Copenhagen to Cold, Cold Iceland

We arrived in Copehagen the night before our check in for this leg and hit the town running...trying to get as much done as quickly as possible.

COPENHAGEN:

Scavenge: Do a blind taste test between Carlsburg and Tuborg

We blindfolded Rainey – and then poor Ben (because Mom does not drink) - with my scarf and they took on the challenge. Rainey said that he could not really differentiate any difference between the two beers but Ben liked Tuborg better (not that he has much of a developed palette).

Scavenge: Find out what LEGO means and buy a small one.

Bit of trivia that you probably cannot imagine how you lived without knowing: The name for LEGO (the interlocking toys) comes from a merger of two Danish words: Leg Godt which means “Play Well”

Scavenge: Locate and visit the Black Diamond

The Black Diamond is this super-modern, high tech library in Copenhagen made totally from black glass. Against the backdrop of antique buildings and the canal, it is quite a nod to the 21st century.

Scavenge: Take in a session of Folketing at Christianborg Palace

The Christianborg Palace is the parliament house and “Folketing” is the Danish word for giving speeches on the parliament floor. There is a viewing gallery and we went this morning to see the politicians at their best. Very interesting. We watched both a woman and then a man give speeches on some issue (we had no idea since we don’t speak a word of Danish) while not a single person on the floor listened. It was exactly like you see on CSpan: While the speaker delivered his or her presentation, the other politicians milled around and talked to each other and hung out – paying little or no attention to the speech. (It felt a lot like when the jury falls asleep while you’re making some brilliant point)

We then set off for Iceland and, the answer to your logical question, is” “No, I did not pack appropriately for artic weather”. I packed for India. We arrived in Iceland about 4 PM and checked into our hotel in Rekjavik. The sun does not set until 11 PM (which is very disorienting because when it is 9 PM it feels like 4 PM with bright sunshine) so we had hours for scavenges last night. Although the tourist books say that Iceland’s weather is “milder than expected” that is clearly true only for people who did not pack for Southeast Asia. It is FREEZING here – especially when the wind blows.

Iceland is our last international scavenge leg - and we are all so sad that this unbelievable 3 weeks is almost over - that we are grumpy and irritable. It seems unthinkable that in just 2 days we will be back in our normal life with this adventure behind us. I so wish that we were now starting – instead of ending. I miss Jordan terribly and wish that he could have come with us as Ben has had one of the best, hardest and most educational experiences of his life.

Like Tunisia, I knew little or nothing about Iceland and had no reference point for whether I would like it here. Not surprisingly, Bill made us see the very best of this place and I was totally charmed (even though frozen) by Iceland.


Scavenge # 1: Take a dip by visiting one of the city’s public outdoor geothermal swimming pools
What seems like the most ridiculous idea when you are cold? Going swimming. But there were points involved so off we went with swimsuit in hand. And it was great! There are 11 public geothermal pools in Revjavik. The one we chose was big and had several swimming / lounging areas including large Jacuzzis and lay-down wading pools that are all warm and heated from the underground springs. It was so soothing and relaxing.

Scavenge # 2: Visit Perlan – for the view and the food
We ate dinner at the Pearl (or Perlan) which is a restaurant built up on the hill overlooking the city. Its architecture is similar to an observatory in that the entire roof of the restaurant (which also revolves for maximum effect) is glass. It has the most magnificient view that I have ever seen at a restaurant – and its 360 degrees. The food was average to not-great but the atmosphere rocked.

DAY 2 – ICELAND
For this leg – in a very unusual and unexpected move – Bill let us rent cars and navigate Iceland for ourselves. It felt so liberating to not have to find a tuk-tuk or a train or a bus, but to just be able to get in a car and drive away on our own timetable. Day 2 found us up at 5 AM to do some bonus travel. We had no idea what we would find but ended up with two back-to-back WOW experiences.

Scavenge: Take a team photo next to the mighty Gulfoss. Be careful!
After a long ride, we discovered that Gulfoss is a breathtaking waterfall and – unlike Niagara Falls – there is no security, barriers or safeguards. You can climb right up to the top of it and look down (while standing on slippery rocks covered with moss and being sprayed with mist from the power of the waterfall). Despite the cold, Ben, Rainey and I spent almost an hour climbing all over Gulfoss and I took dozens of photos. To be so close to something so powerful.

Scavenge: Visit Blaalonio and get covered in silica
This is a true WOW – the Blue Lagoon – and I am humiliated to admit that I had never even heard of it. It is a gigantic neck-deep pool carved out of the natural rock that is lined with a layer of smooth silica. The water is perfectly warm, opaque (almost white in color) with natural chemicals and a thick fog rises from the pool to where it is sometimes hard to even see around you. The drill is that you lather on this thick silica mud mask (that you get from wooden pots situated all around the pool), lay back in the warm water while it dries and exfoliates your face naturally and hang out in this cocoon of natural beauty and warmth. I had been cold since I set foot in Iceland (chilled to the bone) so the Blue Lagoon was like heaven. I felt every muscle warm up. We stayed for almost 2 hours and by the time we came out I wanted to just fall into a coma. It was our last scavenge before going to the airport (check in for this leg was at the airport) and I intend to sleep the entire way to Boston.

Tomorrow – in Boston – is our last scavenge leg and we go home on Sunday.