If you make it to Iceland, you must experience The Blue Lagoon. It is a geothermal seawater pool that has healing powers. Seriously, it felt very healing! It is a bit expensive to visit and the only reservations available that fit our itinerary were on Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. Nothing like leaving your apartment at 6:30 a.m. with outside temps of 42 degrees with drizzling rain to go to a pool. Didn't seem to make sense!
We arrived and my people found a wheelchair to get me from the car to the entrance. The staff took one look at the wheelchair and made every accommodation possible to make it easier for me. Iceland takes such good care of people. I was shown a shortcut to the handicapped accessible locker room and my poor main nurse Callie drew the short stick to go with me. We again, were laughing like hyenas and I am sure the staff wondered what in the world was going on with the maniacs in the locker room. Once we managed to get into our bathing suits we headed out to the pool deck. It was freezing outside.
The pool had great ramps to get in and the water was like a hot bath. AHHH!!!! Felt AMAZING!! The water took the weight off my knee and the heat felt so dang good. Each ticket you buy comes with a free drink and a face mask. So, free drinks means we had cold beer at 7:30 a.m. while walking through an amazing hot pool. It was NOT the worst morning of my life!
They have a face scrub made out of some kind of natural stuff (don't you just love how informed I am?) that we all smeared on our faces! They have little grottos and you can hang out in the caves, drinking your beer. It was lovely! We stayed in the pool for about an hour and then it was time to head out. The locker room was great and we showered and got dressed. One of Esra's friends from his soccer days at UAH worked at the Blue Lagoon Hotel and they had a little reunion in the lobby. It was sweet. Here are a few pictures of the steaming pool.
Next up, we grabbed a little breakfast and then back to the apartment to pack for an overnight stay at Esra's grandparents house in the north. They greeted us so warmly and you could tell they were thrilled to see their grandson. Esra's grandmother's name is also Kristin and his grandpa's name is Einar. They were ADORABLE! Kristin was a teacher and a stewardess and then a school principal for many years. She also made 150 homemade Icelandic donuts to greet us! And there was delicious Icelandic coffee!
Einar is a goldsmith and taught the trade to many Icelandic goldsmiths. Both were interesting and funny. Kristin was telling us she had a great honor upcoming to read at the coronation of their friend who is becoming a Bishop. Einar entertained us with so many stories of Iceland, their family and the neighbors in their little town of 15 people. FIFTEEN people in the whole town.
They had prepared a delicious meal for us and the house smelled amazing! Callie was able to help in the kitchen.
Einar had a telescope in the living room where he looked for birds, sea life and spied on the neighbors.
Here is is showing Megan where to find the horses on the other side of the water.
Dinner was excellent! Both meat and vegan spaghetti, salad and homemade bread. Yes, please!
Dessert was ice cream with fruit.
The picture below is the room that Callie and I shared. Please look out that window and see how close we are to the water and how light it is! It is 10:00 p.m. Someone, please turn the sun off!
This is the view from the little kitchen table.
Goodnight, Iceland. Thanks for a wonderful day!
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