Iceland: Epilogue

Iceland was incredible!  I would go back in a heartbeat, and I would definitely go back with my 3 lovely companions.  

There were all sorts of things about Iceland that were surprising.  First, it was very expensive, but since the guidebook said it was expensive, we always seemed to guess that things were more then they actually were - which weirdly somehow made you feel better about it.

The hot water stank.  I guess all of the hot water comes from the ground, and the sulfur smell was overpowering and always made the place smell like farts.  I wondered as we left if we now smelled like farts.

Inside the church keyhole

The food was mostly very good.  For a place that is famous for eating shark that has been buried in the ground for 3 months until it is rotten, it was surprising to have this great food.

The people were friendly, but not REAL friendly. 

They know every family that ever settled on the island, and most of the original farms are still there.

All the building were covered with metal siding, and graffiti is clearly seen as an art form.  I completely agree with this.

What are you three going to do?

The trip home was an adventure as usual.  Reykjavik and Thurso are 721 miles apart.  To return home, I flew to Manchester (1010 miles).  I said goodbye to my good friend, changed terminals and checked in for my flight to Aberdeen.  

During my 4 hour layover, I read magazines, ate a pizza, walked around and watched people.  Shortly before my flight, it was announced that it was going to be late.  It pushed back two more time and finally after an hour and a half we took off for Aberdeen and flew 347 miles.  

We landed 10 minutes before my flight to Wick was supposed to leave.  I went to the check in gate and asked if there was any way, and they said get your bag and we'll see.  Twenty minutes later, my bag came and it wasn't even worth asking because for the first time all year, the last flight to Wick took off on time.

Iceland Beautiful Iceland

So I walked out to the rental car companies and after visiting each counter, I was told that there were either no cars or they wouldn't allow a car to be taken to Wick - like it was a foreign country or something.

So I came back to the airport and considered my options.  I asked if I could take the first flight the following morning.  I was told yes, but I would need to buy a new ticket for £197. So then I wandered over to some random guys standing around and asked how much a taxi would be and they said to where? and I said to Wick. and they said Wick! you know that is way up there? and I said I know, I live in Thurso and they said, Really! hmm, I guess that would be £400. 

So, factoring in the £197 airline ticket, the £150 for a hotel and the new suitcase I would have to buy because the one I had was held shut with tape (remember the broken zipper), I decided the taxi was actually the more economical option.

So I surprised them all by saying, I'll take a taxi.  Fifteen minutes later and a lot of funny chat done, my driver showed up.  

He was a retired detective with 30 years in the Aberdeen police force and had recently retired because they messed with his pension.  We talked into the wee hours until we arrived at Wick Airport at 1am, after driving 210 miles.

Car collected and bleary, 25 mile drive home I arrived to my two wagging tails; they were not at all bothered to be woken at such an uncivilized hour.  We laid on the floor and ate Triscuits and thought, hmm, life is good.