1) Coffee (only "slept" an hour on the plane, which I'm usually so good at)
2) A wall plug adapter (literally have 3 that I forgot in a box back home)
3) Restaurant food (because canabalism is still frowned upon)
When I bought my bus tickets to make those goals happen, the sweet girl who charged me suggested just walking around downtown Reykjavík for the day.
Reykjavík is the capital city of Iceland. I don't know why I had it in my lil Lynda brain that I would be cruising around a little port town. Sure, it has a port, but a town it is by no means. It reminded me a lot of a mini San Fran. Cute houses close together, had a warf, lots of big ships at a few piers, and so many overpriced shops. I only walked six miles today, but it felt like so much more with my 30lb backpack and slip-on shoes. Glad I started with this reminder of packing lighter because I know that with triple the daily walking on the Camino I'll be doing in just two weeks, I would keel over and die if I did it with today's level of preparation. Learning as I go. (Paths taken indicated by turquoise lines on map)
Java was a priority, so that was to be my first stop. I navigated my way into downtown from the bus station by foot. Almost every sign is written in Icelandic. Like I said in my former post, I love it! I love seeing and hearing a foreign language used. Especially a rare one. It gives the language part of my brain a little, coochie-coo tickle. But that same part of my brain hasn't been tickled like this in over 5 years. Any countries I've been to within the past five years have been where the two languages I actually know are used. But throw some new nordic letters in there (æ, ö, ù) and I can't get around as easy as usual. It was humbling to feel ignorant to language again.
Coffee. Kaffi. It happened, it satisfied. The cafe I went to was just like some of ours in the states where the baristas are hipsters that are indiffernt about the customers' needs. I'll admit, since that was my first encounter outside of the airport interacting, I assumed that Icelanders are just cold. They're not. It's just those snooty baristas. You know. Makes me wonder how many times I've done something oblivious or rude as an American and have people stereotype Americans because of me.
One thing I surely did note interpersonally, from the airport all the way throughout my Reykjavík exploration, is that there seems to not be any words for "excuse me" or "pardon me" in their language... or at least they don't care to use it. Whether it's scooting by or getting your attention, they just cut in front of you silently or they'll just begin their question or statement without you even looking at them. I wasn't offended, just found it to be different than both cultures I'm accustom to. And I'm not basing this on one instance, I looked for it in all my interactions today. Ha
I was on a purple, baby unicorn chase for that adapter dealio. No one seemed to know exactly where to get one, which I get if you're a local and already have the correct outlet plug on all your gizmos. Looking for the adapter alone was half my walking today. In circles I went. Finally a local older gent who overheard a young boy in the minimart giving me wrong directions chased me down in his car to tell me in Icelandic and throwing in the English word "leave" where I needed to go. That was a God send. I was caught off guard at first since he drove his car onto the sidewalk where I was walking to instruct me, but I probably would've walked twice as much in a flury had he not. (Location of instance indicated by lime green dot on map).
Iceland has native, white, nordic folk as well as even more native eskimos that would better hold the title as indigenous. I only heard the latter speaking a few times--there weren't as many in the city--but it appears that they speak their very own language.
The place where I stopped for lunch was owned by an indigenous lady and her husband. She has to be at least trilingual. I ordered the soup of the day. She said it has "all kinds of seafood in it". I didn't ask... I just ate. Soup and bread. "You're ready to pay? Okay... It will be... 14,000" Oh! The currency they use here is ISK. My lunch was 14,000 ISK=$11 USD. It's funky though hearing those prices!
After I finished eating and charging my phone a little in the restaurant, it was time to explore.
I walked around and took the most shameful selfies... Yep... With a selfie stick. I know some people love to take selfies and it's like nothing, but I get so embarrassed. Of course I'll take them for SnapChat or whatever, but I try to be as inconspicuous as possible. Check my surroundings... No one's watching... No one's really around... Good to go.
Not this time. I blushed and awkwardly as I took selfies by myself with that ridiculous (yet helpful--thanks Mom) selfie stick.
"You didn't have to." You're right, I didn't. But I remember six years ago looking through all the pictures I took in Europe and wishing more of them had people in them. After all, it's not the fancy building or the rustic door that's significant, it's the moment. I and the people I am with are what make a moment. So since you, dear reader, are not here to be in these selfies with me, I have to record the moment by myself. Shamefully. Ha (My future self will appreciate it)
(The red dots on the map are where shameful selfies happened)
I hiked up a street to see the cool Hallgrímskirkja Church that peeks & peaks up over the rest of the city, all pointy and grey. It had a fancy pipe organ and it was neat seeing how the Bible is written in Icelandic. Guð er alls staðar (God is everywhere).
After seeing the church, I was tuckered out. Headed to the old park from the 1800's that surrounds this big ole pond with monstrous geese (they were the size of my grown Golden Retriever at home!!). I took more selfies with the statues, but only because some were absurd and deserved my unapproving looks. The one with the couple that is hollowed out was plain weird.
Then I colored. Then I napped.
(And the blue dot is where I took that glorious sun nap)
Bus brought me to the airport and here I sit telling you about my day. Tomorrow morn I arrive in Paris. My goal is to try to get to Barcelona ASAP to see Lichita & Edu. Trains are a little funky and my French is almost non-existent, but my God goes with me, as Lichita kindly reminded me this morning. I'm hoping this trip (especially being alone for so much of it) will instill in me a greater awareness of the fact that I am the daughter of a Heavenly Father who never let's me go alone. And protects me when I'm being naïve. And provides for me when unexpected costs come up.
I brought a book along that talks about following Christ and not just being a fan. I'm sure having brought it on this specific trip is going to have an important role.
Okay, until next time. :-)
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