It’s a big, beautiful world out there. Can we PLEASE stop screwing it up?

There’s something about this photo that feels so slice-of-life to me: Reykjavik’s town hall area; the sweet simple Christmas tree with plenty of lights; ice and moss-covered walls; a church with an onion dome; Hallgrimskirkja looming in the background. What a beautiful city. Fun. Friendly. And jam packed with art and sculpture and fabulous graffiti and scenic little corners that present quiet photo opps.

I would like to make note that this trip was mid-December, and with that level of golden glow settling into almost-twilight, it was probably 2:00 in the afternoon or so. Hooray for almost-Arctic-Circle winters! Although, side note. We took the trip on a tour boat—at night, in the middle of the North Atlantic—to see the Northern Lights, which did NOT cooperate and barely flickered. It was legitimately the single coldest I’ve ever been in my life, even covered in winter clothing. I’m totally convinced that my Viking ancestors would be a little bit disappointed in me, but I’m also convinced that they were lunatics, sooooo…

Oh my word, I am hungry for a new landscape to look at.