Day One: Reykjavik

Day one of our vacation was technically not “day” one. It was more like “day and half” one or “thirty eight hours without real sleep” one. If you’re thinking, “Geese...Barrett looks rough without sleep. Megan really shouldn’t let him play with swords in that condition, even if he is wearing a helmet,” have no fear. Despite my sleep induced haze, I didn’t walk off with a well armed gnome or let Barrett dress for battle in the streets of Iceland’s capital. This fine fellow was keeping watch outside of one of the many tourists shops in Reykjavik.

Wondering how to say Reykjavik? Icelandic is terrifically hard to pronounce (thank the Lord they all learn English in school). It’s like this: Ray-key-ah-vick. Ray of sunshine, Key to the door. Say, “ahhhh.” Short for Victor. Names only got harder from there.

Iceland is 5 hours ahead of Oklahoma. We did our best to stay up all day so that we would adjust to the time change while we slept that first night. So when you’re incredibly tired, there’s only one thing to do in Iceland that makes any sense. WALK ALL OVER TOWN AND HIKE TO THE HIGHEST POINT YOU CAN FIND.

We got our tourist on with two of my favorite people in the world! Phech and Chara! Tried and true friends from our Boston days, who still admit to knowing us in public. Well...at least in foreign countries where they don’t know anyone.

We checked out Hallgrimskirja with a wicked viking statue of the first European to discover America, Leifur Eiriksson. This striking design is a combination of the traditional Icelandic church shape and an abstract representation of lava flow (with a generous sprinkling of steroids. This building is huge, and can be seen over 12 miles away!)

We then hiked out to a building called the “Pearl.” It houses a viking museum and rotating restaurant, but was described in our guide book as looking like one of the cups of Barbarella’s bra. Now there’s a movie that empowers women and a comparison I’m sure all Icelanders can be proud of. But really the best thing about the Pearl was the spectacular view from the roof top deck.

We ended the first day with dinner and walk along the ocean front. The Sun-Craft looks out over one the many little bays surrounding the city. If the landscape isn’t surreal enough for you, the sculpture certainly tickles the imagination.

OK...well, that last section was only partially true. I ended the day falling asleep on a park bench when I was supposed to be focused on finding a way into the spa by our hotel. After that we decided it was time to hit the hay and get ready for a big day tomorrow that would include waterfalls, continental rifts, and steaming blasts of hot water. I love it when things explode on vacation, just not the volcanoes please.