A “Person with Epilepsy” Abroad: Third Update You Don’t Care About (London to Reykjavik)

Another overly detailed update, first backtracking a bit.

Upon arrival at Heathrow yesterday, I was told that due to weather issues, the evening flight to Reykjavik would almost definitely be cancelled. They were hoping mine would “beat the storm.” Comforting. Because of texts from my poor mother, who had already arrived in Iceland sans baggage (I’ll get back to that), I knew that things had been pretty blustery earlier. I later found out that it was apparently reported to have been the worst day wind-wise since nineteen-ninety-something. My mom told me that while she was relaxing in the Blue Lagoon that morning, there were mini white caps in the normally tranquil waters.

Anyway, I had a pleasant flight and trip into town and met my amazing mother at our amazing Airbnb. We soon walked to one of Reykjavik’s main shopping streets, explored a little, and had a delicious fresh fish–heavy dinner at a cute little restaurant. Upon returning to our apartment, my familial travelling companion promptly went to bed. I stayed up for another few hours catching up on Red Band Society (still pretty damn inaccurate) and being obsessive, as is my way. Good stuff.

We passed this Reykjavik landmark, the Hallgrímskirkja, in our initial wanderings, We can see it from our Airbnb accommodations. — We passed this Reykjavik landmark, the Hallgrímskirkja, in our initial expedition. We can see it from our Airbnb accommodations.

Here's the restaurant in which I gorged myself on fish. I think it was called Fish Restaurant (or something like that). — Here’s the restaurant in which I gorged myself on fish. I think it was called Fish Restaurant (or something like that).

I woke up this morning thinking it was maybe 4 a.m. It was completely dark. Though insomnia sucks, I was kind of happy. “Thank you, body!” I said, probably in my head. “Finally, you’ve adjusted to Topamax!” Then I looked at my phone. It was nine. Oh right: this is Iceland.

The view out our window at 9 AM. Incidentally, we're staying right across the street from the largest geothermal pool in Reykjavik. — The view out our window at 9 a.m. Incidentally, we’re staying right across the street from the largest geothermal pool in Reykjavik.

My mom got up a while later and called Icelandair to check on the status of her bag. Since she was told that it wouldn’t arrive until later in the day until at the earliest, since she had bought travel insurance that gave her a $500 delayed-baggage allowance for clothes and toiletries, and since she only had what she was wearing, we decided to go to a mall.

While this may sound like a boring day trip, it was pretty awesome: there was a grocery store in said mall, and looking at foreign foodstuffs is one of the things I love most in life. Plus she got to spend “free” money.

This is one of the things I found in the grocery store. Note that Icelandic advent calendars come with toothpaste. I think they're on to something. — This is one of the things I found in the grocery store. Note that Icelandic advent calendars come with toothpaste. I think they’re on to something.

Later, not wanting to stray too far afield in case we got a call about the delayed luggage, we wandered around for a bit, stopping at the tourist bureau to plan out the next few days and then at a famous hot dog stand (pictured below). The hot dog was the best I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve eaten many hot dogs in my day (vegetarian friends: don’t worry, everything but the wiener was meat-free).

Not we’re chilling at the apartment, STILL WAITING FOR THE BAG (not impressed, Icelandair—you said you’d drop it off 1.5 hours ago), until we leave for our Northern Lights tour.

KG out.

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