Iceland Day 9: Reykjavik

Tuesday morning we docked in Reykjavik. The weather was a lot nicer than when we left. (We NEVER ate out here on our journey.)

We had to be off the ship by 8 AM, but weren't flying out until late-afternoon. Before we left Reykjavik we tried to make a reservation at the famous Blue Lagoon, but it was already fully booked. However, we got one at Sky Lagoon, a new hot-springs pool and spa on the other side of the fjord from the main city.

Their changing rooms and bathrooms were classy.

Outside temps were in the 50s, but you enter the hot water before you ever leave the building.

Then you wend your way out through the rocks

to the edge of the sea.

Wonderful way to relax after a busy week! And look at all that blue sky!!!

The door way leads to the spa treatments. Notice the attendant in the center, wearing his parka.

Taxi to the airport through the lava fields. One of those mountains on the horizon is the one that errupted the next day. Sigh. We just missed it.

No one in Reykjavik seemed nervous. I guess a year ago they were, but now they know what to expect--lots of tourism business. They get warnings on their phones like we get tornado warnings. That's how we knew yesterday about all the tremors. Nearer the epicenter they also got warnings about taking heavy items off shelves lest they fall.

John and Tammy were taken directly to the airport. It seemed that the cruise line was anxious to fulfill their responsibility and wash their hands of them. They found an obscure corner of the lounge and stayed put until we came, all the time wearing masks. When we checked in, we were not asked a thing. We did not volunteer that John had tested positive or that the rest of us had been exposed or that my throat was sore. We all wore masks on board and kept to ourselves, trusting to the much-vaunted airplane circulation system, preferring to be sick in our own beds. Hopefully none of our fellow travelers got sick. Steve drove us all home in John's car. 

By the time we arrived, I was pretty out of it. The next day at the drive-through testing center we both tested negative, but the nurse said, "It's probably just too early." She knew well enough that we had been traveling with John and Tammy. She was working that day because Tammy couldn't, having been exposed to Covid. Sure enough a few days later, my second test came back positive.

I isolated in the basement, and mostly slept for five days, but Steve did get it, albeit a much milder case. We left his mother in her apartment rather than bring her back to be with our germs. We are both fully vaccinated and boosted, so it could have been worse.

"How was Iceland?" friends ask. Given the cold and rain and Covid at the end, it's hard to get as excited as I usually am over travel, but as I look back over these pictures, it really is a spectacularly beautiful place. No regrets about making the trip. Except next time I will be more careful about wearing a mask rather than counting on my vaccinations.

[Covid combined with a major computer problem with my Photos app has meant that I am posting these blogs in September instead of August as intended. I dated them to when they happened rather than when I posted.]

Iceland Day 8: Grundarfjordur

What is that blue stuff overhead? I’m not sure if this was the most spectacular scenery day or if it was just so beautiful because the sun came out. 

First stop on our Wonders of the West tour was this tiny church between a volcano and the shore. (State church=Lutheran)

In recent years they have had to lock churches to prevent theft and vandalism mostly from tourists. An attendant was there to let us see inside.

Wonderful lava fields and formations along the shore. 

This one is at Snaefellsbaer, a bit farther along the coast.

Along with this troll.

Only the fringes of the glacier were visible beneath the “tablecloth.” The picture was so bad that I evidently deleted it without realizing it was my only glacier picture.

More fabulous formations at this near-by national park.

The trail leads down to a black sand beach with the remnants of past shipwrecks

and wonderful picnic spots.

The route back to the ship passed waterfall after waterfall any one of which would have been a state park at home, but I’m not sure any of them have names.

Again, we didn’t get back until after 3, but they held the Terrace dining room open for us. We ate an 8:30 breakfast and took muffins and apples along on the tour so we weren't starving. The dinning room was festooned with these remnants from the previous night's BBQ which had to be held inside rather than on the deck because of the cold. Vegetable carving must be a thing on cruises. I seem to remember an on-board demonstration when we took Steve's mom to Alaska. I love the color effects they get from different depths of cutting.

Oh, yeah. John tested positive for Covid this morning. He had chills and fever overnight so they called medical this morning. Tammy has been quarantined with him even though she tested negative. They're not allowed to leave the room until they leave the ship tomorrow morning. They had no tours scheduled for today, and room service is excellent. He’s not feeling too bad. She’s frustrated to be shut up with someone who is known to be contagious. The ship has arranged a taxi for them straight to the airport, but what happens then, who knows. You no longer have to show documentation to get on the plane, but on the way here they did ask about symptoms and having been with someone who tested positive. We may all be quarantined in Reykjavik while Reykjavik prepares for a volcanic eruption. There have been thousands of earthquakes since midnight, some up to 5.4 on the Richter scale. Being quarantined could be an opportunity to see an active volcano.

 

Adventure.