Icelandair runs an excellent airline. I had to take back my nasty thoughts about the Boeing planes they fly as the 757-200 we were on was very comfortable and I had lots of leg room. An unexpected bonus was that I‘ve lost so much weight I didn’t require a seat belt extender!! A second bonus - the seat between me and the guy at the window was empty - so I even had stretch room! Noise-cancelling headphones helped eradicate the constant plane chatter and allowed me to sleep for several hours.
We landed in Reykjavik early, before 6 AM. Walking off the those covered stairs into a howling, rain lashed wind was a shock to my system. The ladies from Jacksonville who traveled near us were concerned they hadn’t brought enough layers! My new coat worked perfectly!! Our driver was waiting to take us to the Silica, but Barbara was blown across the parking lot as the wind caught her suitcase...I had no problem but she is small enough that she felt overwhelmed. Our driver mentioned this was unusual, even for Iceland, and was the effects of Hurricane Ophelia’s last push as a storm.
Once at the hotel, we had breakfast, then chilled in a corner of the great room watching the sky lighten and this wonderful landscape appear. I can’t capture the mist’s blowing over the lagoon in streamers as the wind whips around the lava outcrops, but it is simultaneously stimulating and soothing.
Wendy, the concierge with whom I’ve been communicating, stopped by to great us. She came from Kansas three years ago and never went home! She suggested we take a walk over to the mountain and walk the loop or take a dip in the lagoon as we wait for our room to be ready. We are so comfortable that we’ve declined and remain sipping tea in our corner watching the landscape.Later, Adda, the day manager, came over to welcome us and to assure us we had the first ready room. The hotel has only 35 rooms and is fully booked!
I am a bit frustrated as I can’t figure out how to import the photos I’ve taken. But I will.
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