Me Versus The Boiling MudorMy Feet In The North Atlantic

This is an account of my recent week in Iceland, where I stayed with Stefan and Elinborg in their lovely new flat in Reykjavik. If I had to sum everything up in one word it would be "stylish". I think I used this word almost constantly, to describe the people, the houses, the shops, more or less everything. Just look though, even the pools of subterranean goo are a fetching colour!

Just a few of the things I did or went to:
1) Little Stefan's baptism. It was really nice to be invited and given my chance to hold the baby. (Apparently next time I will be babysitting.)

2) Witnessed the boiling mud (pictured) on a driving tour around Krisuvik and other places.

3) Sampled the Reykjavik nightlife in the pub where the famous people go. Apparently I saw five famous Icelanders, but you'd have to ask Olafia exactly who they were.

4) A fascinating visit to Iceland's archives courtesy of Elinborg's dad.

5) Whale watching from Reykjavik harbour. I saw lots of puffins and the back of a minke whale! That's one fin, and a bit of back, for about a second; most of the time I was sitting calmly not being seasick.

6) Had coffee in Kaffitar, my new favourite coffee shop.

7) Went on a typical touristy coach trip to the Snaefellsnes peninsula. Saw a glacier and got attacked by Arctic Terns. This is also the occasion when I paddled in the North Atlantic. Everyone else on the bus thought that this made me hard as nails, but in fact I've been in colder seas in Filey. It was all helped by the tour guide saying that you can swim but only for a few minutes before the cold gets you, which of course he himself can do! Apparently none of this is true though. Ah well.

7) The Golden Circle with the neeps. This included Thingvellir, Gullfoss, and the very original geysir at Geysir, but sadly it no longer actually geysirs unless there's been volcanic activity.

8) All sorts of other things! I might append them soon if time allows.