Iceland, a small Scandinavian country (population: 334,000 and 40 political parties) is in a tourism boom, welcoming nearly 1.8 million visitors last year alone. I will be falling under its spell, and flooding social media and blog with geyser, volcano, and glacier pics galore.

But not right now, ‘cos I’m a bit unhappy, about my suitcase not arriving with me this morning. After 35 hours dedicated effort to get here, you hope everything is aligned. Not so! Flight delayed by an hour at Heathrow; arrived 1 AM in Reykjavik; no suitcase; an hour to process paperwork; last bus 🚎 has left. Had to catch a VERY expensive taxi to Reykjavik – $250 AUS. And it’s 2 degrees, with me having no warm stuff to put on. Icelandair gives you a quaint ‘survival pack’ of toothpaste and brush, deodorant and t shirt. Great if you are stranded in Fiji!!

Spent a lot of time today in snow drift conditions, visiting different shopping centres to line up purchases in the event my bag didn’t turn up in time for photography tour. Good news. It’s arriving tonight at 22:00. Yay!!!

Drove past Sólfar this arvo just before the weather changed again…its a sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason, located close to the Harpa Centre in Reykjavík. Sun Voyager is described as an ode to the sun. The artist intended it to convey the promise of undiscovered territory, progress and freedom. It also represents how Norse people arrived in Iceland, with the hope of a better future.

A couple of pics from around the hotel precinct….a building over the road and a cafe patio.

Off to a comedy revue tonight by taxi 🚕…..too freezing cold to walk in current outfit 😤
https://www.harpa.is/dagskra/vidburdur/how-to-become-icelandic-in-60-minutes/