We flew for almost 24 hrs but did hav 10 hr layover in Amsterdam. It was crazy at the airport as it had been reported. Lack of workers made for long lines for Customs and passport control. We had hard time trying to figure out our connection and I thought I would not be bale to see my friends. BUT fate had another plan and we HAD to exit the airport and re enter in order to check in to another airline. SO we did get to spend time with Rosalia, Ranier and their daughter Crystle. Also they were a great help in navigating the airport and our connection. so we had breakfast, walked the airport, talked to catch up. Great to see them.
Then on to Iceland in a cramped small plane. We arrived and had problems with our pick up waited a long tme bu eventually made it to hotel. It is still like daylight at 10 pm but overcast and cold. Today we did our own walking tour and then was suppose to be on another walking tour but guide never showed so we hopped on to another city walking tour after we went to a wax museum that told the historic events of Iceland.
I learned a lot about Iceland and today they are only 370,000 people here but now over 4 million tourists come. They have a love hate relationship with the tourists. Icelandic is spoken but you mostly hea English and other tourist tongues. A lot of construction going on but mostly for new hotels. They have no army, ( dont need it) are very liberal with rainbow street and gay pride flags flying over public high school. Taxes are high but colege and health care is free, Unemployment is low. Everyone is pretty much related. Women DNA always shows connection to Ireland or Scotand where the Celts took them as slaves and began populating Iceland. All Icelanders did DNA test if they wanted to and it showed a connection. There were no indiginous people here originally.
Fishing and Tourism is topmoney maker.
After 19000 steps we had dinner with Colleen"s friend Andrea who lives here now with her husband, a professor, and 4 kids who now all speak 3 languages. Tomorrow we will have Shabbat dinner with them. And we have a full day tour tomorrow.
Breakfast was beautiful and abundant with herring ( it was really good) cheeses, eggs, muffins, yogurt, a lot of everything , similar to Israeli style. It made me take notice thining of Rwanda and what they have and do not have. I almost felt guilty eating fresh tomatos, and eating a piece of quiche.
Amsterdam with friends
Crysttle, Rosalia, Ranier
Gay pride flags
The Penis museum
Had to buy a hat- its COLD
Oldest house in Iceland
Rainbow road
They call it the bureaucrat
Colleen and her friend and family
10 PM and still light out
No comments:
Post a Comment