Thursday 1st February 2024

Iceland.

At last.

Some thirty hours late.

Our departure this morning was delayed by two further hours due to a lost passenger and a baggage container getting jammed.

But we took at at 11, and the strong headwind added half an hour to the trip.

But here we are, just as the sun was setting, with an hour's drive to the hotel.

Once we get through immigration, get our bags and find the hire car

Up at half five, quickly dress and go down to the lobby to catch the five past six bus to the airport. Also there were about a dozen other passengers for our flight too.

A quick zip through the traffic to the terminal, up to Departures, where we had to bypass the gates as our tickets were for yesterday, but as we were all in a group, that worked quick.

Through security, and back to Plane Food, were I ask if we could have Xavi as our server. He was off shift, but as I praised him so much, the manager gave us free glasses of fizz for breakfast.

Then came the waiting again, and as I said to fellow passengers, I won't be sure until we take off.

The planned 09:00 came and went, but a gate was called, so we all made our way.

Then came more waiting.

And a gate move.

But at ten we were allowed on, the plane a third full, so we had a row each, and settled down for take off.

But even that was delayed by another hour.

A twenty minute trundle to the far end of the airport, a pause before entering the threshold and waiting on the piano keys.

Engines roar.

Off we go.

Not much to describe of the flight. I had downloaded The Wizard of Oz, as an e book, so once Fayre Olde England was covered in cloud, I read that.

And snoozed.

And read.

And snoozed.

We dropped from cruising height, no ground in sight, and the, through whispy gaps, we could see the snow-covered lava fields.

We touch down, and taxi halfway across the island, delivering us to the terminal, where after the usual route march we all came to a halt before our immigration check.

Why do I have so many stamps in my passport?

Brexit and my job in the wind industry.

Why are you visiting Iceland?

Northern Lights.

Good luck with that, he said.

Then out through the duty free shop, where you are strongly advised to stock up on booze for your duration.

We obeyed.

We claimed our bags, which had found their way to us, out to the car hire place where I was presented with an hybrid estate thing as an upgrade.

I just then had to find it.

In the rain, whilst walking on icy patch. Jools waited with the cases, which was our mistake, as having found the car, I couldn't find my way back to her, as there were no road signs, except those taking my to a dead end.

She made her way to me, we loaded the car and set off, to the main road to Reykjavik.

A four lane highway took us north to the capital, over snow-covered lava fields, and small towns sheltering in bays beside the sea.

Once near Reykjavik, through endless roundabouts, junctions and so on until we came to downtown.

There were supposed to be parking garages, but as we did three circuits of the streets around the hotel, we saw no sign, and in the end, after calling the hotel for advice, we found a spot on the side of a street and abandoned it there.

From the car, we walked on icy pavements to the main pedestrian street, and along to the hotel. It was nearly six.

We were there.

Our first room had a broken French window, so was wide open, and would not close. So we got moved, upgraded to a larger studio room, and settled in.

Just down the street was a grill bar, the first we came to, so in the evening, we went in and had wonderful eastern Mediterranean inspired food: flatbreads, sauces, chickpeas, spiced carrots, and as a main, lamb ribs.

It was fabulous, but then should have been at over £200. But observing the hustle and bustle of a busy downtown restaurant, the chefs in the open kitchen, and the barman shaking cocktails, was quite a fine end to two busy, stressful days.