In Reykjavík
Trip Start
Jul 08, 2007
1
19
21
Trip End
Jul 23, 2007
Reykjavík,
Iceland
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Camp was struck and ready to load by the time Magnus arrived. We loaded up and were on our way to the Bláa Lonid (Blue Lagoon) by 9:45. A lot of us dozed a little on the way out. I took some fotos of the shoreline and Reykjanes lavas as we went.
Þorleifur confirmed that the Blue Lagoon was included in our trip so we all went in, soaked, and applied the silica center mud to our faces. I had somehow missed the waterfall and cave during my 2002 visit. Motley was amazed at how much the place had evolved in the time since he was there when he was 13.
We got out and showered at 12:00 and ate an expensive lunch in the cafeteria. On the way out I met Magnus Ólafsson, the owner of Mó Bilar, who made our camping arrangements. He explained that we would need to change vehicles at the airport because he had another group coming in.
We drove to the airport and unloaded. We said our good-byes and it was over. Audrey, Mal. Leah, Magnus, and I were the only ones left. We loaded the rental camping equipment into a new trailer and piled into an American SUV to haul it back to Reykjavik. Magnus left us off at the lighthouse flea market where Audrey bought a pair of jeans fro 100 kr. Finally, a good deal in Iceland!
We walked through the shopping district making a few purchases and stopping at the kaff swartiđ for a beer. We took a cab to the Nordica Hotel. Mal and Leah had a business-class room, which gave them access to an 8th floor lounge with beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres. We sat, talked, and enjoyed the view for an hour until 6:00. Audrey and I said good-bye and took a cab to the campground because I had to call Þorleifur.
It turned out that I didn't have his number but after trying Þráinn and Magnus, Heiđa a finally gave it to me. His wife Þora answered the phone and we arranged for Þorliefur to pick us up at 7:30. Audrey and I were waiting when he drove up. To my surprise, he is about 20 years older than Þrainn. I liked him immediately.
We drove to Kopavogur where he showed us a marine terrace where he played as a kid. It is being reclaimed by trees. It is at the same level as the water tower/restaurant. We continued to his home nearby where we were greeted by Þora, a very warm and gracious woman. Their son, Björn picked up Þráinn at the airport.
I could not turn down Þorleifur's offer of dark, black oak-cured polish vodka. It turns out he is a historian with interests in labor unions. He just published a volume I of 3 of the history of Iceland's labor unions. Most of his travel business involves bringing Icelanders on tours of Poland.
We ate a marvelous meal. Arctic char was the main course with carrots mushrooms 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!
