Post: Iceland: First 15 hours

We’re back in Iceland, finally!

This trip was scheduled for summer of 2020, and as huge fans of this country, we kept the faith and took a airline credit instead of a refund during the shut down, counting on being able to return here once things settled down.

And so they did. While it’s a new normal, we’re finding our first very full day here to be comfortingly familiar even while I see things we didn’t see in 2019, our last visit.

This is Mark’s fifth visit to Iceland, a number that surprises many of those here who ask. He is an especially big fan of this country.

After arriving at the gracious Keflavik airport, we inventoried the scratches and dings on our rental car so we wouldn’t be responsible for those when returning the car, and set off for the Blue Lagoon.

One of the most iconic sites in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon is human-made but heated by effluent water from a geothermal power plant. Years ago people just stopped by the roadside to take a dip in warm water, and then the brilliant idea was born. It’s an elegant and efficiently run operation now.

After being awake for twenty hours minus a little dozing on the five hour flight from Boston, the warm water felt wonderful. The minerals, especially silica, give the water a creamy feel. At the mask bar, you can wade up and get some face masks to apply and rinse in a series, The photo above is after our ninety minutes or so. I guess I look the same age, but my skim really was softer.

Our final destination for the day was Hellar, by way of Selfoss. Selfoss was a delight. We made a spontaneous stop here because I hadn’t packed an appropriate charging cable to use a phone in the car. We passed a Vodaphone store and stopped in.

It was their lucky day. We bought a cable and a wall charger with European plugs too. After ripping the cable open with the finesse of a Viking on a pillage, I realized it was the wrong kind. Back into the store. After locating the right kind, the clerks kindly asked, “Did you already open the other one?”

“Of course I did,” I replied, a bit sheepishly and without the aforementioned analogy to their ancient forbearers.

“Will you be able to use it?” Their concern was genuine.

“Yes!” To everyone’s relief.

The men working the counter at this Vodaphone were just what I remember being impressed by during my last visit. Serious and helpful— and with a good sense of humor. They also told us where to get some coffee.

“It’s a pretty new place,” one said.

“Well is it good coffee? Or are you just trying it out on the tourists first?” I asked.

“No, no! It’s really good, actually,” was the reply.

This stop actually did give us a chance for some good coffee. Cortados- right on the menu. And Mark got really excited to see happy marriage cake in the bakery case.

Finally to Hellar where we could unpack a bit before setting out for a couple of miles of easy hiking. We were looking for a waterfall but never actually found it. We did find two species of Angelica— sometimes still flowering but also in fruit.

One of the absolutely best things about traveling in Iceland, in the summer at least, is that the sun sets really, really late. We can see so much without worrying about losing light on the path.

We had a lovely meal in our hotel- cod, salad and skyr cake, making a nice ending to a 33 hour “day.”