We got up Thursday morning around 5:30 Texas time, while still in Boston and then we left Boston at 8:30 at night. We flew to Iceland and got in 4 hours and 45 minutes later or 6:30 in the morning Iceland time.
After we disembarked the plane we had to go through customs. The lines were long but luckily it didn't take too long to get through. We got up to the window, were asked how long we were staying, we replied 3 days, and then they stamped our passport and let us in. It was pretty easy.
We headed to the baggage claim and picked up our bags, then went to meet up with our tour guide only to find out that our name wasn't on their bus list. So we were a little worried that we weren't going to be able to make it to the hotel but the guy working the buses said no worries, scanned our itinerary (making himself a copy) and told us to go to bus number 2. So off we went.
There was not really any directions from the tour guide as to what was really going on so everyone was lost. They took our luggage and then put it under the bus, but we weren't sure where the bus was going or even which hotel. The bus (the same as our greyhound bus) was so full that there was still people standing outside waiting to get on, so they had to put them on another one. Had we known that we were all going to the same place we would have gotten on that one since there was only about 10 people on it and the bus we were on was completely full. We were packed in the seats like sardines in a can.
After we got everyone boarded, we took the hour drive towards Reykjavik. We arrived at the hotel around 9:15 and tried to check in but apparently this morning wasn't going to go so well for us. The girl behind the counter told us to come back about 45 minutes later to see if the room was ready to be released. Apparently the cleaning lady hadn't finished cleaning the room from the guests before us.
So 45 minutes later we headed back to the front desk and were able to get our room key and head up stairs. We didn't have too long to rest because at noon we had to leave for our city tour.
So we got off the plane, drove to the hotel, checked in after an hour, then had to turn around and head right back out......all without sleep. Then that night we were headed out to see the Northern Lights. So we really didn't get back to the hotel until either midnight or 1:00 a.m.
This was going to be the longest day ever. I can't remember the last time I did anything like this.
We got into our rooms (which were pretty small) and the hubby and I ended up taking a nap for an hour. He wasn't feeling well so he didn't go on the city tour with us.
Mom, dad, and I made our way down to the lobby to catch up with our tour guide, and we almost missed it. They (the tour guides) don't really make it known that they are there to pick you up for which tour. You really have to pay attention and listen. So we kind of had to chase after the guide and ask if he was loading the bus for the city tour of Reykjavik.
After we got into town we had to pick up some more people at the bus station. After everyone boarded the bus, off we went. Our driver drove all over Reykjavik. Up and down every street. Around every corner. No street untouched.
Our driver seemed to have some trouble driving. It seemed like she had never driven a huge bus like this before. When she would change gears, she would grind them. As we sat in our seat you would hear that awful noise. Then all of a sudden you would be jolted forward. Then off we went. We would go a little ways and she would change gears again. As time went on I just tuned it out.
THEN she would go around a corner and that was an adventure in its self. She seemed to have trouble there. First let me say that the streets are small and were not made for a vehicle this size. But that didn't matter. She was determined to get around it anyways. She had a job to do. As she turned the corner you would think, "Oh, she has done this before. She surely knows what she is doing." BUT no..... she struggled there too. As the back of the bus tried to come around, BAM!!! The back wheel would hit the curb. Then over you would go and then you were on your way. Let's not even mention the several times she couldn't put in drive and started backing up on people at the stop lights. The cars behind her started honking non stop as we all held our breath, hoping she could grind the gears to go forward!
If that didn't happen then the tire would scrap along the side as if she wasn't able to get the rear around.
All in all it became interesting to see how many times she would either hit the curb or scrap it. I lost count after 20 times.
But back to the tour.
The sites were beautiful. I'm so happy we were able to come on this journey. As you would come around the corner, there would be this huge mountain in the background just glowing with snow. The land was covered and looked inviting. (Remember, I'm from Texas.)
The pictures I've seen of the Spring time looked absolutely gorgeous. The grass is so green and the landscape is rolling with hills. But what we saw was nothing but snow. You would think, "Oh how boring." But in reality it wasn't. It was still breathtaking to just see how it laid on the ground. It was pure white, soft, and yet so aluring. It would call to me, "Please come walk through me. You' know you want to make a snow angel."
Whenever we would get off at one of our stops, the first thing you hear is the wind whipping around you. The snow would blow across the land, much like a sand storm. At some points it was blowing so hard that it would literally push you across the land. You would be trying to walk down the bridge or path and the wind would pick up. Then you would start to slide across the snow. It was awesome. I LOVED IT!!!!! Just to feel the power of nature and the force of the wind (in a semi controlled environment...... sometimes there were hand rails).
I still haven't gotten my fill of snow. I really wanted to make a snow angel or just throw myself in a deep pile of snow. The snow was so thick. It must have been at least 6 inches deep. When you walked along the paths you could see where people had stepped and just how deep it really was. It was truly amazing!!!
So I'll stop now. :)
Below are pictures of some of the things we saw as we travelled around the city.
Enjoy!!! I know I have.
This is the Lutheran Cathedral. The name in Icelandic is Hallgrímskirkja.
Here is what it looks like on the inside. The organ had 5,275 pipes.
Here is a map of the island. This is where we stayed, in the capital Reykjavik.
This is where we flew into, the city of Keflavik.
This is a snow shot of the Cathedral. It was a heavy snow storm.
Here is dad and I in front of the mountains on our city tour. It was pretty cold.
This is Hofdi House. This is where Reagan and Gorbachev met for the Summit meeting, which helped end the Cold War.
Click here to go to day 2, The Golden Circle.
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