To “the Island Of Fire and Ice”

August 12th to August 31st

August 3rd, 2022 a Volcanoe erupted 20 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik and a mere 2 miles from its major international airport. We fly in in 3 days. It’s not the land of Fire ‘n Ice For nothing. No one has been injured, no flights delayed or cancelled, no big deal in Iceland. Cher and I are meeting lifelong friend Tim and his lovely wife Susan in Seattle to fly directly to Reykjavik, and Kevin, another long time friend and his lovely wife Jan are making their way from their hometown of San Francisco to Reykjavik.

I basically joined Tim’s trip plans and went through his travel agent to buy into the complete package from flights, to cruise, insurance and the whole nine yards. Kevin went his own way as he often does and booked a flight, whose airline is now threatening a strike, raisIng stress levels for he and his wife. They should if all goes well, be in Iceland before us. Hopefully all goes well?

Research on Reykjavik: a modern city, great restaurants, nuevo-sheik bars, interesting museums; Perlman, National Museum of Iceland, Saga Museum, Aurora Reykjavik and of course the Icelandic Phallological (penis) Museum.[the only one in the world]!

First stage of our journey is Sacratomato to Seattle on Alaska Airlines. Once there we change planes in SeaTac International for our Icelandic Airlines direct to Reykjavik, Iceland. Starting to get jazzed, I have my books and I’m certain I’ll watch a film or six. Ran into a former student of mine, Scott Davis, an incredibly good guy, who recommended a travel series entiltled “Down to Earth” on netflix. The first episode involved Iceland. In short Zac Efron teams up with a healthy superfood gentleman, Olin, and they travel the world looking for “sustainable healthy” lifesytles. Pretty interesting. Iceland was primarily about geothermal energy and self sufficient energy sources, of which the Island of Fire & Ice has plenty.

There will be many pictures takem along this adventure. This is the only “Before” picture.

Second picture moments later.

Saturday August 13th

Day 1 Reykjavik

National Cathedral – Hallsgrims Church with Leif Erikson statue in front. This is where we met the gang day one, whoozy and jet lagged.

Dining and then drinks on Tim and Susan’s rooftop bar at their hotel.

Cher in front of our hotel, the ION, and the main drag in town. Jet lag won out, early to bed.

Found the perfect birthday gift for our traveling mate Kevin, lol.

Sunday, August 14th

Day 2 Reykjavik – The Blue Lagoon

We wandered about yesterday disoriented and under the spell of a new distant time zone. Had our first meal at a traditional restaurant: salmon, cod and other local dishes, including “Ryebread ice cream”, which although sounding distasteful was actually very good.

We then walked the town, checking out each others hotels: Ours is a quaint hotel on the biggest restaurant, bar, shopping street, Laugavegur, in town, the Ion. Described accurately as followed:

“This 18 room Ion City hotel is located in the heart of Reykjavik, with access to many shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, Ion City is housed in a smartly renovated building, with external walls featuring a motif inspired by traditional Icelandic weaving. Inside discover luxuriously organic interiors defined by Icelandic art, and a palette of gray and white contrasted by warm- hued wooden floors.”

Kevin and Jan’s is the City Center Hotel also in a main plazza of town. They have a balcony view looking back up the same busy street our hotel is on. Tim and Susan’s Marriott is on one of the two harbors overlooking the water and the wild archetecture of the all glassed Harpa( Concert Hall). We took drinks on their rooftop bar with its great panaramic views of the harbor and bay. After a few cocktails we walked across the harbor for fish ‘n chips and sea food soup. (The best fish and chips i’ve had since England, Ireland!).

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa with waters said to possess healing powers. Its outward appearance is an eye catching cobalt blue with silica like mud high in vitamin, trace mineral content. Pictures will follow.

Monday, August 15th Reykjavik

Day 3

Famous hotdog stand of Iceland

Previous six pics from outside, or inside or on rooftop of Perlan museum.

Random shots from around town.

Kev found a great restaurant, Snaps! After we had a traditional aperitif, Brennivin, at another bistro. Brennivin’s nickname by locals is “Black Death”. It wasn’t bad. A taste like Evaclear(sp) with a hint of licorice.

Kevin took it upon himself to give each person in our group an Icelandic nickname. He was Leif, as in Erikson, i think? Oh hell, it’s late. I can’t remember what the others were. It was funny at the time.

I need to thank Phyllis and Francesca for recommending the Perlan Museum. It was a definite highlight! And a shot out to my dog park peeps: Bobby, Isow, John, Nate, Jill, Karen… I hope no crazy visitors lately!?

And while thanking people, thank you Andrew! Hope Winnie hasn’t eaten too many of your socks, or God forbid one of our couches? Pethaps Ry gets off today?

Tuesday, August 16th

Day 4 Reykjavik to board the ship

Icelandic violinist as nightly entertainment

Had an interesting day busing to three National Parks. Our trip was delayed because the Grayline tour company picked travelers up from various hotels in Reykjavik. This took awhile and one nasty Amerca couple demanded that they get off the bus: ” We are outta here!” The crabby woman yelled. And her husband followed with,”This bus wouldn’t even be legal in the states!” I’m not really sure what he was referring to? Minutes later the bus roof started leeking and the driver and the tour guide attempted in vain to fix it. The delays just kept coming. When finally we hit road for the tour, our guide, who was a transplant from New York since 1995 and very knowledgeable, decided to add another stop as a treat to make up for all the delays. We would stop to see and pet the Icelandic horses. They are little horses that apparently are the only horses in the world with 5 distinctive gates. They are cute. At that point another ugly American marched up the aisle and in a loud and obnxious fashion announced: “I am allergic to horses and if I had known we were stopping for horses, I would NOT have come on this trip!” So the driver drove on without stopping to see the little horses. A sad collective “ohhhhhhh” went up from everyone else in the bus.

At our first stop at the magnificent water falls, our guide emphasised the absolute time we needed to be back on the bus. Little Miss Crabapple, who was allergic to horses, ambled back 10 or so minutes late holding up everyone else waiting in the bus. She bitched that the driver had moved the bus. This was true but only a few feet away from where it dropped us, and our bus had a huge Icelandic flag on front, making it unmistakeable.

The tectonic shift area with a river and lakes all around was spectacular. So was the series of WaterFalls although the wind was incredible at the falls. Lastly, the geothermal pools and Geyser were well worth it as well. A great day!

Thursday, August 18th

Isafjordur

The little town above has been struck by avalanches numerous times over its history, killing 20 out of 200 citizens in 1920, and 14 more 10 years later. A bar maid at the brew pub we stopped at was working on her PHD in avalanche preparedness. We walked to find Waterfalls that a woman at the information booth said were an hours walk away. We never found them despite over a 7 mile hike. It was beautiful though.

If you look closely at the mountain pic above, you can see avalanche breaks. How they were constructed there is anyones guess. A master feat of engineering.

Friday, August 19th

Skagafjordur

We walked about with not much to this little town. Climbed to a high point with panaramic view. Today was a relaxing, restful day. Tonight we have reservations for a specialty restaurant aboard ship.

Saturday and Sunday, August 20th,21st

Akureyri

These pools are piped to a nearby electrical plant

Cher and I went to check out the newest port town and ask about excursions. We walked right into a vender, who introduced us to Arman, a local guide, who just had two seats left on his eight seat suv. He was delightful and as it turned out cheaper than those tours booked on the ship. He was born and raised in Akureyri. Well educated, he spoke of many Icelandic subjects: volcanoes, geothermal occurence, the myth behind the naming of The Garden of the Gods Waterfalls, and the lava fields and the electric plant that is fed by under ground lava.

Sunday, August 21st

Husavik

Husavik has become a centre of whale watching in Iceland due to whales of different species that frequently enter the bay. The Husavik Whale Museum is located in the middle of town by the harbor. Income is derived from tourism and fishing, as well as retail and small industry. Husavik is also an export harbor for silica that is extracted from nearby lake Myvath.

“The Story of Fire Saga,” starring Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, and Demi Lovato was filmed in this little town. Greta Salome, a high energy singer, violinist, who played for us as entertainment on our ship, sang the theme song of the movie,”Husavik, My Home Town.” It won an academy award nomination. She, Greta, is also a two time representative from Iceland in the European Music competition.

Oh, bye the way, I came down with pneumonia. Walking and hiking around at the Water Falls, and the geothermal pools in the blustering frigid winds caused my little illness. I paid a visit to the ship doc, who took blood, xrayed my chest and have me a ton of drugs. Just a few doses and i’m feeling much better.

Arman, our previous guide, had some interesting quirky details about Icelanders. “We are very direct in speech and action and use thank you commonly but not please.” And a crazy Christmas myth, legend, lie: “if in December children misbehave, or don’t get some clothing for Christmas, the Wild Cats of Iceland will eat them.” A bit harsh don’t ya think. Arman said the wild cats rate right up there with Santa Claus.

Monday, August 22nd

Seydisfjordur

Seydisfjordur is a town in the Eastern Region of Iceland at the innermost point of the fjord of the same name. Beautiful. Remote even for Iceland because the road connecting it to the ring road and the rest of Iceland travels over a mountain pass and is frequently closed due to snow.

In 2020 Seydisfjordur had a series of devastating mudslides that buried half the town. The miracle was that there were zero deaths and all 659 people in the area survived.

Tuesday, Wednesday, August 23rd, 24th

Crossing the Arctic Circle North Sea

We have left the incredible, almost undescribable beauty of Iceland: breathtaking fjords, thermal pools, geysers, majestic waterfalls and rough moonlike volcanoes and lava rock beds.

Two days at sea is allot, but for myself, my wife and our great dear friends, time to sleep, recover and re-energize for Denmark and Copenhagen.

Friday, 25th, Saturday 26th Copenhagen

Wonderful Hans C. Andersen’s waterful Copenhagen. On the anniversary of our great friend’s Tim and Susan’s first meeting! And Winnie, our pup, although “pup” doesn’t really seem appropriate for a 67lbs labradoodle. Nevertheless it’s her third birthday today. I miss ya cutee!

Copenhagen Day Two

Day 3 Copenhagen

Yesterday we walked the city a bit: Little Mermaid, Royal Museum( Queen’s Jewerly), Newhaven( colorful houses on busy canal) and had an open face sandwich with a few Tuborgs.

Today Christainsborg Castle, kongerness Samling,…Rosenburg Palace…