feldmanlarry

Day 2 Lovin’ and Hatin’ It I’m always fascinated by times when people hate and love something at the same time. The flight out of Boston left at 9:30 PM and with the 4 hour time change I arrived in Iceland at 6:40 AM. A few hours after barely sleeping on the plane, I found myself in the Blue Lagoon of Iceland. From the neck down I loved the feeling of the very hot water but from the neck up, I was hating the 35 degree air and my sleepiness. Staying in a guesthouse instead of a hotel also invoked love and hate. To get to my room I had to: open a door to an area with 4 rooms that shared a bathroom, go outside through an icy balcony, then climb two flights of stairs. I had a real key and had to remember to shut every door since none of the doors closed automatically. It took me a while to find the heat controls, which were on the bottom of each radiator. The love part is that it was a refreshing change from cookie cutter hotels. The place had personality. As a side note, several people in Iceland talked about how proud they were of their plentiful and cheap thermal energy that is non-polluting and renewable. A guide joked that Icelanders take one hour showers just because energy is so cheap. I loved Iceland but I hated that I just didn’t seem to have my act together. It struck me that I usually have a very happy feeling wherever I am. I’m always looking for ways to make connections, learn, and find humor. Today was one of the few days I didn’t have it. A little afternoon sleep and a wonderful meal helped a little. The crucial part of the meal was the crunchy fried onions but the famous Icelandic cod mixed in with turnips, broccoli, and cauliflower over mashed potatoes were wonderful. When I got back, I found out the Northern Lights tour was canceled either because it was unlikely they would be out or because of clouds. I went for a long walk through funky Reykjavik and got the second of the 3 crucial specialties of Iceland, the “Pylsur”. This is a hot dog with again the crucial crunchy fried onions, also raw onions, ketchup, mustard, and a mayonnaise based sauce. Bill Clinton went to this famous tiny stand that sells nothing but pylsur and soft drinks. It usually has a long line. I have to admit I came back here. More than once. Delicious. Next to the hot dog stand I saw an ad for one of the most famous things to see in Iceland. I’m not sure if there are any other museums in the world dedicated to a single bodily organ. At the end of this day, I find myself back where I started — loving it and hating it. Iceland was treating me really well but I wasn’t feeling it. I had hopes for tomorrow. Maybe a little sleep.