddit
- I’d be happy to sell it to Apple. thomyorkeftw / Reddit
The last McDonald’s cheeseburger sold in Iceland. McDonald’s no longer exists in this country.

“Stayed in an unusual hotel near The Golden Circle in Iceland”

“This crater lake in Iceland merges with a powerful glacial river. One of the most surreal sunrises I’ve ever experienced”

This very cozy street in Iceland

- This whole country is cozy. Seriously. I went there last winter and I’ve never been to a more cozy place in my life. dc-redpanda / Reddit
The view from some public restrooms in Iceland

“The puffins returned to eastern Iceland this week. I was lucky enough to see thousands of them in one spot.”

“This house my wife and I stayed at while in Iceland”

- Pretty much every building in Iceland has a view as good as this, that country is just insane. Chilis1 / Reddit
A sunset snowstorm in Iceland

I have the urge to set this as my phone’s wallpaper.
Would you like to travel to this amazing country?
I Got into a Car Accident — Then I Overheard My Future MIL Urging My Fiancé to Dump Me

I always believed life had a strange way of testing us, pushing our limits, and revealing who truly stands by our side when the storm hits. I just never thought that test would come through my future mother-in-law.
That belief was put to the ultimate test several months ago when a tragic car accident left me with injuries so severe that the doctors were pessimistic about my full recovery.

A young woman in a wheelchair drinking coffee while staring out the window in thought. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
They cautioned that even with extensive rehabilitation, I’d likely have a permanent limp, and for a time, I needed a wheelchair. Throughout this ordeal, my fiancé, Ethan, was an unwavering pillar of support. We even said to each other, “Nothing’s stopping our wedding, not even this.”
As our wedding approached, I found solace in the pages of my favorite books, seeking refuge from the harsh realities of physical therapy and doctor’s appointments. One evening, while I was lost in a novel, Ethan was in the lounge with his mother.

A young woman in a wheelchair reading. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I was thankful when his mother offered her help the previous night, which I thought she had come over to do. But oh, was I ever so wrong!
Their voices, usually clear and distinct, were now hushed to whispering tones. Curiosity piqued, I listened, unprepared for the chilling words that flowed from my future mother-in-law’s lips.

A woman talking to her son and daughter. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Son, you have to leave her otherwise…” She stopped mid-sentence before changing course, “Honey, you are so young and so handsome. Just imagine what a burden she will be for you!”
Frozen, my heart hammering in my chest as I waited for Ethan to defend our love, to speak up about how this wheelchair was only temporary. But silence followed. His silence was a gaping void that swallowed my hope whole.

A sad woman. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Distraught, I wheeled myself to our bedroom, tears blurring my vision. I was hurt and confused, a storm that couldn’t find its calm. When Ethan entered, his face crumpled in worry at the sight of me crying.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
“You can leave me,” I managed between sobs. “I’d understand that.”

A woman crying into a pillow. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Ethan’s confusion was palpable. “What? Why on earth should I leave you? You are the love of my life!”
“But why didn’t you say that to your mom? I heard everything!”
He rushed to my side, taking my hands in his. “Oh dear. I’m so sorry you heard that. But my reaction wasn’t at all what you thought. After hearing her words, a perfect plan came to my mind to teach my mom a lesson. I stayed silent because I needed her to think I might actually consider it. This was all part of my plan to show her how wrong she is about us, and about you.”

A man comforts his fiancée. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Skeptical yet intrigued, I listened as Ethan unveiled his plan. “Let’s pretend we’re breaking up because of the injury. We’ll even stage a dramatic scene at our upcoming engagement party where I ‘decide’ I can’t handle the pressure. But here’s the twist—right after we pretend to break up, we’ll reveal the truth to everyone about how unsupportive and cruel my mom has been, exposing her in front of our friends and family.”
It was bold, risky, and fueled by the sting of betrayal. I was hurt enough to agree.

Couple hatching a plan. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The engagement party was a scene straight out of a drama. Under the twinkling lights and the watchful eyes of our friends and family, Ethan and I enacted our plan.
His performance was convincing, his feigned frustration bubbling over as he declared he couldn’t do this anymore. The room fell into a stunned silence, the air thick with shock and disbelief.
Then, the moment of truth arrived.

A visibly shocked reaction from one of the guests at the party. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Standing (with some difficulty) I addressed the gathered crowd. “This was a test,” I began, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. “A test to show the true colors of someone who claimed to love me unconditionally.”
Ethan joined in, explaining our ruse and calling out his mother’s earlier words and lack of support. The impact was immediate.
My mother-in-law, caught in her own cruel game, was mortified. She stuttered apologies, her façade of politeness crumbling before everyone. The crowd’s reaction was mixed; some were shocked, others whispered among themselves, but the message was clear: no one would look at her the same way again.

A mortified woman staring out a window. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
From that day on, she was much more cautious around us, her words measured, her actions careful. Ethan and I grew stronger, our bond fortified by the ordeal. We learned the hard truth about the challenges we faced, not just from life’s unpredictable twists but from those we least expected.
As I continued to heal, both physically and emotionally, I realized that this test, harsh as it was, taught us about the depth of our resilience and the unyielding strength of love.

A happy couple on the beach. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
In the end, life’s trials did indeed reveal who stood by me — not just the man I loved, but the strength I harbored within myself. Wheels and all, I was ready to face whatever came our way, with Ethan truly by my side.
Those you love and choose to build a family with don’t always stand by you when it matters, and even that can be a lesson, as another woman found out when her future MIL turned her life upside down and used food to do it.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Leave a Reply