Hotel Borgarnes

This will be the last entry. I realized that it didn't sound like we DID a lot while in Iceland. Also, I realize that I have a number of good pictures left that didn't get into any of the other entries.

As far as the doing goes, our package included the rental car to drive the Ring Road--and that's what we did. We had decided beforehand not to add on extra tours or some of the more strenuous activities. So we did what we do best, we went, we observed, we read ...

... appropriately, we put on our weight belts. Then we put on our tanks and buoyancy compensator and suddenly I am carrying about an extra 60 pounds on my body in various places! Now I really can't move very well. Johannes has to bend over and pick up my fins and mask for me because if I bend too far, I'm going to tip right over onto my head.
We walk the 100' to the diving platform and I am definitely the penguin of the group. I can barely hobble over to the stairs.

Once at the ...

... be awesome. Live and learn though. I`m hoping it`s a clear night tonight, and the Northern Lights will be visible. Not going to get to worked up on the idea though, because even in a tiny city like Reykjavik, the lights will still probably be enough to obscure any activity there is. If I haven`t passed out from sheer tiredness (didn`t sleep on the plane), then I may go into town again. Apparently there is a bar completely made of ice. Worth while checking out purely for ...

... of worthless coins one must carry everywhere. Everyone has a unique last name, not a family name. The child usually takes the fathers first name and either adds son or dottir to then end of depending of whether they are a boy or not. So my Icelandic name would be Mike Malcomson, and my sister Angela Malcomsdottir. The end result being that everyone in my family would have had last ...

... In 1000 AD the Icelandic parliament was confronted with the problem of two religions (traditional viking/pagan religion and the newly introduced christianity) and the conflict of two laws was causing problems. The decision of deciding which religion would become Icelands official one was given to one man. He retired to his hut and pulled furs over him while he deliberated, and came out a couple of days later having decided Christianity should be adopted but the pagan ...

Finally a bus to the domestic airport, with Internet access and lunch at the bus terminal. I'm unable to reach Runar, so any idea of getting supplies in Reykjavik is superceded by making contact ...

... like, 50m underground...it was wierd sitting next to it, n watch it bubble then shoot up, makes u feel very insignificant coz its so powerful!! then we went to the waterfall, it was huuuuge....like HUUUUUUGE.....so impressive, but it was raining here too, so we didnt stay too long, then on the way back as the weather improved we stopped at the volcanic crater ...

... salad and a marvelous Swedish apple tort for dessert. Around midnight Björn drove Audrey and me back to camp and Þráinn to his home. As a parting gift, Þorleifur gave me a bottle of polish vodka cured with bison grass. Þráinn and I said our good-byes and promised to work together again. I crawled into my tent and must have fallen asleep before getting into my sleeping bag without realizing it. I crawled into my sleeping bag at 2:15. It was sort of darkish outside!

... and next to a gigantic pool, we rushed into the desk and asked about a room. Of course....they were completely booked. HOW? we thought? Who goes to Iceland, honestly? But apparently July is prime tourism season in Reykjavik, and they were completely booked. Fortunately, they gave us a list of local guesthouses in the area, and we set off walking (yes, with the incredibly heavy backpacks) to the closest stop. The woman that answered the door was about 100 years old, and ...

... for atleast FIVE seconds straight to collect some points. I relied heavily on my best Icelandic punch-line for this. Whenever people say I´ve learned the language very well for such a short time in Iceland, I wink and say, "Ég er mjög greindur." (I´m very smart) I swear, the fits of laughter that this remark of mine gets from Icelanders every time, without failure, could probably lift me to a Jim Carrie-like comedian status with just that line alone ...