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Being in Iceland in February has a way of giving me flashbacks to when I was 5 years old and my mom would tell me I had to at least try to use the bathroom before putting on a snow suit. Each time I get dressed I think of that and find the nearest bathroom before the layering starts. It was good advice then and its good advice now.
I started my day with a traditional Nordic breakfast at the guesthouse, prepared by a man who looked very much like a very thin Liam Neeson. Yogurt, muesli, toast, cheese, ham, tomatoes, cucumber. After getting my cold weather gear on I was picked up by a driver for Extreme Iceland and met my new friends for the next 3 days. Out tour guide is a local celebrity called Tietur, which fittingly means "the happy one" in Icelandic.
We set out on our adventure, with stops to see geysirs, 3 sets of water falls, volcanoes, black sand beaches, the national park and the parliament center where they used to decide how much you had to pay if you killed someone's brother 100 years ago. We also made an unplanned stop to pet the shaggy Icelandic horses. They are so friendly, they will come right up to you and stick their nose in your pocket looking for treats.
We had a wonderful lunch at the first set of falls, of local lamb soup and bread. The perfect food for a cold day.
When I was shopping for a winter coat for this trip, the sales guy at L.L. Bean said I didn't need a coat as heavy as the one I bought, that Iceland was barely freezing in winter. Thank goodness I ignored him. Technically the weather reads as 29-32 degrees but Iceland is known for its strong winds, bring the temperatures closer to -10 or -20 near the water. Our guide said when people die in Iceland it is most commonly because of the dangerous winds, they are biting cold and dangerously strong, they are known to rip car doors off their hinges if you park facing the wrong way.
Now I am off to dinner at the new guesthouse, local arctic char, potatoes and salad grown in the area greenhouses, then hot tubs under the stars before bed. Too cloudy for northern lights tonight, tomorrow looks better.
- comments
MOM Thrilled with the phone call last night. Dad and I can't wait to follow in a few of your footsteps when we cross in June.
Jana As I sit here at work at 9:00am, already frustrated and considering calling today a total loss, I'm extremely happy (and moderately jealous) to be reading how your trip has gone since the 1:00am emails on ATM cards and PINs. So excited for you and definitely hoping to go one day! You've checked off one of the few true "Bucket List" items I have if your FB post is even remotely true. I can't wait to see your photos! :-)