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Published: December 2nd 2006
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The Blue Lagoon
Wow! This is like the "lifestyles of the rich and the famous!" And here we are, the final entry! (of travel)
It's our last day in Iceland. We have a free morning to do as we choose. I have a stream of traffic coming through our hotel room as there is free wireless connection in the room..........everyone is checking e-mails: Leona, Gail, Elviera, Ben, Tim and Lynn, Anne, Tina, Jarrott, ........My Internet Cafe is open!
Time to pack the suitcases. I didn't do much shopping because my intention on this trip was to experience as many of the adventures as I could, rather than pick up trinkets and dust collector-type items to bring home. And to try and choose gifts for people, when you visit so many different countries, is enough to drive you insane. So, instead, I chose the camel ride, the time at the Snow Park in Dubai, the hot air balloon ride in Africa and so on. My desire also was to create and share this blog with my Mom, my family and friends so they could come along on the journey! I know from the "stats" that there have been in excess of 7,500 "hits" to the blog!!! Wow!
We gather in the lobby and head
for the buses one last time. I will say, again, that my observations in group dynamics have been interesting, amusing, entertaining, disappointing, and fascinating all at the same time. It's the typical Team-building dynamics: forming, storming, norming, etc. We had it all! This was my first group tour experience. Compliments to the staff at Travel Guild (www.travelguild.com) for all their efforts, planning and customer service. I know that much more went on behind the scenes than I will ever know (or want to know). Kudos to all of you! I look forward to participating in another trip with you in the future. Compliments also to Ben, Carl, Elviera, Carroll and Fay for your work along the way.
On the bus and heading out of town........we're off to the Svartsengin geothermal area known as the Blue Lagoon. Here, boiling thermal water is pumped into a lake that cools to about body temperature. There is a bath house and spa here, and we have a scheduled stop to enjoy the experience. This is a world-famous location and people come looking for relief from things such as psoriasis (count me in!), stress, etc.
The drive to the Blue Lagoon is a
And now, the end is here......
And we pack for the final time! bit eeeeeerrrrieee! It's like you're heading to the moon! The geography changes again and again. It's a cold and windy morning. We were really lucky yesterday because the sun came up and it was a beautiful, clear, sunny day as we toured the Golden Circle. Today, it's grey and overcast and quite chilly with the wind. (Must be time to leave this country! We were blessed with great weather everywhere we went on this tour and learned that, after each departure, the weather turned bad. Lucky us!). So I took pictures along the way, of course! Sincere thanks to Elviera (in particular) and to all the others on our bus (the Blue Group) for their kindness and generosity in letting me sit in the front seat so that I could get some good photos for the blog. Much appreciated!
We get to the Blue Lagoon, hop into our swim suits and head into the waters. It's beautiful here. It's surreal! It's magical. From the bath house to the water is a short distance, but it is outside and it's COLD! Once in the water, though, ooooooohhhhhhh soooooooo lovely! Elviera has my camera and gets some good shots of us,
Pat's internet cafe!
Gail, doing a final check on e-mails. for me. Thanks! Couldn't risk taking the camera in there with me. While the water is warm and soothing, it is also stinging as I have psoriasis on both legs. It's a very prickly and slightly burning feeling. So, while the others choose to hang out for a longer period, I am heading back to the change room, get dressed and head for the cafeteria. We have been encouraged to try the Icelandic hot dog........very popular here! And I LOVE hot dogs! So that's what I have for lunch. Well, I don't want to offend our hosts, but ........yuk! Sorry. Not to my liking! It comes with "the works": ketchup, sauce, raw onions and fried onions. Hmmmmmm, I don't see anything faintly familiar to that on my hot dog. So, I pitch that and follow it up with a chocolate muffin.........yum, much better!
We head outside and get some really good photos of the blue waters, the rock formations and so on. Then it's time to head to the airport.
On the plane and heading to our favorite seats........it's a long flight today.......6 hours.......and we have a new crew. They have big shoes to fill, and I think
they know it! They are very gracious and professional but I must admit that it's not the same without our original crew. (We missed you guys!).
Group dynamics have returned to "normal", as me and my buddies all get our favorite places. I like sitting near Anne, Tina, Leona, Alice, Tim and Lynn and Gail and Kevin. Ahhh, this feels great. But this is also our first "night" flight and that changes things too. People are a bit tired and many choose to snooze on this flight home. We have a movie: "Guess who's coming to dinner?" (I think that was the title) - with Ashton Kutcher. Cute, light comedy. Dinner was a choice of lamb (again) or salmon. Now you know I would have LOVED the salmon but, sitting at the back of the plane, you get what's left.........the lamb. It was ok. But, we also had nice linen napkins, silverware, appetizers (brie cheese, crackers, etc.) and a nice dessert (no, it wasn't chocolate). And, champagne! Not bad! The time went quickly on this flight.
And things were different once we got into the terminal at Toronto. Everyone was on their own and heading off to catch
The Pearl Restaurant
Look closely down the road in the middle of the picture. connecting flights, heading to a Toronto hotel for the night, or to ground transportation (as I did, along with Margot and James for our drive to London). We changed our watches as it was 5:30 Toronto time when we landed (but well past midnight "body time"). I don't remember much of the drive to London as I was napping in the back, only to wake up every time I had to cough! It's dark and raining outside so there's not much to see anyway.
I got home and, much to my surprise and delight, Dana (my neighbor) had turned on the lights, turned up the heat, left me with fruit, chocolates (now, there's a girl after my own heart!!!!!!......and I've only known her for a week or so), a beautiful Welcome Home card and milk in the fridge. Wow. I'm a lucky girl! I grab a little chocolate and head to bed. I'm pooped!
So, as I wish you all farewell and adieu........(and I'll miss you!).......I will add my commercial break here:
Now that I am home, I'm "open for business". Check out my website: www.patmussieux.com This blog will become part of a book I am writing,
The Pearl Restaurant 2
This famous revolving restaurant sits on 4 water towers. Unique. to be called "Where Am I Now?". It will be the sequel to my first book, almost completed, called "Who Am I Now?" (A guide for baby-boomers experiencing divorce, loss, empty nests, early retirement, etc.) These are also part of my presentations (as I am a motivational speaker) and workshops. If you've enjoyed the blogs, I know you would enjoy a "live" presentation..........I can be contacted through my website and would love to speak at a conference near you!.......or for a workshop, or staff development sessions, or PD days. I am also a corporate coach and life coach! Dreams do come true, and I can show you how! I have the techniques and I use them every day!
This blog will be available for a few weeks yet, as I have some editing work to do on it. As well, I am going to be posting 2 more feature blogs: Children Around the World and Animals Around the World. You can expect to see them some time during the week.
Bye for now, and thanks for coming along on the journey of a lifetime!
Happy Pat
(pat@patmussieux.com)
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Doreen
non-member comment
Welcome Home
Welcome home Pat... looking forward to getting together some time before Christmas and hearing more of your adventure. Cheers!