Fairies, Elves, Trolls and Hobbits

I absorb facts.  I enjoy learning, so these facts always stick with me.  I have this new app on my phone called "Owl"  Every day it posts a new random fact.  I have scrolled back in the facts - clear to  June.  Check out the app, it's fun.

Now, onto the other facts or random things I have learned while on my travels.  In Iceland, Icelandic folks believe in trolls, elves, and fairies.  One of our tour guides told us this story - A construction crew was building a road.  To build that road they would have to move or destroy a large rock that was in their path.  They had continued mechanical problems due to what they believed was trolls.  So...they build the road around the rock.

My next adventure takes me to the land of the Hobbits.  That's right folks...New Zealand is my destination of choice in 137 days!  I will not lie - i haven't watched any of the Hobbit movies.  I did see Lord of the Rings QUITE some time ago.  I am hoping to watch the 2 Hobbit movies that are out before I depart, but maybe I'll be able to watch it sometime on my 18 hour plane ride (5 to LAX and 13 to Auckland)

Let the adventure begin!

It's the most wonderful time...of the year!

Everyone celebrates Christmas or the holidays in general differently - as we all know.  Our family as I was growing up, celebrated big.  BIG.  We had Santa piles, gifts, gifts and more gifts.  It was great.  We were spoiled.  Heck, we still are spoiled!

I have never spent Christmas away from my family.  Every year - I go to my sisters.  She has 4 kiddos.   Christmas with kids, makes Christmas - in my opinion.  I never did a full year abroad because of the fear of missing the holidays with my family.  But, as I am getting older, I am considering it more and more.

Maybe next year....travel will happen over the holidays.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Where in the world?

I haven't traveled outside of the US as much as I would have liked.  But, I have lots of time to get to the places I want to go.

The summer after I graduated from high school, I had the opportunity to travel to many places.   I spent the month of July in Spain as an exchange student.  This was quite an interesting experience, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  I had two different host families due to my first host family using me as a babysitter.  My second host family was great.  They had a girl my age, who I am still in touch with.  The last week I had the opportunity to tour Andalusia with a bunch of american students.  I was young.  My dad had just passed away.  I didn't appreciate this trip nearly as much as I wish I had.  Live and learn I suppose.  I am eager to go back to Spain.  But for now, I am taking advantage of other opportunities and will go there - someday.

I have had opportunities to visit folks, that I did not take advantage of.  A few years ago (ok...maybe more like 15 years ago) I had friends who invited me to visit them in Finland.  I didn't go.  I should have.  Mirta - my host sister - has invited me to visit her in the many countries she has ventured to the last years.  I haven't gone.  I should have.  I had a friend living in London who invited me to visit.  I didn't go.  I should have.  Notice a pattern?

So, while I was in Iceland, posting pictures to my Facebook, I was invited to visit a friend.  Her stepson was living in Iceland.  She didn't think she would enjoy visiting there, till she saw my pictures and posts.  She invited me to visit her, where she is currently living, with her husband till August.  So...in 152 days I will board a plane.  I will actually take advantage of an invitation.  I will cross off a country on my bucket list.  I will GO.

Random Icelandic facts!

My next adventure has been booked!  Another country/continent checked off the bucket list!  But, before we talk about that, we still need to discuss the random Icelandic facts I absorbed while there!  So lets start!

• Do you like McDonalds?  If McDonalds is your go-to restaurant, favorite restaurant, etc.  Do not go to Iceland.  McDonalds went to Iceland, and left Iceland.  It didn't last!  It went out of business.  However, they do have Taco Bell, Subway, KFC and Quiznos.  So you will not be without those American "luxuries", if you call them that. 
• Crime is minimal in Iceland.  Reykjavik's city jail had one person in it while we were there.  The ONE maximum security prison is similar to a 4-star resort.  Once a criminal leaves, they tend to try to do what they can to get back in.  The prisons have private rooms, flat screen tvs, laptops and personal bathrooms.  There is a murder once every 5-10 years.  Most crimes are traffic violations.  The longest prison sentence was 17 years.  
• Sticking with the crime topic - Iceland is a very trustworthy country.  So trustworthy that parents leave their babies outside stores and restaurants (in their strollers) while they shop and eat.  Crazy huh?!  If you left your baby in a stroller in America, the cops would be arresting you for neglect!
• Icelandic folks have apps on their phones that track their genealogy.  When they meet someone in a bar, they can "bump" their smartphones and find out if they are distantly related.  We don't want any incest folks!
• Trolls, fairies and gnomes are "real" in Iceland!  Since they live in rocks or large stones - when construction crews are building roads they will purposefully build around said rocks/stones.  We were told the story of a time when construction crews tried to remove a rock.  From that point forward, they had problems - mainly, machines broke down.  So, they did not remove said rock.  They built around it.

That's the random Icelandic facts of the day.  Iceland is truly a beautiful country.  I hope to go back someday.  I would love to go back during the midnight sun.  But, I would love to go back to see the Northern Lights (for real this time!)  If you have the opportunity - GO.  It is worth every penny.  It's a quick - hop, skip and jump from the Dulles airport (4 hours!).  

Now - a hint about my next adventure (If you already know, you can't play this game!)  :)  It is another active country.  They love lamb as much as Icelandic folks, but is a much longer flight.  And have almost as many waterfalls!  And the answer is.......

Iceland Day 4 - Blue Lagoon happiness

Grayline offered for $30 usd, pick up at your hotel, transportation to the Blue Lagoon, then transportation to the airport.  This is a deal.  A taxi just to the airport cost $150 usd.  The added bonus - grayline keeps your luggage for you!  Just pack a bag for the lagoon and you are golden!

Now, the Blue Lagoon is amazing.  Libby and I got the Experience Comfort package.  Included in this package was a towel and robe rental, a drink from the lagoon bar, and a volcano scrub or algae mask.  We stayed about two hours in the water - enjoying the free silica mask, our drink and the volcano scrub.  I was SO relaxed.

Now, some things to note about the Blue Lagoon:

• You must shower before you get into the Lagoon.  I put the supplied conditioner in my hair and left it to help my hair with the harsh waters.  
• There is a way to enter the water without going outside.  If it's cold outside (or snowy!) this is optimal.  Once you come out of the locker room - it's on your left.  There is a door that opens in the water to walk to the outdoors.
• There are boxes with the silica mask to put on your skin.  They are all towards the left end of the lagoon. It is amazing!
• There is also a waterfall to the left.  That waterfall just pounding on my back was amazing.  
• Once you decide to get out of the water and to the shower - I washed my hair 3 times and used conditioner 3 times.  My hair was basically back to normal.  I did not submerge my head underwater though.  But all in all, suggest washing/conditioning it a few times if possible.  

Otherwise - enjoy the beauty, enjoy the relaxation, enjoy it all.  It is amazing!

After the Blue Lagoon....we jumped on our bus, off to the airport, and we were homeward bound!

Iceland Day 3 - South Coast adventures!

Grayline offers MANY great tours - as I already said.  We got up bright and early (except it wasn't bright since the sun doesn't rise till 10 am) on Saturday morning to go on a South Coast, Waterfall, and Glacier Hike tour.

Our tour guide - Wills - explained to us that they are not allowed to report back to Grayline headquarters by saying the number six in Icelandic - because it sounds just like sex.  HA!  I absorbed many random facts on our different tours.  But those will be saved for a different post.

Wills asked the group of us - 16 - if we wanted to see extra things on our tour.  Of course - we all said ABSOLUTELY!  Our first stop was a waterfall that the government would like to turn into an ecocenter.  We had to take random back, unplowed roads to find it on a farm.  But it was worth the adventure.

Our next "extra" stop was to see Icelandic Horses.  Now, I must ask you a question - Have you seen the YouTube Video "Charlie bit my finger"?  Seriously, funny video.  Well, as everyone was trying to get the horses to come to the fence (which they didn't), I was able to get one that I nicknamed Charlie.  As - Charlie bit my finger :)  Meet Charlie.

Charlie and I became friends after the biting incident :)

Our first offical "actually on the tour" stop was at Skogarfoss Waterfall.  It was quite cold, the closer you go to the waterfall the colder it was.  It wasn't misting off the waterfall, it was icing - in my opinion.  But - regardless, it was still great to see.

My "proof I was here" photo

Our next stop was to Solheimajokull Glacier.  If you know me - know my ankle issues - you will understand my nervousness about doing a glacier hike.  With no ligaments and cartilage in my right ankle, along with dead bone - I get nervous with "adventurous" situations.  I was nervous.  I spoke with one of our tour guides and he had no doubt I could take on this task.  I must say - I was super appreciative.  He was by my side for any "nervous" situations.  To the point I actually enjoyed it!  But, when the hike was done.  I was glad I did it, but don't feel the need to do something similar again.  

This is the ash field we had to cross to get to the glacier.  The ash is from the volcanic eruption in 2010 that caused all the European flight trouble.  It was nicknamed E-15 or Kevin. 

Upon leaving the glacier - we were cold, tired and hungry.  So, we took another detour!  Off to the small town called Vik.  The restaurant we ate at was right beside a wool factory - this means, DISCOUNTED WOOL PRODUCTS!  Yeah.  I was a happy girl!  This side adventure was perfect!  We got to sample the Icelandic Hotdog and then had a bit of time to shop.  

After Vik, we ventured to the Reynisdranger Cliffs and the black sand beaches.  It was SO windy.  But still beautiful!

The drive back to Reykjavik was long with stop at another waterfall.  It was so dark that I wasn't able to get pictures of the waterfall.  You were able to walk behind it, but due to the previously mentioned ankle issue, I did not.  From those who did - it was good I did not!  It was wet, slippery and dark ...very dark.  

We did get to go on our Northern light adventure, but no Northern Lights were spotted sadly.  Maybe next trip!

Iceland Day 2 - The Golden Circle tour!

Part of our groupon package was an afternoon Golden Circle Tour.  We used grayline.is for all of our tours, except the food tour.  They are a great company and offer a huge variety of tours with all kinds of different levels of activity.  You will hear me mention them the next couple days.

Our first stop was to Thingvellir National Park.  This is where the American and European tectonic plates meet.  It was beautiful!

Below, you will see a flagpole off in the distance.  This is where Icelandic parliament Albingi was established in the year 930 AD.  Whoever was in charge at that time would stand on top of the rocks and declare the laws of the land during that time.

Our next stop was at the Gulfoss Waterfall.  Seriously, beautiful waterfall.  

The next and last stop on our little adventure was to the Geyser Hot Spring area.

Our Northern Light tour was cancelled, due to sub-par weather - again.  But, we were able to keep our reservations at one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik - The Grill Market.  I highly recommend reservations if you are able to go!  You will not get a seat if you don't have reservations.  Also, try the tasting menu!  It gives you quite the array of foods.  My favorite course (out of 8) was the duck salad.  Every morsel of this salad was amazing.  Hands down, my favorite dish I had while in Iceland.  

Saturdays adventure is a click away!

Iceland Day 1 - Foodies

We arrived in Iceland at 7 am, made it through customs, and onto the bus into Reykjavik by 8:30 am.  That airport is amazing, easy to get through, friendly folks - just great!

Libby and I are self proclaimed "foodies".  We were looking forward to trying authentic Icelandic foods.  Day 1 was filled with Icelandic foods.

Before our trip, I watched Andrew Zimmer's bizarre foods in Iceland.  I learned of the love of fermented shark, lamb, puffin, and many other foods.  While searching for what tours we should do while in Iceland, I found a food tour mountainguides.is  This group is GREAT.  They have a nice little shop on the main shopping street of Reykjavik.

Our group (5 of us, plus the tour guide) couldn't have fit together better!  We all hit it off immediately.  We are all now friends on facebook (a married couple from India - awesome folks! a guy from Denver that was getting ready to try to drive the ring road and Libby and myself) :).  BEST.GROUP.EVER.

The weather was not ideal, but in typical icelandic weather patterns - it changed, every 5 minutes.  We had rain, sunshine, snow and more rain. However, it did not put a damper on our plans.

We got to try Icelandic Malt drinks, fermented shark, lobster soup, black death (Brennivin - an alcoholic drink) and dried haddock.

The shark was...interesting.  Andrew Zimmer and Anthony Bourdain labeled it as the most disgusting thing they have ever tried.  I agree.  BUT I tried it.  At least I can say that.  The shark is hung outside to ferment for 3-4 months.  If you eat it after it's freshly caught and cook it, it will cause you to vomit blood.  So the vikings found you could ferment it and eat it.  Gross huh?

After our food tour, we decided a quick nap was in order.  After our nap, we did a bit of exploring and found out that our Northern Light tour was cancelled due to the cloudy/rainy weather.

We found this GREAT restaurant - http://tapas.is/en/  Tapas Barrin was perfect to continue our foodie adventures!  We got to try puffin, whale, lamb, and some seafood dishes.  The puffiin (below) was interesting.  I was curious if we had tried it cooked a different way, if it would have been more enjoyable.

The whale, by far, was my favorite that evening.  I had some moral issues with eating whale.  But, it was authentic Icelandic food.  So, I did as the natives did, and enjoyed.

Once we finished eating, we were both getting hit with jet-lag pretty heavily and had many plans for the next day, so it was time for sleep. 

Introduction to...Me :)

Hello!  I wish I was the type of person who journal-ed, but sadly, I am not.  But I have been re-bitten by the travel bug and would like to keep those memories around and available.  So, here I am.

My name is Jessica.  I have always had dreams, desires, and wishes to travel.  I have MANY places I want to see.  On my bucket list is to visit every continent and every state in the USA.  I am finally "hammering" it out!

In April 2013, my friend Libby and I discussed travelling together.  We decided to start watching the trips offered through Groupon and Living Social.  Little did we know, our adventure would be booked the day after our discussion!  Groupon was offering a 3 night/5 day trip to Iceland.

Fast-forward to November 2013, after my "obsessive" planning, we went to Iceland!  I planned and researched our adventures for this trip.  Iceland is not a country you can go to without planning, saving and researching.

We flew out of DC (IAD - Dulles).  My little brother was a life-saver and dropped us off at the airport so we didn't have to pay the ridiculous parking charges.  We had an overnight flight, arriving in Reykjavik at 7 am.

The adventures will continue...