Going to Iceland next week [View all]

I mentioned the trip last August in the DU lounge. Up-to-date, I'm starting to pack. I think the temperature will be about the same there as it is here. i have hot flashes all the time, so I don't have a lot of winter weight clothes. Today, I ordered a new bathing suit. I've lost about 50 lbs, and neither suit I have fits me. We got a tour guide/group, so when we land there, we'll have transportation to The Blue Lagoon, which is why I need a bathing suit, and then on to our hotel in Reykjivik. We'll be in Iceland for 5 days, counting arrival day and departure day. We're going to tour the Golden Circle, the South, near Vik, hang out in Reykjivik. Lots of hiking and walking. I think I'm going to be worn out when I get home, but I'm excited to be going. I haven't been out of the country since 2012. I was interested in visiting Iceland because of all of the active geology. I think when we tour the Golden Circle, we'll see Thingvillar, geysers, waterfalls, all kinds of natural features. We'll have an evening tour of the active volcano.

We are taking some little gifts for the elves. Silly, but I was thinking about it and my older daughter told me she was planning to take some elf gifts. She turned 50 the end of last year. Her younger sister wanted to do something to really celebrate the milestone, so she asked for a bucket list. She has planned to do something from the bucket list every month this year. One of the big things is going to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. It was going to be the sisters and their husbands, but they decided to pass. We went on to Plan B, which is I get to go. I won't do most of the other things. Hiking part of the Appalachain Trail, camping overnight is not for me. I love that my younger daughter thought of such a fabulous way to celebrate her sister's big birthday. And I'm glad to be part of it.

My passport expires in August, and I'm planning to renew it. Even if I am not a frequent traveler, so nice to be ready if an opportunity comes along. I flew to Maine last year, and stayed at daughter and son-in-law's camp there, so not unfamilar with recent air travel. Other son-in-law is a commercial pilot, so always a topic of conversation. Taking a break from packing, but I think I am already close to being done. Getting tested for Covid and following the requirements for timing was a big challenge, but thanks to the staff at Rite-Aid, have that worked out. We have to preregister for a test before we leave Iceland to return to the U.S. Hope that works out. We are all vaccinated and boosted, no problem wearing masks.

Any travel tips? Any advice about traveling to Iceland? Thanks for reading. When I get home, I'll post pictures, I hope!