03/24/2026
I went to Iceland to see the Northern Lights.
The hotel was beautiful, but I didn’t take a single photo of it.
What I remember is something else.
The warmth of the space after being out in the cold.
The soft lighting.
The simplicity.
The way everything felt calm and grounded.
As the porter showed me the room, he pointed out the small window and shared a Nordic tradition - leaving it slightly open at night to let in the crisp air for better sleep.
I decided to open it.
Cold air coming in.
Warm bedding.
I slept better than I had in a long time.
That’s what stayed with me.
Not the furniture.
Not the finishes.
The space may not be the first thing guests remember.
But it shapes how they feel.