First impressions

Once we landed, everyone queued up to get off from the front until they made an announcement that we could deplane from the back as well. That was novel! Upon exiting the plane it was windy, a bit chilly and spitting rain. And dark, because it was almost midnight local time. Welcome to Iceland!

A short bus ride to the terminal, which was very nice by the way. Lots of wood, concrete and glass, very Nordic. Getting through passport control in to the country was easier than falling out of bed. No interrogation, no questions about where are you staying, how long, etc. just Welcome to Iceland! 

This is going to be great!

Downstairs to the baggage claim and duty free shop. The duty free shop could justify its own post, but suffice it to say it's an experience. We picked up a SIM card and a few things for the road and headed out to find Johanna, the RV's owner.

Right up front a girl was holding a sign for us! The place was mobbed, even at midnight so it was great that she got a spot right where we could see her. This wasn't Johanna though, it was her daughter Marianna. We got out to her car, a Volvo station wagon, and loaded up the bags. More positive signs for the journey included a Defender 110 camper and a 4x4 Mitsubishi van next to us in the lot!

We thought it was going to be a short ride to the RV, but we got much more. Marianna took us through the old US Navy base there outside of Keflavik and told us all about life there because she went to a world renowned strength and conditioning school there as well as lived in an apartment there. In Iceland, the children leave the house at 18 to start earning their own way in the world. After some schooling Marianna is back at home for the summer before more school in the fall, this time as a massage therapist.

After the Navy base she took us by the Blue Lagoon and told us some interesting stories from when she used to work there. Then, we drove a short way past the RV park and got to see a real treat, Icelandic horses! Here it was, almost one in the morning and we were at some paddock petting Icelandic horses! Ashley was loving it.

Marianna gave us a quick orientation to the RV and we settled in for a very welcome, restful sleep. Ashley took the master bedroom at the back while I took the attic space over the front cab. Cozy!

Tomorrow: Grindavik and eastward!