Day 1: REK to CDG

Landing in Iceland was beautiful. The entire land is ravaged and burned and covered in hardened lava, you could see where the flow reached the sea and combined with the heavy waves that crash against the cliffs. The earth has begun to recover though. Already there is moss and grass covering large patches, and there are still houses gathered in patches on the horizon or little mounds in the earth with doors. I'm told these were the original style of house that the Vikings built when they first colonized Iceland.

The airport is small but quite beautiful. I heard what I think were at least five different languages spoken the first minute I stepped off the plane. Keep in mind where you disembark from one plane is not inside the terminal proper. I had to go through security again to get to my gate but the rules are still exactly the same. Liquids in a plastic bag, shoes off, and computers out. It was easy, as was going through customs.

I h e to say seeing the custom's guy's eyebrow twitch when I counted off Morocco, Spain, and France was funny. Good thing I didn't mention Netherlands, Germany, and maybe Italy. But he relaxed when I mentioned I was meeting my boyfriend in Morocco.

I found my gate but the seating is spread down the hallway instead of alcoves offered for each gate unlike most US airports I've been to. So I sat near the only other person I could see who also had a giant backpack. He was French I think because he told me my half finished drawing of an airplane was very good in French... At least I thi k he did. The woman near us was listening to some awesome French rap but I couldn't bring myself to ask her about it.

Sat next to a very sweet French couple on the plane. They didn't speak to me and I did not speak to them but they cuddled and held hands and dozed on each others shoulders the entire trip.

As we hit the first of the islands that make up the western edge of Europe I was so excited I could barely stand to stay seated, though that also might have had something to do with the coffee they served me. Or perhaps the fact that at the time of writing this, not counting sugary dried pineapple and a handful of trail mix, I have not eaten anything since 3pm Minneapolis time yesterday ( aprox. 13 hours ago ).

Sorry family members and loving friends. I know these are not the things that I should be writing about but trust me they'll make the full story a more interesting read in the long run.

Also, has anyone else noticed that French is not written AT ALL like it sounds? What is up with that France? Leaving whole pieces of words out of the pronunciation just seems rude. How do you think those extra vowels and consonants feel? Maybe that's why Icelandic words are so unnecessarily long.. They offer foster homes for all the unwanted French consonants.

Day 1: MSP to REK

My bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

I miss you all already. I thought it finally became real as I watched the ground fall away. We rose to meet the clouds and turned away from the setting sun and it was beautiful. But it wasn't until we were an hour away from Reykjavik and I looked up at the Lavatory Occupied sign, Salerni Upptekid and I felt my stomach drop for a moment. This is really it. I'm gone, for two months I'm gone. I suddenly feel so exhilarated, but I also feel so alone.

To late to turn back now.

I called my whole family at the airport and told them that I loved them. It's weird to think that I will be without instant contact with everyone I know.

I have already met some very kind people. All English speakers thus far, which would be as I write this on the airline from Minneapolis to Reykjavik ( I should learn to spell that) but I expect I will soon find myself in a very different world.

On the airline they offer deliciously warm blankets for free but god the seats are uncomfortable. We have already converted to the euro. If you buy anything, including dinner which is very much NOT free, they write your name down on a piece of scrap paper to avoid currency exchange debacles until later.

They do however have free movies and tv assuming you bring your own headsets and a neat little USB port next to the screen that I nave no idea what it's for but it allows me to keep my iPhone fully charged so I'm satisfied.

Having a bunch of books on my iPhone is keeping me quite amused, thank you so much Anna for the amazon gift certificate. Having eBooks is a lifesaver.

I keep wondering what I am thinking even if it is to late to turn back now. I can't wait to see Aydin and the anticipation is killing me. I can also only hope that Nikki meets me in Paris like we have planned. But these are the situations that I think make life worth living