Iceland day 1 recap: What time is it?

Before we dive right in, I would like to apologize for the total lack of a quality posts during my trip. I would have loved to have posted "in the moment" to keep things fresh and exciting, but the WiFi was very spotty, so not much happened in that front. But now I am back WiFi enabled, and ready to recap. So here we go!

After a five hour flight, filled with the adrenaline of suddenly hearing Icelandic as well as English and the discomfort of attempting to sleep on a plane, we arrived at Keflavik Airport at two in the morning our time. Around six thirty something their time. It was around eight when we had collected out baggage in a tired stupor and stepped out into the fresh Iceland air. It was cool and crisp and refreshing. It was even better than I had remembered; fresher and cleaner than my memory could produce. 

A shuttle came to the airport and gave us a ride to the car rental place. Luckily it was just us in the shuttle, because it was like a game a baggage Tetris just to fit all our stuff in the back. It was even more difficult to fit our five duffel bags and ski bag into the back of our rental car; a Ford focus.
  

It was still dark around nine when we began the drive from the airport into the heart of Reykjavik to our hotel. I had slept maybe an hour on the plane and was tired beyond tired, but as soon as we were driving and there was enough light to see out the windows, there was no hope of relaxation. I sat there with my face practically glued to the window, peering out into the gloomy morning light at the lava fields whizzing by. I could barley believe I was actually there, actually in Iceland. In the land of Of Monsters and Men (an incredible Icelandic band and one of my favorites). Our whole time there is was kind of a "pinch me I'm dreaming" type of situation. Total sensory overload because Iceland is without a doubt one of THE coolest places on earth.


It was a fifty kilometer drive on almost completely straight highway, but in certain areas it curves around large lava rock formations. Why? Because fairies live there. Cool fact: About half of the Icelandic population believes in elves and fairies. How cool is that?


Anyway, after we arrived to our hotel, Guesthouse Sunna, we unloaded and settled in. My mom and I decided that despite being ridiculously tired, we didn't want to waste any time so we went out to explore the streets of Reykjavik. 

Hallgrímskirkja and statue of Liefur Erikson. This church is the right in the center of Reykjavik and was across the street from our hotel. We could  always find our way back!

View up the street to the church.

Some graffiti we found in a cool little courtyard off the main road.

This one was probably my favorite.

We visited some tourist shops and then returned back to the room to wake up my dad and sister. Then I went out for a walk with my dad and we bought some groceries. There was a little convenience store one street down from our hotel that had all we needed for lunches and dinner. Including one of my favorite Icelandic foods, Flatkökur. It is an Icelandic stone baked flat bread that it totally amazing. Before the 18th century, it was the only bread Icelanders ate and it was baked over an open flint because there were no ovens. It's slightly smokey and totally wonderful. If you ever get a chance to try some, do so, because it will give you a better idea of what I am talking about, especially considering that description was pretty lacking. Here's a website with some more history and a recipe. http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/features/multimedia/Traditional_Icelandic_Flatbread_13_372617.news.aspx?ew_news_onlyarea=&ew_news_onlyposition=13

A little later on, after we returned we all rallied and got in the car to go look at Icelandic sweaters at a place called Àlafoss. 

View of the store from the outside. I would hate working in a place where I saw that out the window.  (not)

This place was so cool. There must have been hundreds of sweaters of all styles and colors. Everything from the traditional pullover to cardigans. We spent a while looking around and my dad made friends with the sales clerk. As he always manages to do when we are in foreign countries. Another thing they had was yarn. Lots and lots of yarn in practically every color. And knitting supplies. As a budding crochet artist who can only make hats, this was really cool to see. Now I kind of wish I had bought a skein or two of yarn. That way I could have crocheted a few hats then sold them at a ridiculous price because they were "hand made with real Icelandic wool". Damn. Next time. 

Some sweaters!

Anyway, my lovely mom bought me a sweater that is so pretty and warm and I love it! And I am not just saying that because she is going to read this...

My awesome sweater!

 It was rainy, overcast, and surprisingly cold that afternoon and that sweater made it more than comfortable to be outside. Those sweaters were tailor made to be in that climate. Looking out over the mossy tundra with my warm new sweater, I felt like some bad ass viking. The rugged landscape is evident in the history and the culture of that cool cool island in the northern Atlantic.


Stay tuned for day two and three recaps! Thanks for reading!