Our journey to Reykjavik was quite the hilarious one (<---- Phil may not agree with me). Let me share with you a few of the bizarre incidences we encountered:
*** We hate the Charles de Gaulle airport. We had an 8 hour layover in this far-from-cool-attractions place, which was cut in half by the time we actually found our terminal and gate! That place is like a maze....we walked through detours directed down sketchy hallways, took the shuttle bus a ba-zillion miles to the correct building, and then navigated the most obscure walking sidewalks you can imagine (ones that go uphill and downhill)!!! It was like the amazing race - except neither of us were really in the mood to play that game. We had a sleepless flight to Paris and the last thing we wanted was a challenge! Luckily, we got some comic relief going through security, as Phil was asked to unpack the bag he was carrying - my new lululemon bag. Out came the pink snuggy, Sargeant Snowflake and Captain Canada. He had to tell security that "YES" he did pack the bag himself. BAHAHAHAHAHA - that security woman will be smiling for days! Tayls and I had a good chuckle over it as we sipped tea together before the next flight:
*** We really thought our hassles were over until we boarded the plane and noticed that every single piece of luggage was loaded onto the plane, except for five suitcases. Thank goodness we were seated by the window because three of them were ours! We alerted the flight attendant, who looked into the situation and returned to tell us that no one believed "the Parkinson's" were on the aircraft (I suppose the pink snuggy and teddy bears didn't make the big impression we thought!). Ah well, the men in the bright vests went back out to sort through the luggage and put two of the five suitcases onto the plane. The two that weren't ours!!! Again, we got the flight attendant, who promised she would NOT leave without our luggage!!! Sure enough, in the middle of an almost-freak-out, they loaded our bags onto the plane too! Woo hoo.....the marathon would have been much tougher in Birkenstocks!!!
Once the plane left Charles de Gaulle, our luck seemed to change! The Iceland Air staff are LOVELY and the plane is so sweet inside. There are quotes about the country everywhere (on the seats, pillows, blankets, napkins, etc.), including ones that tell you about believing in elves and finding the Prime Minister's personal number in the phone book! SO COOL. Here's a view of this INCREDIBLE place as we began our descent to the most AWESOME time EVER:
Mickey and I! You can see that I am his #1 MOUSE-KET-EER!!!!
My handsome hubby and his "ginger" beard :) He's certainly smiling through the leg pain in this one!
Best place for a science field trip? I THINK SO! I love when AWESOME things exist NATURALLY!
Waiting for the geyser to explode was especially exciting! I could have done that for a couple of hours....
Brrrr.....SCENIC SPOT! This is where the OLDEST parliament in the world was built!
Tayls and I at the North American tectonic plate!!! Geography is so much cooler in person :)
Is this for real? How can so much natural beauty exist in one place?
Sarge finds himself in a similar situation to the Dead Sea - Ziplocked and LOVING LIFE! (I hate to admit it, but he actually looks a wee bit scared!)
Hi Leah and Phil!!! People in sweaters and jackets look on as those in the lagoon relax with healthy "spa-like" drinks (or those of another nature)!
Tayls forgot her swimsuit but Sarge was willing to share his swimwear with her! Unfortunately, the "zipping" mechanism wasn't fully intact and she had to sit on the sunny window sill when we returned to the hotel.....
Sea creature explorers!!! We spent a long time finding the coolest parts of the lagoon - including the shallow parts, the "really hot" parts (the temperature ranges from 98 to 102 F), the "massaging" waterfall, and the spooky cave......
There were big buckets of "GOOK" (<--- or "silica nourishing mask") that patrons could apply on their skin for free. Just apply, let dry for 5 to 10 minutes, wash off, and FEEL FRESHER!
Our Mrs. Doubtfire moment. I wonder why Phil didn't want to participate....
Can you spot us?! Talk about relaxing. AND DEHYDRATING!!! I drank so much water after this water-zapping affair!!! Definitely not recommended pre-race.
This place was HONEYMOON CENTRAL! It may not have been our honeymoon, but a day at this place sure made it feel like one!
Here it is - the gem booked for our team!
Our walk by the harbour. Ah - FRESH AIR!!!
Memories of our wedding day in Cyprus....
Even at a chilly temperature of 12 degrees, everyone is outside - enjoying the (seems-to-be-never-ending) sunshine! HELLO - cute sweaters EVERYWHERE!!! Oh - I did get one of those by the way. I hope it gets cold in Kuwait soon!!!
