Cometsgirl

After an overnight in Atlanta, with an already-packed fresh suitcase exchanged for my Iceland bag, I’m back at the airport headed to Houston. Thanks to Evan for the shuttle to the hotel last night and the bag exchange, I’m set for another journey. 

I’m traveling with Beth to her temporary home to help with move-in after the recent Hurricane Harvey flooding. This feels all too familiar, having done the same thing with her 17 months ago. 

We’re trying out a travel perk I have because of a credit card I carry. Minute Suites at Hartsfield.  It’s a place of quiet for one hour. Bring your own food and drink. Time’s just about up. 

Iceland served as an escape for a couple of weeks. Today it’s clear the escape is over. 

From a recent Becca Stevens post:

If we can endure, be sure in faith, and keep our hearts open to God, we will find that no matter what, our lives have been blessed. We will feel that unbelievable gift, that through any hardship we will be graced with God’s presence. The hardships, we discover, are not tests of our faith, but part of the journey of being alive and of having a sacred heart.

Traveling mercies. 

I’m never ready for travel to end, and this trip to Iceland is no exception. It helps to know my intention is to return. And to know, too, that I will have other travel journeys in the interim. 

Up before dawn, with about an hour’s drive to the airport, in the dark–we realized this is what it would be like to travel here in the winter. Dark most of the time. That would be hard. 

I continue to be grateful for the good fortune I have when I travel.. Flying Saga (first)!class on Icelandair allowed me to skip the long security lines and proceed quickly through security check and on to the Saga lounge. Comfortably  seated with cappuccinos flowing, I waited the two hours for my flight. 

Bussed from the terminal to our aircraft, we had a most enjoyable conversation with our driver as we waited to board the bus. It’s a delight to stop and chat with those whose language I do not speak. I’m no longer surprised to find, however, MY language is spoken. 

Dining was pretty neat. It’s possible on Icelandair to preorder the meal, kind of guaranteeing you’ll get what you will enjoy. 

A highlight of the flight to JFK was flying over Greenland. Just Beautiful!

Descending into JFK provided interesting patterns from on high. 

Now settled into Delta’s lounge for several hours, I’m back in text mode, warm weather, and thinking of tasks ahead. 

For right now, though, I’m still on Iceland time. U.S. time will come soon enough. 

Traveling mercies. 

It’s said one should live each day as if it were your last. 

I’m thoughtful about this today because it is my last full day in Iceland. A trip I was for a time, not confident would happen. 

I’m also thoughtful about this because it’s my traveling friend’s birthday. And that has me thinking about the measure of our days. 

I’ve been given a gift of years, of days, of hours.  I’m certain I have not lived each to its fullest. I suspect that is how it is with most of us. 

So today I’ve been intentional about how I spend this last day and how I’ve honored and celebrated my friend’s anniversary of her birth.  

Celebrating alongside her as strangers learned of her birthday and reacted with gifts of hospitality was joyous. The server at breakfast who presented a decorated pastry; the server in a coffee shop who poured  cups of coffee for us to enjoy – his gift.  And shopkeepers and chefs as we went about our day all giving their good wishes. 

It was in that context that I wanted to be certain this final day in Iceland was planned with intention, with room for surprise. 

Gifted with mostly a beautiful and rain-free day, we walked some good distances, crisscrossing the city.  

I’m struck by the many wonderful conversations with all manner of people whose paths crossed with mine for a few minutes or so this day alone. It’s so obvious to me that caring words and intentional conversation become a gift to both the hearer and the speaker. Connections made that make travel so much richer. 

It doesn’t have to just during travel. That’s too limiting. For me, my intent is to have more conversation in a meaningful and meaning-filled manner. 

This day is done. While I may not have lived it as if it were my last, I did indeed live it to the fullest. 

Today we left the city and headed southeast. Our primary destination was Þingborg ullarvinnsla wool workshop, about an hour away. 

We had stopped there during the 2016 trip to Iceland and had wanted to return. Part of the building houses Gallery Floi, where a glass and ceramic artist creates her work. While Beth looked at yarn, I visited with the jeweler and a friend. They are Viking women and are part of a group which does Viking era reenactments. Conversation with them was fascinating. 

A waterfall visit was on my mind, so we drove a bit further south to Urriðafossvegur. Originating from three glaciers, more water flows over these falls than any other Icelandic waterfall. 

The return drive was filled with sights so extraordinary we had to pull over again and again.

After all these driving sights, we stopped for a delicious lunch of soup and bread. 

Returning to the hotel for brief rest, we set out walking once again. We ended the day with a walk in rain and wind to view a sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnasonpiece placed prominently along the water, titled The Sun Voyager. 

Now as this day closes, I’m so very grateful to have the means and the might to travel, the feet to carry me, the mind to find my way, and the ability to be surprised and delighted. 

Those who know me, know I’m quite fond of being upgraded. It happens primarily when flying. I’ve been mostly loyal to one airline, and the honors level I carry sometimes results in a seating upgrade. It’s been said that “no one appreciates being upgraded more than I”.

That’s true. 

I certainly don’t deserve it any more than the next flyer, but I love it when it happens. 

This morning I’ve awakened in a top floor room. 

Because of problems with the shower in the room -SCALDING hot water- we found ourselves upgraded upon return to the hotel last night. Bags packed in a flurry, we were escorted to a corner suite on the top floor, complete with balcony. Wow!

Another abundant breakfast offering this day. 

Becca Stevens suggests this is the beginning of the seasons of gratitude. She offers a universal prayer of thanks. 

“Gracias. Thank you. Shukraan, Toda. Dhanyavaad. Xièxie. Merci. Asante. Grazie. Shukriyah. Ke a leboga.”  To that I add, Þakka þér fyrir. 

Waking up to city sounds for the first time in a week and a half, caught me by surprise. Outside my window I looked down on now empty tables from the gathering below my room last night. 

Breakfast served at the hotel was off the chart abundant. 

A blustery walk to church was brisk and determined. I had looked forward for many months to worship at Hallgrímskirkja. I could not wait!

A Lutheran High Mass service in Icelandic, led by a chick priest, choir and organ was the worship experience I had hoped for. 

After church we walked down the block to Reykjavik Roasters for cappuccinos and lunch. 

From there it was a delightful walk down and around interesting streets going every which way, many of which were spelled almost the same, making it a challenge at times to know where to walk.  We made it to the National Gallery of Iceland for an exibit I had read about and hoped to see.  HRAFNHILDUR ARNARDOTS / SHOPLIFIFTER TAUGAFOLD VII / NERVESCAPE VII

Then a walk back a different route to the hotel to freshen up for a concert late this afternoon. 

The Iceland Youth Sypmphoy orchestra performed Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at Harpa Performance Hall. This concert brought together the largest group ever performing with the ISO Youth Orchestra, as the Rite is scored for an enormous orchestra.

About the ISO Youth Orchestra. “One of the most important roles of symphony orchestras the world over is to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with new generations of musicians. Each year since 2009, nearly 100 young people from music schools around Iceland have gathered together under the aegis of the Iceland Symphony to form the ISO Youth Orchestra, with splendid results. The Iceland Symphony Youth Orchestra was awarded the Brightest Hope prize at the Icelandic Music Awards in 2017.”
The performance was wonderful!

Then dinner at a local spot just up the street from the hotel. An end of the weekend kind of meal. 

As we strolled along the streets toward the hotel, a glance over my shoulder gave me this sight. 

This has been an abundance-filled Sunday in Reykjavik. 

Indeed. 

This day we departed Husafell for the big city, Reykjavik. Some 300,000 of Iceland’s 350,000 residents live in Reykjavik. 

As we checked out of the hotel, we promised to return. At breakfast this morning we decided we’d rather come back to Iceland than travel to Lapland, which we thought we might do. 

The rains stayed away until this morning. It was rainy and very blustery as we drove south. There were many places along the drive that we would have stopped to investigate, but this was no day for any of that. 

Some drive sights. Some through the windshield. Others by mad dashes outside the car. 

The weather cleared up as we arrived in the big city. After checking into our “hip” hotel in the heart of the city, we walked to lunch at a local vegetarian restaurant, then on to stroll for a bit.  

We returned to the hotel in time for a tasting. Icelandic cheese, lager and orange soda. A nice way to settle into evening. 

Night, night. 

We saw them tonight. 

Everyone ran out of the dining room here at Hotel Husafell. Squeals of delight and joy!

Amazing. 

No way to adequately describe, nor capture on an iPhone

No need. They are deep in our souls and memory. 

Years ago while taking a ferry to a small island off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada, a fellow passenger declared it was a “large day”. I have had many a large day on trips taken over the many years since hearing that description. 

Today is a large day. 

Beth declared today a Sabbath day for herself. I was good to have a Sabbath day myself. A day to stop and rest and rejoice in this place. It turns out our idea of Sabbath is not quite the same. While I’m good with stopping and relishing, I’m not so good with complete stopping. 

So I took off for a time to nearby Hvítarsíða waterfall. Just a 6 kilometer drive down the road, I was comfortable driving off by myself. I was rewarded with a waterfall sight the likes of which I’ve not seen before. 

Returning to the hotel, I drove just a short way further. I was rewarded with views of Mt. Strútur, Mt. Tunga and Eiríksjökull glacier. 

Now as the rain sets in for the duration of time in this place, I’ll continue my Sabbathing with a delicious cappuccino and bite of chocolate. 

Treated to an impromptu dance by hotel glee-filled personnel. 

And a rainbow!

It is restfilled. 

For a couple of nights I’m staying in what is considered a luxury hotel. I used American Express points to “pay” for most of the cost. Nestled in the area of the Geitland Nature Reserve, far away from any town or hamlet, I’m settled into my privilege. 

The views are awesome. The dining room superior. The service above the norm. Even the bathroom has heated tile flooring. 

This morning when we noticed the absence of plush robes and a second chair for sitting, we realized we were in a Standard, not a Deluxe, room. We are entry level luxury. 

While we can be amused by that revelation, there is an uncomfortable level of truth. 

What level of luxury, or for that matter, what standard of living is sufficient?

Once again, I am mindful of my level of security and convenience, and my responsibility to share my good fortune with those without such good fortune.