I started my 'big trip' a week past on Thursday when I flew from Glasgow to Keflavík in Iceland. Arriving late at night it was great to be picked up by a member of staff from the Northern Lights Inn at the airport. Joining me in the minibus were two elderly gentlemen who were planning a week of fishing in Iceland, recreating a trip of 50 years ago. I chose to decline their kind offer of a vodka nightcap, but wished them well on their holiday.
The Northern Lights Inn was a great discovery. I'd read a few reviews on Trip Advisor and it sounded my kind of place, near enough to Keflavík, and just next to the famous Bláa Lónið (Blue Lagoon) which Ewan had recommended. The staff couldn't have been more helpful and ran a great taxi service back and forward to the airport and to the Blue Lagoon.
I spent the morning at the Blue Lagoon which was quite a unique experience. I was told that I'd chosen the best time to go because the lagoon becomes very busy late morning and in the afternoon because some of the buses which travel to the airport from Reykjavík stop off at the Blue Lagoon to allow people to visit on the way to the airport for a later flight. Soaking in the mineral-rich waters under a clear blue sky was heavenly!
I spent a few hours in Reykjavík before returning to the airport. I always enjoy a Scandinavian capital, and Reykjavík proved to be a very walkable city. Although I didn't see a huge amount of Reykjavík in the short time I was there, I enjoyed walking along Laugavegur (as the photo shows, the "main shopping street", just in case there is any doubt) and soon headed back to the bus station and headed towards the airport.
My favourite thing about Iceland? Without a doubt the language! No surprises there... I've always liked the sound of Icelandic and I admire the fact that it protects the integrity of the language by avoiding anglicisms and neologisms. There's more information on Wikipedia, but as an example, the word for "telephone" is sími, which actually means "wire", but is now used as the standard Icelandic word for telephone - including the wireless variety! I wonder if you buy a "sim" for your "sími", or is there another word for sim?!
I'd love to go back to Iceland. I may try to follow up the link with the hotel with a view to doing One Minute Icelandic at some point. It would be great if I could combine that with seeing the Northern Lights, but that's perhaps not the most financially sound reasoning!
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