ICELAND 2016 DAY 1 ARRIVING

Finaly I am back to Iceland! Finaly I can cheer up my blog and community again!

In the morning I flew to Iceland with Icelandairs 'new' 767 Svörtuborgir. I hoped for Barðabunga but, maybe on my return trip, though it is nearly always Svörtuborgir that flies out.
It was long ques this time, with only 4 desks open, but all plenty in time. Once on board, the plane was fully booked with Chinese, so I rather felt like flying to Peking than to Reykjavik because they were all booked around me. The guy next to me was obviously in his hum hoping to be next to someone from Iceland. But somehow I wasnt in a too good mood. Well happy to go home, but made it more a private party.

The flight was smooth, and passed by quickly, Iceland completely covered in clouds, but my wish was granted to fly right over Hekla, and through the clouds, I saw her snowcap shimmering. I always hope for a flight partly over land, as usually the plane flies just south over Iceland following the shoreline. Not today, and I was so happy to see Hekla at least, because in this holiday I wont see her at all.

At the ever extending airport I climbed myself a way over and through the lots of Americans, the cheap fares and WOW are flying there too are paying off. Once again I felt un Icelandic here and quickly made my way to get my luggage. As promised I waited a bit for the person who should pick me up to bring me to the car rental. I guess the airport had made quite a silly change in the way of picking up cars... Now you have to go outside, walk a lot with all your luggage to a pick up point where one old Straeto bus transports lots of people to the rental car depots. It was like a living puzzle to fit in everybody in a bus that primairy has no place for suitcases. So I halfway sat on mine and a seat with my carry on luggage on my lap. And I needed to get off at the last stop for my car rental... So 2 times had to rearrange myself and my luggage to let people out. Thank goodness I was first in line to get my car delivered.

With a very friendly (and handsome) clerk helping me out with the few words Dutch he learned and proudly told me had been to Holland 6 times. Where? To Urk... of all places... hahaha why would an Icelander go there? Well I know everything about him now and he knows less fancy things about Urk.
Then he picked up the car, and a brandnew Hyundai drove in front, but it was not mine... Like they usualy do with single travelers they give you a less fancy car, so I got a new looking from outside but inside outdated Toyota Yaris, the car I learned to drive in. After some argues with my navigation that doesnt want to stick to my window, I drove off, and it drove wonderfull. I love this car, much better than my hate relationship with the Spark. Only the steer... it doesnt feel nice and I had few times with cramps in my hands. I have to see how I deal with this or else maybe buy a woolskin or other cover for it in Akureyri. On long distances this is not what you want.
My navigation was annoying so I put it down, hoping to be visible. But it wasnt cooperating, going to other modes and suddenly it let me go left before even reaching Reykjavik. The Alftanes curse... I ended up there last year too :( so I resetted the thing and drove on to Reykjavik. To Laugardalslaug.
I got an invite to go for a swim and somehow I already planned for that before the invite was there. It was more like a confirmation for me.

So I arrived there had to wait a little bit but gave me the time to shuffle in the delicious sandwich I bought. Once inside I had to overcome a little fear of the naked showering, because I knew this wasnt going to be an option here to have a more private shower.
Once inside the changing room was huge, so much and plenty of space, but all wide open no secluded spots. So mentally turned the switch on, and made my way... to the shower with some weird feeling soap, it was oily and strange... but probably a deep cleaning effect. Once ready I found my invitor in the first hot tub. And then made the way to several others, up to 44 degrees and a salt water one. After soaking for an hour I felt warm through and through, maybe also because the beauty surrounding me. Haha :) Ok to cool down a little bit, and to excersize a bit, I also did some swimming. And called it a day after. The afterglow felt amazing and refreshed, wishing I had this kind of pools at home for such low prices.
Then, I had my drive to Akranes, it was dark already so not much to see of surroundings. It was also raining. I had no clue where to find the rear gear of the car... it was somewhere else and I had to pull something up to do so. Ahhhh.... weird car ;)
The roads were very dark, and I had someone in front of me that was constantly for no reason at all using the break. It was so annoying, in the tunnel I finally dared to pass him, afraid this would one moment be an accident to continu driving in the dark by a slow snail continiously using the break.
But when I had to pay, this car had an etag and was again in front of me... arrghh and outside it is for me way to dark to safely pass him. Luckily it turned left shortly. :)

Behind the clouds I saw a changing glow. I have the idea northern light were out to play around mount Esja. But there were no circumstances to stop and check it. I was also very tired and sort of hungry so just made my way to the guest house, where the doorbell didnt work :( My luck... so I waited there and looked to call the, but the lady came by and opened up. Very friendly and nice place here :)
I made some tea and grabbed some crackers and fell asleep soon enough. Getting refreshed for the long ride to Akureyri and its gonna be the last sunshine I will see for a while. Normally the best weather is in the north, but this week its gonna be the south. A well, nothing is as changable as Icelandic weather :)