I think mom and I are both delighted to be leaving Glasgow. We take a taxi to the airport and are soon in the waiting area. We’ve booked a wheelchair for mom because it’s much easier for her than walking the entire way to the gate. This decision means whisking through all the security checks at warp-like speed! We end up in the gate waiting area beside a lovely mother-daughter from the US, also heading to Scotland. We fill our waiting time with conversation, and then board the plane.

Arrival In Iceland

As you can guess, mom isn’t so into my “figure everything out at the last minute” travel style. So, we’ve used a trip planner to help us. Though it was a bit of a bumpy ride planning due to mom’s needs, and the agency being quite busy, they did a great job. We’re picked up at the airport by a driver, who brings us straight to our first hotel in Reykjavik. Apart from the doors to our rooms being so heavy I had to literally let mom in and out of her room, it was lovely, large, and included breakfast. I will also note, the way the lights turned on and off were a bit of a challenge for mom. I think it’s a fun, artsy hotel, but perhaps not completely easy for someone in their 80s to navigate.

We have a free afternoon to walk around the city, so go to the main streets, like Laugavegur and I show mom around for a bit. We don’t have much time as it’s already almost 6:00 and we’ve booked into Fish Market.

There comes a time in life when you just have to step into the experience, and not look at the price tag. If you did, you’d possibly pass out. This was one such time. The food was so delightful we actually booked another meal here because we thought their tasting menu would be the perfect goodbye to Iceland meal. If you can afford a meal here one day, I highly recommend it! Just don’t plan to look at the bill when you put your credit card down.

Day Two – Food And A Surprise

We enjoy breakfast in our hotel and head out to our Food Walking tour. It’s a bit rainy, but we find our way and meet a lovely group of fellow travelers who end up being great companions for the day! We get to wander the beautiful streets of Reykjavik and sample lamb stew, the must-taste lamb hotdog at the hotdog stand in Reykjavik, a thick seafood soup, some dessert, and yes, I dared to taste fermented shark! After all the rumors I heard about it, I expected to want to wash my mouth out with soap. Instead, I actually quite enjoyed it! Go figure.

Mom and I had to leave our last food tasting venue a bit early because I had to fulfill a long-standing dream. Ever since coming to Iceland for the first time, in 2015, I had wanted to do a Viking photo shoot. Every time I tried, they were fully booked. FINALLY, I hit the jackpot, and we had the time of our lives.

I worried when we arrived at the photo shoot venue because the photo studio was constructed like every other building in Reykjavik with a set of narrow steps to the door. This one also had a staircase, rather steep, that isn’t wonderful for older people. But mom made it up like a champ!

Viking Portraits

Gudmann Thor is our photographer and has a wealth of knowledge about viking history. He dresses each of us in various layers of clothing and armor. Honestly, I had never even thought my mom would do this with me and now I can’t imagine it being any other way. We feel very much at ease, and also have tons of fun as we’re captured on camera as vikings. Have a look at our fun photos!

Dinner that night wasn’t nearly as good as our afternoon food tour or our Viking Photo shoot. The service was off, the food was so-so. We ate at Apotek restaurant. It was just overall, a disappointment. Mom even got angry at how the food was plopped on our table and complained. It’s true, for the amount of money they charge, the food and service should have been better. On the up-side, they have fabulous cocktails, and the best part of our experience was sampling a couple before dinner and meeting the two American couples seated next to us, who were a few cocktails in to their cocktail-crawl.

The Golden Circle

We leave dinner memories behind the next morning when Svavar, our driver, picks us up for a day in The Golden Circle! I’ve been here before, but this is mom’s first trip to Iceland, so I’m excited for her to see it. At our first stop, mom and I buy a hat because we’re freezing. The cheapest ones are, naturally, the most touristy ones, so, we go for it!

We spend the day between places like Thingvellir National Park, the Skogafoss waterfall, and Seljalandsfoss waterfall. It’s nice having someone to take our photo at different places, as well as a great companion. I love taking photos of my mom walking around in the light, and of us in our silly hats.

We obviously see the Geysir eruption and I catch it several times on video and on camera. It’s fascinating even after the fifth time.

We stop off at a place to get some ice cream (because, naturally, when it’s freezing cold out, that’s just what you do in Iceland), and, to my delight, there are some baby cows! (I prefer that term to calves, it is what it is.) I can’t pet them, but I’m delighted to see them there.

At the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, mom goes off with Svavar while I walk behind the waterfall. On my last trip to it, I didn’t do that walk because I wasn’t equipped with good rainwear. This time I have a fabulous raincoat and, what the hell! There are a few bits which are scary, especially when wet because it’s so slippery, but I make my way all around and meet up with mom. Svavar tries to get me to walk through a crevice in the rocks to another great view, but I whimp out as it would require, basically, swimming to get there.

We also visit the Gulfoss waterfall, and, once again, mom is a champ and walks up to the viewing area with me, up and down a slightly steep walkway and we pose for some photos.

We have lunch at a crazy cool mushroom restaurant I’d never have heard of if not for Svavar. Basically, all they serve are mushrooms – mushroom soup and various mushroom concoctions. All of them are gluten free and delicious.

After lunch, we see a place I’d never been on my previous trips, Kerid crater. It’s fascinating and I can’t stop staring at the color juxtaposition. Even though it’s freezing cold and somewhat windy, mom made the walk around the entire crater with me! Go mom!

On the way back to Reykjavik, we stop to feed, and pet, some of the beautiful Icelandic horses. They’re very friendly. I’m sure it’s because they’re happy to see us, not that they want all the food we give them. ;O Nonetheless, I really enjoy interacting with them.

We finish our day back in Reykjavik with dinner at Messinn Restaurant. It’s a sort of casual place. The staff wasn’t completely friendly, but the food was excellent. 

The last activity we get to do in Reykjavik is the important visit to the famous Phallological Museum! It’s moved since I saw it in 2015 and they’ve added some things to the exhibit and now you can grab a drink and enjoy it with your view of penises from all different animals…

Tomorrow, we’re off to Vik for a couple of days to see more of Iceland!