The number one thing I can say about sleeping in a pod is that it blocks all the light from the never ending sunlight of Iceland. I slept well and it was really quiet, but it’s also really cool and makes my sci-fi fan self totally happy.

One problem is I should have tucked my things away better. Through the night I kept knocking things onto the side of the bed – my book, my laptop. The items would bounce against the plastic pod and the sounds echoed through the chamber. If I had had any neighbors, I’m sure it would have woken them. 

You do get access to a locker, but it’s too tiny for my suitcase.

I am sure those other pods are empty, although the lights on the outside are on and say “do not disturb” as if someone is inside, but I never heard a thing. No rustle of cloth, no cough or sneeze. Is anyone in this room? I want to peek so bad, but I also didn’t want to be that nosy neighbor, so I don’t peek.

COVID Test

I head out to get my exiting covid test over and done. The line moves fast and now I’m pretty sure they think everyone’s nose is the same size. The guy shoves the Qtip up my nose so hard I gasp. 

I really hope I don’t have to do that again, ever. I also check on Anita’s test because she’s getting on a plane tonight and hasn’t received her results. There was some kind of mixup and luckily she just has to come to the center to get her certificate. 

The Grey Cat

Then after some research, I settle on Grai Kotturinn for breakfast. It’s a super tiny, hole in the wall place and I luck out that there’s a tiny table near the door and put down my things to claim my territory. 

One breakfast item is labeled Buck Rogers (some more sci-fi!) and I want to buy it without even seeing what’s in it – it’s a bagel with egg, bacon, tomato and cream cheese and a side of potatoes. Totally interested.

I listen to the banter between a group of women from the U.S. and some locals. The ladies are talking about how they accidentally ended up at an adults only hotel and didn’t realize what that meant until they looked up the weird chair in their room to find it was on Amazon as a sex chair. Huh, and I here I’ve only ordered books from Amazon.

Anyway, The Grai Kotturinn is named for the grey cat. As per their menu, there is a saying in Icelandic. If you linger around the same place for a long time and frequently, then you are like the grey cat. Before the restaurant opened there was a jewelry maker in the same location. And, strangely enough, a grey cat used to visit the jewelry maker.

I wander the city, into places I haven’t been. Funny enough I find a grey cat and I’m starting to feel like the grey cat, I’ve been in this town a while and frequently. If it wasn’t for the COVID test to get back into the U.S. I’d be somewhere else.

Cafe Loki

Then, I find my way to Cafe Loki for coffee, wifi, and rye ice cream. It’s quiet here for the moment, this upper floor has a perfect view of the church. People come and go, scanning the menu, most of them tourists wandering into the doors. 

I set up outside in the sunshine by the church on a bench for a writer’s review meeting. As the meeting continues, the clouds build up and what once was the perfect location has turned me into a frozen meat Popsicle. Once the meeting is over, I head out to have one more best hot dog ever. 

I listen to the tourists debate as to whether it’s the best dog in the world. I certainly enjoy it.

Now, I want something completely different, I’m tired of walking and tired of wandering. I download the Hub app so I can use a scooter to get to my next destination.

Virtual Iceland Travel with Flyover Iceland

I get on one and push off, I careen forward, a bit wobbly, reminding me of my time on a rental bike in Minneapolis, where I almost ran over a guy’s foot. Deep breath, I carefully make my way toward Flyover Iceland. I had heard it mentioned a few places and had thought it was a helicopter flight, but it turns out it’s an amusement ride, and that totally appeals to me.

I zoom along the water front and there’s a turn up ahead. A tight turn and I haven’t gotten familiar with the breaks. I pull back on the throttle, slowing down a little  and completely run into the pile of rocks. Yeesh.

Nobody saw that right? There’s like ten tourists wandering around, luckily all pretending that some woman didn’t just ram a scooter into an obvious obstacle. 

I stand up tall and calmly turn the heavy scooter the direction I should be going and zip across a short walking bridge, make the next turn with ease, and breath easier now that I’ve escaped my witnesses.

In all my stops here in Iceland, I’ve never had to wear a mask, so I’m surprised it’s required at the ride. Luckily, they have ones for sale and I join the group just walking up to the entrance.

I don’t want to ruin some surprises, so I’ll just say you get more than just the ride. 

Then we step into the ride space, getting in our chairs and buckle in. I smile as the chairs rise from the floor and bring us toward the screen. And I smile the whole time during the ride, as we fly over mountains, glaciers, and oceans. A fast way to travel Iceland, that’s for sure!

The ride itself is so awesome! It’s like an Imax theatre (the screen in front of you is huge), and you’re sitting in seats that float above the floor, move, and even blow wind at you. I was annoyed with the mist spraying though – a little over the top.

But you’ll see views of Iceland that you might never otherwise get to see, so I highly recommend it. I almost go again, but I want to hit the road and check into my next destination!

Keflavik

I zip back to my car, but take a detour to see photos along the waterfront – all about the arctic and the changing climate. Serious and sobering, beautiful and awful. 

Then it’s on to Keflavik. Ack! Stairs. My Airbnb host leads me into his house, after taking off my shoes, up a flight of stairs, through the kitchen, up another flight of stairs. This smart couple have turned their whole top floor into Airbnb rooms. 

It’s beautiful and I know I’ll sleep well, but there’s no way I’m bringing my luggage up all those stairs, so I strategically bring up just what I need.

And, I want to try one more time for some seafood, so I google and find a place down the road just off of the ocean. 

So disappointing for my last meal in Iceland, so I won’t go into it. Suggestion – eat your dinner in Reykjavik before you leave for Keflavik. I should have just had another hot dog.

Do you want more information about travel to Iceland? You can sign up here to get The Single Woman’s Guide to Iceland – Post Covid Almost.

Or maybe you just need an adventurous novel for that long flight. You can nab the highly rated thriller/adventure, Toy of the Gods today!

Or check out day one of my Iceland trip or day 9 of my trip – my last day and with a great view of Greenland.