Notes from the Road | Iceland's Golden Circle

I've got about 12 minutes before dinner, so in the midst of Tyler & Viola taking a quick catnap on the bed by me... I thought I'd jot down a few notes about today. I guess in a way to store them up so that on a less happy day, I can come back and remember them because it was a really nice day.

After a long day out on the Golden Circle, we've seen Skogafoss (this waterfall), Seljanadafoss (this waterfall), Dyrholaey (this amazing overlook of the coast) and Reynisdrangar (this black sand beach), we have finally wrapped up for the day. We got in our rooms at the hotel (Fosshotel Nupar) for the evening about thirty minutes ago and are decompressing before dinner. One of my favorite times of the day when traveling is that quiet hour between a long day of being out and dinner.

It's not just the sites that make these trips good. Who you're with while you travel has a big impact on the experience you have in that place. I'm lucky to be traveling with great people this trip to Iceland- eager faculty & students, an ideal guide, and a husband + baby who happily tag along on these crazy trips.

One of the most memorable things about Iceland (beyond the absurdly high cost of everything) is the sky. It seems like there are always clouds, and they illuminate the sky in the most outstanding way. Our hotel room has big windows that over looks lava fields outside. The combination of the weird terrain and crazy sky makes me feel like we are on some other planet. Iceland, you're a weird little island.... but I like you. It's good to be back.

Anyway, dinner calls. (Thank goodness, I'm really hungry.) Tomorrow should be just as great- we hit up two of my favorite places: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon & Skaftafell National Park.