Walking on the moon...

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Few minutes to write before heading out into the rain. PHOTOS TO BE ADDED LATER AS THIS INTERNET CONNECTION IS PAINFULLY SLOW.

With all the running around leading up to the trip, it didn´t really hit me that I was leaving until I was sitting on the runway at Logan. A little excitement, a little anxiety, at that point I couldn´t turn back so it was really all arbitrary. The flight was choppy and I didn´t sleep well (my seat wouldn´t allot me the .3 inches of reclining that really doesn´t make a difference, but really does, all at the same time.) Flight was somewhat choppy and I probably got about an hour of sleep before landing in Keflavik at 6.15 GMT (there´s a 4-hour time difference between here and Boston.)

The ride from Keflavik to Reykjavik felt much like I had landed on the moon. Literally. Much of Iceland is the result of volcanoes, so there is a good deal of lava, much of which is covered by moss due to the humidity. The half hour or so drive was filled with nothing. No houses, no people, and not a single tree in sight. It could have been the moon, less the whole bit about the absence of gravity.

Arriving in town, I napped for about three hours, then headed back down to the BSI station and boarded a bus for the Blue Lagoon. It´s pretty much a tourist spot, but quite an amazing sight (and perfect when thinking is not a desired activity.) The lagoon is full of warm, steamy water fed by the Svartsengi geothermal plant. The water is beautiful and there are vats of silicone... stuff... around that you can spread on your face. See photos for a demo.

Back in Reykjavik, I grabbed a bite to eat. Everything, especially food and drinks, are insanely expensive here. Yet, it didn´t stop one guy who was stumbling on the sidewalk, holding a closed beer, quite intoxicated. As I was walking home from getting food, he approached me and asked if I´d hold his beer (in a very thick slur.) I sort of played it off that I couldn´t really figure out what he was saying. He sort of sighed, defeated, and then proceeded to attempt to rip the bottle top off with his teeth. I walked away, not wanting to see the outcome...

After food, I met up with some other travelers for drinks before going out for the runtur, which is basically a pub crawl (mom, you can stop reading now.) For the most part, everyone drinks at home before heading out so as to save on the cost of booze. Luckily, I purchased a $15 liter of vodka before leaving Logan at the duty free shop. It was really odd to head out at 1 am, when most bars are getting ready to shut down at home. In fact, most places stay open until about 5 or 6 am here... but I only made it to 3.

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Photos

We´ve landed.
This is all I could see through the rain on the trip from the airport into Reykjavik... welcome to the moon.

Not VY
Standing outside the Lagoon swimming area. The powerplant is behind me.

Comments

[Claudia]

Only 3am? Quitter. Guess who I met today......... Lots of pics on facebook, so make sure you look them up. Our house misses you already, so keep the posts and pictures coming!!