Hiding in daydreams

Long overdue, but here's the previously promised summary of Iceland 2012 (for a more thorough examination, check out Ryan's multi-post write-up; also, some supplemental material can be found here):

Kris joined us from LA to venture into the icy north. We're waiting to check in to our hotel in Reykjavik here.

I don't remember the details of the story, but the gist of it is: tourists mistaken this clear, shiny river near þingvellir for a wishing well, but it ain't, so quit. Incidentally, þingvellir is where Icelandic forefathers founded the world's first Parliament; also where the North American and European tectonic plates meet (or met, and are now engaging in the world's slowest break-up - like 19mm/year slow, which is just a hair slower than the rate your fingernails grow. See, you can learn stuff while on vacation).

Something's happening.

Ryan and Kris share a laugh at Seljalandsfoss, one of the many pastoral charms of the Icelandic countryside.

A wool factory near the town of Vik. Quaint, warm, and a little itchy.

The black sand beach at Reynisfkara.

We were on a whole-day bus tour with the couple in this picture. It's not reflected in this particular photograph, but the woman [in red] walked with a cane, so at every stop (where the tour guide gave us roughly 20 minutes or so to "enjoy ourselves") the man [in black] would carry her, wedding-day style, anywhere from 20 to 100+ meters (in the rain, I might add) to whatever sight it was we were meant to be taking in. I don't know what you'd call that, but I hope to find out one day.

I can't really top that story with anything, except FUCKING GEESE! I don't know why I get so excited. I just do.

Kris finds the much ballyhooed Kaffismiðja coffeeshop, and proceeds to journal. We sat at the kids table but, bonus - lots of art to distract the eye.

Later, we take a cross-country (literally) drive to see the Skaftafell glacial tongue. Pretty scenic drive, I guess.

Oh, hey. What's up, Glacier.

Ryan doesn't quite beat the self-timer on his camera.

Good trip. Us waiting for the shuttle to the airport. Ever sticklers for thematic consistency, Ryan takes a snooze while Kris journals.

Back in the City.

[Iceland // New York, February 20th-26th 2012]

Gathering stories

So, Iceland.

There will probably (hopefully?) be a more definitive/descriptive post about our travels to the mostly frozen north in the coming days, but here's a quick photo dump so I can at least say I tried. I should note that it wasn't until after I'd gotten my prints back from the photolab that I identified and diagnosed a light leak in my camera. Some shots came out okay, others are a little... well. You'll see.