Iceland in the dead of winter: Where breakfast ends before sunrise
I’m in Iceland! I know many of you must think that I have lost my mind. I can assure you that I haven’t!!
Why did I end up here? Mainly it just sounded interesting and off the beaten path. Also the blue lagoon and the northern lights were major decision factors. Both of which I haven’t been to yet, so keep you posted!!
Iceland is a remarkable little country, more than I ever thought or even imagined. It is extremely technologically advanced. The short daylight is an interesting experience… Sunrise is at about 11:30 AM… Breakfast at the hotel ends at 10:30… That just cracks me up! Sunset is at around 3:30 again, with a long twilight period in both directions.
This country uses geothermal energy to create electricity and hot water. From what I understand all the electricity used in Icelandic homes comes from geothermal sources, which is 100% renewable energy source. How cool is that! If I get it right, geothermal energy uses tectonic plate movement (which often results in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but also in geysers and hot springs). It’s just amazing that this little remote country has accomplished what so many big ones can’t. We got a lot to learn from them!
Iceland is expensive. I guess they have to import a lot of stuff and also the exchange rate is fluctuating rapidly so that would effect how expensive things seem to be to tourists. There’s a diversity of restaurants: Indian, Thai, Mexican, American and traditional Icelandic of course, which is a bit difficult for a vegetarian.
Icelandic art is strange, like many other things here… (but seriously, who can blame them. They live in a desert of lava and ice!) It has a very dark theme to it. In general I find that Iclanders like the dark… They party late at night and then sleep even into the few daylight hours… They are simply chill folks, which seems to be well befitting their climate. There’s good energy here - one of creating with regard to the natural environment. It it very clear that Icelanders love their country, their environment and their ancient language. They say that Icelandic is the closest language to the original Norse that was spoken centuries ago by the vikings.
This place is very cool, both literally and figuratively.
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Keren
