A Different World

I've been missing the wonderful tradition started by my lady friends at Pinks and Blues, so I'm happy to participate again. For this post, I'm going to the very recent past - just a stone's throw back to this time last year on a trip of a lifetime with my husband -- WITHOUT the kids. To a place that I had never imagined travelling to as a destination of choice. And now, after a day inside spent crouching, dusting, vacuuming and wiping down shelves, cupboards, and baseboards, I'm yearning again for that lovely part of the world ...

Beautiful ICELAND!

We took the following shot just after we arrived into the capital city of Reykjavik, it was such a gorgeous, clear day:



And I was sooooo happy to be here:



This was a work trip for Ian, and I was only ECSTATIC to tag along. We wanted to optimize our time there (5 days) so decided to take an adventure tour on a jeep, complete with an amazing driver/guide, and four other men. Me, girly me, on an adventure tour. More on that later.

Here's the jeep, our guide, and the spectacular terrain:



Here's me at Pingvellir National Park - site of world's first parliament; started by Vikings no less. And I'm looking happy still:


Gorgeous Hraunfosser Waterfalls:


Deildartunguhver - most powerful geothermal spring in Europe. Yup, I'm full of hot air...


So this is as adventure as I get. We signed up for the optional snowmobile tour up the glacier. Yes, me, who grew up in a hermetically sealed, air-conditioned abode in Scarborough. Opening the windows was roughing it for me. Initially we were going to rent one snowmobile for the two of us, but I was getting so pumped during the drive up the mountain that I convinced myself that I could drive one all by my lonesome. Much to the thrill of Ian, as he fully intended to tear around on his own without a monkey on his back. [He was, after all, a motorcross racer in his youth.]. Do I not look totally amazed that I made it up to the TOP OF THE WORLD!:



Together again... Ian's glad I didn't flip backwards on the skidoo coming up the hill. Looking extremely happy again, but we are missing our kidlets, honestly we are...



We stayed in the chic 101 Hotel Reykjavik. It's listed in several design books as a place to see (and be seen, I suppose). Accomodations were very modern, sleek, white, and there were interesting pieces of artwork throughout the lobby. This is a view of one of the exterior walls looking up from the bar/restaurant. I wonder if this was mammary-inspired? I had just finished weaning the little one, and I've always had breast-envy regardless - could explain why this wall fascinated me so?



While Ian was at his meeting, I took the opportunity to do some shopping and sightseeing. Shopping was great - expensive, as most things are in Europe, and probably more so in Iceland because of the extra transportation to get things there. I had a late lunch and even later dinner all on my own.

Here's a shot of the beautiful interior of Hallgrims Church found just in the middle of town:



Well, G's just woken up from her nap, so I'm back in Reno-land. At least I'm still on vacation from cooking!