Live to work. Or work to live.
It’s a bit of a mantra for me.
I chose the latter. Always have. Always will.
That being said, I’m willing to work my fingers to the bone when I need to in order to explore. And I rarely work while I’m busy living. I’ve learned that about myself. And maybe the pattern needs to be changed. Maybe I need to find work where I go…. but often times, more than not…. the adventure isn’t seen through the lens. Just little bits and pieces.
………………………………………………
The destination was chosen purely because it just showed up. “Iceland flight price drop” The flight price was right. So was the accommodation. I had one thing on my list to visit there.
So I did.
Simple. Right?
Well…. not really, but that’s how things get done in my world.
The flight was straight and easy and only 7 hours. Not bad at all. The jetlag was a whole other story for a kid and his parents. It affected me a little more than it used to when I was in my 20’s. There’s a lot that changes in those short couple of decades. But I can tell you, I never slept in my car because I literally couldn’t talk or function after 30+ hours of being awake when I was in my 20’s. (So 20 somethings, be grateful for that endless energy you have flying out your ass…. it doesn’t last forever.)
We rented a two wheel drive car. And arrived to pick it up while it was still covered in 6 inches of snow. We also rented a wifi hot spot to have the entire time, which was an absolute lifesaver. I don’t know how the world worked without google maps. I know it did somehow. I know I did somehow. I guess it’s just something I am SO grateful for in the technology world.
We drove that two wheel drive car into weather
we had no business driving it in. We weren’t prepared for the wild manic weather in Iceland. The insane amount of snow in such short periods of time and how quickly that snow would disappear. Whole mountain passes were unrecognizable to us because we didn’t know what they looked like without 2 feet of snow that somehow would disappear in a day. It was crazy. That being said that two wheel drive car got to where we needed to go. To where we didn’t need to go. To all the places.
We spent a week crisscrossing the country side. Eating at animal farms and vegetable farms and swimming in the geothermal waters. We kept ourselves steady on the thick layers of ice that surrounded the thundering cascades of water. We threw black rocks from the black sand beaches into the ocean as the sun got lower. We pet sheep. And horses. We spent a couple days wandering the city. Going to museums and churches and eating in seaside cafeterias. We marveled the lava fields and their beautiful moss.
We swam in the blue lagoon. (Check #67 off the list.)
If I had to describe Iceland quickly…. I would say it’s a lot like Alaska. Without the woods or the ferocious animals. It’s green when it isn’t snowing. Nature is unworldly there. It’s cold (the temperature there doesn’t reach much over 60 degrees, which for me is a little on the cold side in the summertime) The history of the island is incredible and it’s hard not to get caught in a viking tale or two….. and the entire area is protected by gnomes, and fairies and hidden people, which is also hard not to take comfort in. It’s a country of green rolling hills and sheep and short fluffy horses with wild manes. It’s a country of volcanoes and hot spots and water coming out of places you couldn’t imagine. It’s a country of old worldliness. But modern and simple and beautiful in its architecture. It’s a beautiful cold island in the middle of nowhere. And I’m so grateful I got to go to nowhere for a little while.
Stacey, these pics are amazing!