Iceland routinely ranks among the top ten happiest countries in the world, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t feel down sometimes. When that happens, it’s best to stroll over to the town pond, Tjörnin. On a beautiful day, the lake’s surface glistens as it reflects the sky above. The ducks break the illusion of a second sky, but they are adorable little quackers, even when fighting for the bread people throw at them. (Please don’t do this! It’s really bad for them.) Even when the weather is feeling gloomy, too, the pond has a serene calm to it that soothes the nerves. Whether to watch the ducks or just walk the edge to ponder (heh) your innermost thoughts, every visit will leave you in greater spirits.

2013: Húsdýragarðurinn
2012: Tjörnin
2011: Nauthólsvík
2010: Húsdýragarðurinn
2009: Húsdýragarðurinn

Photo by Natsha Nandabhiwat