We started in BWI where our flight was originally supposed to depart at 1:00pm. Unexpectedly, we had a weather delay and our plane broke and they had to call in the mechanic to fix it. They originally told us to switch flights and Amy was immediately sprinting through the airport to the nearest phone. Once we switched the flight, all other flights to JFK (including our new one one) were cancelled. They tried to delay my flight to Tuedday but Amy refused. So we were told to wait for our original plane to be fixed. After 10 hrs we took off to JFk Once we finally arrived in reykevak, we found out that my backpack was still in baltimore!
Amy: I heard that you dont have to wash jeans for a month before they start smelling. I doubt that.
Sam: Nope, thats true!
(good thing it was my bag lost and not Amy's)
Venturing through Iceland
When we arrived at the airport, we told the bus driver to take us to our hostile and he happily agreed. Instead, he dropped us off at a visitor center. We asked when the next bus was and they told the Americans to walk! We wondered through the streets of reykjavik like tourists with our large map and backpacks until we stumbled upon our destination.
Amy and I strolled through the streets gazing at the exquisite clothing in the stores that we easily could not afford. Amy then took me to my first bar (well sort of)! The bar tender greeted us with a pint and shots. We befriended 3 swedish orthodontists who raised glasses with us and shouted SKáL (cheers)! Then our swedish friends showed us around the town. In Iceland the summer sun never sets and neither does our fun!
Day 2:
We came to understand quickly that the Icelanders are not morning people. Most restaurants and cafes did not open until 11am! We couldnt even get a coffee before 11am! My dear sister agreed to drive a manual car so that her baby sister's dreams of hiking Europe can come true. Oh and I forgot to mention... Shes only driven a stick twice...those of you who know my sister understand how she drives in America so you can relate to my enormous fear of making it home alive. You'd think I'd adapt to these "unique" driving techniques, but my heart still dropped into my stomach the first hard breaking/stalling... The third time... The fifth time... I can't say I was much of a help. I was given the title navigator and had us driving in the complete opposite direction of our destination, Þingvallavatn National Park. We finally reached a visitor center where I found a book called "Lost in Iceland" which seemed appropriate. It turns out we were 1km from Þingvallavatn. From then on Amy and i were unstoppable. Nobody could get in the way of us and our adventuring. So it went a little something like this...
The water here was so beautiful. It had a royal blue color, while the sides of the streams were coated in green algae which illuminated a turquoise color. The scenery was divine with the outstretch of majestic mountains and streams of blue water that zig zagged in a maze like pattern flowing into a lake. This was the refion of the continental divide!
Geysir
The English word geyser means a spouting hot spring, while the name Geysir itself is derived from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush". Eruptions of the boiling water occur up to 70 meters! (left) Amy and I trekked the mountain on the top right where we had a nice picnic lunch and the picture of me on the bottom right was taken!
Gullfoss
Hverageriði
Amy and I hiked all the way up this 6k walk! It consisted of lovely scenery with hot springs, waterfalls, and sheep! From one mountain came a hot spring and from the other mountain came a cold spring. When the two streams met, they conjoined to make "a very nice" temperature hot tub! (top picture)
Posted by: Sam
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