Iceland, Day 2

Even though I didn’t view the lights, Iceland didn’t disappoint, especially when it came to their Fish and Chips. I believe the best fish and chips I ever tasted (they call it fiskur og franskar) were at the Icelandic Bar (in Icelandic: ISLENSKI BARINN). They made the batter with a bit of curry, and damn if I can’t remember the other spice they used.

Hold on.

I looked it up. Their menu said: Deep-fried cod in Orly batter with a touch of curry, fries & tartar sauce. Yum! I don’t normally drink beer, but I had to try an IPA named Viking Bondi and loved it! Perfect combo.

For my girls, I had to take a photo of Rainbow Street, where it’s a tradition to paint the street every year in a vibrant show supporting diversity by the city and Pride. I loved that it pointed to the iconic church in Reykjavik called Hallgrimskirkja. Right. Say that ten times and you’ll be swallowing your tongue in no time.

I glimpsed the church only from the sea and at the end of Rainbow Street. If I ever return to Iceland, a tour inside is a must. Even from afar, its architecture inspires awe.

Another building I had to photograph was the Embassy of Denmark. A snow white castle!

I booked a whale watching tour for the day. I strolled down to the harbor, tried to board the wrong boat, and was pointed to the right one. They were canceling their trips because of choppy seas. When I finally got to the right tour, they hadn’t canceled. It didn’t look that bad out there, but what did I know about Icelandic conditions?

One of their boats is tied up at the dock and serves as a tiny museum and gift shop. A skeleton of a whale is glassed in on the top deck. You go below, where the tour operators give the spiel on what to expect, along with safety talk and a Dramamine handout. I passed on the seasick pills. I still looked out the window at the weather, wondering what all the fuss was about. I’ve seen a lot worse.

We get underway. At first, everyone stayed inside the cabin’s protection. Eventually, we get into position in search of the whales. By then, people had ventured outside, and I headed to the back of the boat, where the wind is blocked when underway. Spotting whales happened soon after. Mink whales with their short fins are spotted on the port side. The boat kept a respectful distance away. I am grateful that the captain took care not to disturb them. Every once in a while, some puffins flew by. I adore puffins!

I didn’t take many shots of them, but I can now put mink on my list of whales I’ve seen, from Iceland, and other species in Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest. It was a blustery, slightly cold day, but I dressed for it and stayed comfortable outside at the aft of the boat for most of the time. The boat stayed in the bay, where it was not so choppy. A few landlubbers felt seasick, and the barf bags came in handy. I remembered the old saying, don’t puke over the side of the boat when facing the wind.

But my saying goes like this:

Keep the wind
at your back
mate.
Don’t forget it,
or you wear it.

One gentleman learned the hard way.

I had a pleasant conversation with a fellow writer (a writing professor from Wisconsin). In between whale and puffin sightings, we chatted about our writing and ongoing projects. She felt like a kindred spirit; we had much in common, including our love of traveling solo. We agreed it was a great way to go.

As we headed back to the dock, views of Reykjavik came into view. It surprised me to see the church appear taller than everything else. It is perched on a hill, so that may be why. Still, it is a building that refuses to hide.

Reykjavik translates to Smoky Bay or Cove of Smoke. The name came from a Norse settler, Ingolfur Arnarson, after watching steam rise from geothermal hot springs.

When we docked, I bought a few items in the gift shop for my granddaughter, then strolled back to the hotel. After resting a bit, it was time to eat. I asked at the front desk for recommendations. He didn’t hesitate and recommended the bar I raved about earlier.

I turned in early as I had to be at the airport at the break of, no; at the crack of, no; the chasm of dawn. The front desk had some croissants and other items for me to take. The staff knew how to take care of their people.

All right, it’s pitch black outside. I rolled my suitcases down the hill to the designated pickup spot for the bus at four-something-too-early AM. The rain drizzled. Across the street from my stop was a bus shelter, so I crossed and hoped the driver would see me.

He did. I went. I flew.

Next stop Dublin.