Amy

The trip has been fantastic so far.  We hit Canada in freezing temps, saw loads of family and friends and had a spectacular time!  Texas was equally enjoyable.  We visited friends and some family, caught up on some SXSW stuff, I even ran into SXSW acquaintances from 2004!  Alas, it seems that we left the last of the warm weather in Texas.  Ireland was beautiful and green, most days were really lovely.  We had good, but chilly weather most of our time there.  Unfortunately, I developed a cold while I was there and didn´t recooperate until London.  I still have a bit of a cough even now. 

We arrived in London only to leave the next morning for Iceland.  The weather was as expected, maybe better... It´s cold here.  yeah, really cold.  But surprisingly, we are prepared.  We have lots of warm clothing and I haven´t died of frostbitten anything.  =)  We got a bit delayed when we arrived because I couldn´t decide whether or not to go to a doctor.  Due to the flight from London (and Cork the day before) my ears were having issues.  They clogged like they sometimes do because of air pressure, but they weren´t un-popping.  I was a bit stressed out about this, but was trying not to worry.  In the end a very nice lady at the pharmacists agreed I should see a doctor and gave me the name of the after hours clinic (after I´d already tried at normal clinics twice).  The doctor took one look at me, prescribed some penicillin and sent me on my way.  Very efficient people those Icelanders.  The doctor also asked if I needed any pain meds.  At the time I wasn´t in pain and I said no.  Just moments later I wish I´d said yes.  Then I went in search of my emergency panadol (aspirin) which I carry with me.  I lost it!  The pain subsided in 48 hours and I´m feeling much better now.

So, why do people keep asking me "Why are you going to Iceland?  You know they are broke?"  Don´t ask me this... I already know.  and the answer is because I can... and it´s cheap right NOW!  But not as cheap as to make it cheap... just cheaper.  I´m absolutely stunned as to how incongruent the quality to cost ratio is and how it fluctuates so dramatically between establishments for seemingly no reason.  The place we are staying at tonight is a boring "charmless" hotel with no amenities and expensive as (while still being in the middle of nowhere) vs. 2 nights ago a completely gorgeous room and hotel (the best we´ve stayed in so far), amazing food, and also in the middle of nowhere but it costed LESS!

Regardless of these matters Iceland is beautiful and stunning in winter/spring.  We got lots and lots of snow, difficult driving conditions (good challenges) and NO tourists!  in fact, we are the only people staying at this "charmless" hotel tonight (with ~150 rooms).  The glaciers are gorgeous and the scenery is breathtaking... we are seeing an Iceland that few tourists see... the winter version.  I can´t imagine it in Summer.

Icelandic horses are everywhere!  I thought "oh, these poor animals... how can they leave them outside in the snow?"  Apparently they are quite happy in the snow and don´t do well in warmer climates.  They are robust and beautiful creatures, even though they look like short windswept teenagers with bedhead and long faces.  I´ll be sad to leave here, but I´m so excited about our next adventures!  and I´m dying to see my home again and a nice firm bed that my back doesn´t complain about.  Tomorrow I´m heading for my last hot spring for a while and I´ll be thinking of you while I wade in 38C water while the -1C air freezes my hair.  Then I´ll head inside and have a Bailey´s and hot choc.  =)