Wrapping up the Trip to Iceland

 I’ll start with the GOOD—Chuck is on the plane and on the way home.  We texted this morning and he had his ‘Fit to Fly’ certificate and was at the airport ready to go. 

Now for the not so  GOOD.  I did get my Covid test results this morning and I am positive.  I am in isolation for five days.  My only symptom is coughing. 

Traveling in the Covid-era is certainly challenging.  Who would have thought that the most challenging part of the trip, would be trying to get permission to get back into the USA.? Iceland was certainly an adventure.  We had great weather and were part of a great group.  I’m so glad we went and will be so glad when we are both home again.   Until next time———

It’s a Waiting Game!

 Chuck did get moved to a small hotel near the Blue Lagoon and a power plant..  He reports that although it is in the middle of nowhere, the room is very nice. The Blue Lagoon is in a thermal area.  Yesterday he went for a walk in a lava field.  Most areas have asphalt walking paths because they do not want you walking on the fragile surface.  You can see that the soil is very shallow.  There is great risk for erosion so someone came up with the idea of importing Alaskan Lupine (has a beautiful purple flower that is blooming now).  Turns out that the Lupine is quite invasive and not the blessing they had hoped. 

Remember how I told you that everything keeps changing.  Now Chuck is cleared to fly out tomorrow (Friday).  That will be the fourth ticket.  Iceland Air will breathe a sigh of relief when they get him onboard!

I started coughing the night before I flew home.  Tested negative on Tuesday and flew home.  My cough has continued so I went to the testing site here in Rockford this morning. I have no other symptoms, but want to know for sure.  Will not know the results until late today or tomorrow.  In the meantime, I have groceries and the washer to keep me occupied.  

The continuing Covid Saga.

 Yesterday was an adventurous one.  After two years of Covid information and misinformation, it will not surprise you how much conflicting information we received.  On Monday, we talked with other detainees and the group consensus seemed to be that the longer an uninflected person stayed in a small hotel room, the greater the chance that they would test positive, too.—so if you have a negative test, take it and run.  Two other spouses had plans to leave.  

Chuck and I walked to the bus station so I could get another Covid test.  Fortunately it was negative.  Got on the phone and changed my Friday ticket to Tuesday.  Slammed things in the suitcase, met the airport bus, and checked in at the Iceland Air gate.  Fortunately, one of the other spouses was checking in at the same time.  We cleared Security and. Had lunch together. The airport was fairly clear until the boarding area which was mass confusion.  I ended up in the last row, but I had an aisle seat and no one sitting next to me and best of all, I was on the plane! When I got to O’Hare, I knew that my timing was going to be very tight to catch the 7:40 pm bus to Rockford. Fortunately, the process went quickly until the baggage which took forever to come out.  I grabbed it and headed for the exit. I could see the bus and then I heard him slam the doors for the luggage compartment and walk toward the door.  I was running and yelling and he stopped.  He smiled and said, “I wasn’t going to leave. I could see you running.’  Bless his heart!

I know that Chuck felt like he was being deserted, but he totally agreed with our plan.  He is no stranger to traveling by himself. Today those ‘left behind’ have to change hotels because the hotel is booked up.  According to Chuck, they are moving to a hotel near the Blue Lagoon.  —-that is after he pays the hotel bill which will be well over $900.  We are hoping to make claims on our travel insurance.  He still plans to travel on Saturday.  By then he will have completed his five days of isolation and have a certificate to travel.  I wore my mask all the way home and I am sure he will, too.  

Dave, Beth, and Esther (grand dog) picked me up from the bus and we drove through Burger King for a Whopper Junior.  It was very good to walk in the door of our home.  

My thought for the day.  I do not know how people who do not have a cell phone travel anymore.  Everything you do or buy is a QR code on your phone —no paper. For someone of my generation, it feels strange to not have a ticket or a piece of paper to show.  Iceland is a cashless society.  We never got any cash and didn’t need it.  (However, tips in American dollars worked.) Don’t lose your debit or credit card. 

Day One in Isolation

 We could not go down to the breakfast buffet so they called to get our order.  I ordered food for the two of us..  However, when it arrived there was that amount on each tray.  Chuck ate two bowls of oatmeal.  We saved the two bowls of Greek yogurt (with honey from last night’s charcuterie board) for lunch, ate the bowl of melon and the orange juice.  Ate the toast.  Saved the bread. Drank the coffee (really wanted a second cup.) Good thing we have a refrigerator here. 

Then the laundry started.  We were at the end of our trip and had enough clean clothes to get home —barely.  I blew up the two inflatable hangers that I had.  Chuck strung the braided elastic clothes line from the light to the shower rod in the bathroom.  I washed unders, socks, tee shirts, and a fleece top.  Chuck was on clothes line duty.  I threatened to take a picture of him balanced on the stool hanging up socks. Most of it is now clean and dry.  

We took a walk and tried unsuccessfully to find a grocery store.  Yesterday and today were holidays so some stores are closed.  It rained yesterday, but today was typical grey, cloudy.  We commiserated with the other detainees.  We keep getting conflicting information on how long we have to isolate, tests, certificates, etc. It continues to be a strange feeling to be held hostage in a foreign country by our own country’s requirements. 

Interesting fact:  If you run into a sheep on the road, you have to pay the farmer.  He does not have to pay for damages to your vehicle.  

Iceland is very tied into geothermal and hydroelectric power for heat, light, and power.  Gas costs over $3/liter ($12/gallon). Electric cars are popular.  

Stay tuned. 

Greetings from Iceland - yes, Iceland

 This morning, we rushed around onboard. Our bags were out before 7 am, down for breakfast, and pick up passports.  Next we gathered for our Covid test which we had to have in order to fly back to the USA.  By the time, the test was done, we were free to leave the ship.  The results were to be texted to us and emailed.  We stored our checked luggage and walked to the hotel that we had stayed in (Reykjavikij}at the beginning of our trip.  While sitting in the lobby, I received a message that my Covid test was negative. Chuck received a message that his was positive.  We were stunned! N’s test was negative and so was K’s. Chuck needed a second test to verify the first so we headed to the concert hall for it.  There we discovered four others  from our group who also had positive test.  Our guides eventually helped us by finding us a hotel and transportation to it.  Somewhere in there I cancelled today’s flight and rescheduled it for Friday.  The hotel is modern, rather Spartan, and expensive. We have yet to figure out how we are spending the week.  Chuck has no symptoms and feels fine.  After five days, he can get a certificate and we can fly.  I hope to maintain my negative status. So far, we are watching an old John Wayne Western on TV.  

The rest of the story:  On Tuesday, there was suddenly a “mandatory meeting for all in the lounge.” We gathered and the captain (wearing a mask) announced that there was a case of covid on board.  From then on, we wore masks all the time.  Turns out that the infected person was on fourth floor with us and down our hall.  They were not with the Road Scholar group. 

Have intended to give N & K credit as photographers.  I write, they take pictures, and Chuck is our GPS system.  Stay tuned for more adventures with two old travelers. 

Saturday - The Volcano

 I’m a little late but when I have time doesn’t mean that the Wi-Fi is available.  Sooo I am blogging while waiting for the results of the Covid test we just had.  Bags are packed. 

Yesterday was the “Fire” part of the trip.  The Westman Islands had a giant volcanic eruption in 1973 that changed (for the better) the shape of the harbor where we docked.  In the morning, we boarded zodiacs for a trip out into the bag.  It was a very pleasant day as we paddled around looking at the cliffs where thousands of birds were perched.  Of course the dark grey cliffs were streaked with white —from the birds.  I observed of all the birds we have seen on this trip they are mostly grey, black, or white.  The guide said that a few ducks have color.  Above the sheer rock part of the cliff is a ‘hat’ of green grass.  The grass area is almost vertical and lo and behold there are a few sheep. Up there grazing. 

Later in the day we took a volcano tour.  Unlike the snow covered area we just left, this area is warmer from the volcanic eruptions and snow only lasts a couple days.  The Volcano in 1973 erupted without warning covering almost half of this 4400. The Volcano museum was built over a house that had been ‘dug out.’  Think Pompeii. The Volcano erupted at 3 am in January. Luckily the fishing boats were in harbor because of a storm.  People left with what they had on and fled in the boats..  After the eruption, the dig out started and most people eventually returned.  

Of course, The evening was spent eating and packing.  We have passed the Covid test.  Fly out at 4:45 pm.  

Will post again after returning home.  By that time, we will have reflected on this wonderful trip.

Friday - up to the Huge Glacier

 We docked at Djupivogur. From there we rode 2.5 hours on the bus to the magnificent Glacier Breidamerkurjokull.  Huge blocks of ice break off constantly and float in the Glacier Lagoon of Jokulsarlon.  We boarded a specially-equipped, open-air boat (think ‘ducks’ from Wisconsin Dells) and floated among the icebergs.  It was a cool and eerie experience.  Chuck and I had rain-pants on in anticipation of cold splashes, but received none.  However, those pants add more warmth and that was welcome. The lagoon is formed by the melting glacier and will someday turn into a fjord. It was a cloudy day and just as we pulled out of the parking lot, we could see the rain move in. There were more tourist here than we have been seeing.  This Southeast part of Iceland is where there is the most glacial coverage. 

We did see one seal pop its head up in the Lagoon. Because we are close to the sea, the seals come in to this area.  On the way up we saw a herd of eight reindeer.  

On the way back, we stopped at a hotel/farm/restaurant for lunch.  It looked like a dairy farm that saw an opportunity and built a hotel and then added a restaurant.  We had our choice of vegetable or lamb soup with bread and butter.  For dessert we had homemade ice cream. Chuck had coconut with licorice chips and I had Carmel.  It was very good.  I noticed that there was freshly turned soil in two fields and asked about it.  The woman told me that they had just planted hay for next year’s harvest.  The farm also had 60 cows that they were milking and 40 dry ones.  We have seen NO row crops in Iceland only grass and hay. 

We headed back to the boat. Today was a 5 hour bus ride - 220 miles.  Good bus  drivers are a treasure on these narrow roads.  Roads are remarkedly smooth with no potholes .  They have to be extremely expensive for a country that has a population similar to Madison Wisconsin.   Things are very clean and the people appear to be prospering.

 

Thursday and Petra’s Rocks

 We did something exciting last night that I forgot to tell you.  At 9:30 pm, we gathered on Deck 6.  There was food, of course, and little glasses of schnapps.  We were all dressed warmly and at the right time, the captain announced that we had crossed the Arctic Circle —-and today we all got certificates to prove it!

Any time that we are tooling along on the bus and the guide(s) can’t think of what else to say they tell us stories about the trolls, or Hidden people, or gnomes, or lost children. All these fairy tales (that is what I call them) are part of their heritage.  I have been surprised by how many of these tales we hear. 

After lunch we drove from Seydisfjordur to Breiddalsheidi to Stoovarfjordue. We visited an arts and crafts shop where village women made all the items that were for sale. Many were made of woolen yarn—very nicely done. I bought two items - a scarf which was made by the women checking me out and another item made by the women who served us snacks.  A farmer told us all about raising sheep—he reminded me so much of Garrison Keeler that it was hard to concentrate on what he was saying.  We were the first group of tourist that had visited their shop since Covid started over two years ago.  Tourism has a huge impact on the economic life of Iceland.  Fishing is the biggest factor in the economy and tourism is second.

We walked on down the road and visited Petra’s Museum of Rocks.  Now when we heard that we were going to visit a little old lady’s (now deceased) rock collection, we were less than thrilled.  However, the rock collection was immense and included many geodes - a few polished. Iceland is a geologist dream come true with all different kinds of stones, rocks from lava, etc.  The collection was outside covering a double size lot on a hillside plus there were many spring flowers planted there, too.  It was amazing. Family members run the place.  Two granddaughters were working today.  

On the way back we stopped by a beautiful rushing stream and took pictures of the town below.  The roads are in good shape, but quite narrow and have no shoulders.  Chuck sat on the right side by the window and held his breathe every time our 40+ passenger bus met a truck.  Typical of European countries, there are seldom handrails or guardrails on the roads.   

Wednesday, June 1

 Wi-Fi has been very unreliable + our days have been very busy + we just run out of time or when we have time there is no Wi-Fi.  Anyway I got behind.  Yesterday (Wednesday) was one of those bus ride day.  We took it to Lake Myvatn area in Northern Iceland. We got off the bus a couple times to look at crater formations. We ate lunch (delicious tomato basil soup and trout) at a hotel. More rock formations formed by volcanos.  Some enjoyed the Myvatn Nature Baths in a geothermal area.  Back to the boat. 

This was our Road Scholar Special night.  We met at the Observation Deck on 7th.  After cocktails with the ship’s captain, we went down to the Bridge on 6 and observed the workings of the ship.  From there we went to the private dining room on Deck 4 and enjoyed dinner. Chuck had a lamb shank which was huge.  One of our grand dogs would have enjoyed gnawing on that bone!  It was a lovely evening. 

Whales, Whales, Whales!

 Chuck and I slept in.  N & K were up and on the zodiac by 7 am.  They visited a rocky area cliff  on Flatley where hundreds of puffins lived.  Puffins always need soil and live in tunnels with one room for toileting and one room for all other activities.  N & K reported that the adventure was well worth the early rising. 

After lunch we docked at Husavik. Our group took a bus ride to Grenjaoarstaour where we visited a restored turf house.  The lack of wood in Iceland made for difficult construction.  The walls of the house were stacked lava rocks and the roof was covered with turf. The house was large (8500 square feet) and at one point housed 30 people.  It was inhabited until 1948 and restored in 1950.  The Lutheran ‘priest’ and his family (9 children by the first wife - she and 4 children died of small pox, and 6 children by the second wife).  From the outside the house looked like a series of small houses side by side. Next door was the Lutheran church which we visited.  It is still in use.  Lutheran is the state religion.  This area has fairly prosperous farms with larger buildings.  The fields are bouncing with ewes and their young.  

Back at the dock we got ready for whale watching.  Of course, we were dressed warmly.  We boarded a traditional wooden harbor boat.  Next we pulled on our whale-watching suits—rubberized outfits with a zipper down the front and down the outside of the legs.  The day was sunny but the weather choppy. We had no more started when a big splash came and covered us with cold sea water—water dripping off our noses, etc. Then we were handed heavy raincoats to go over all the rest of what we had on —we looked like the Michelin man! We went out for an hour —cold, windy, choppy water, seasick passengers, etc.  Finally we arrived at an area known to have whales and luckily they were there.  We watched two humpbacks for an hour as we circled and they did, too.  The uncomfortable trip was worth the reward of seeing the gentle giants at play.  When we got back, they had a outdoor buffet on deck.  A little cool, but a good conclusion to a busy day.