European Traffic Stats

Click below to see where Iceland compares with other European countries on traffic mortality.  

Note:  if you are related to me, just ignore this post altogether and trust me when I say that Iceland is the safest place on the face of the earth, filled with nothing but fluffy clouds and playful kittens.  Seriously, would I lie?  :) 

Sticky Business

May 18, 2014

Now that we've worked out our lodging in Icleand, reserving a rental car is our next big challenge.  That's been left up to Erica thus far as I've been afraid to look at the prices.  She tells me that renting a stick shift seems to be the cheaper option, which is problematic for her because she only knows how to drive automatics.  "No problem," I told her.  "I'm ok with doing all of the driving if that means we pay less!  And then you can be my navigator."  Problem solved.  I thought.  And then I got this reply in my email:  "Or I could learn how to drive a stick in Iceland."

Yes, because learning to drive a car with a manual transmission in a foreign country, in which we have limited time and don't understand the language or road signs, would be less stressful than any of the times I've offered to teach her over the past fifteen years.  And did I mention that Iceland has one of the highest traffic mortality rates of Western Europe?  Yes, that's where I want an inexperienced stick shift driver to practice their new skills, while I sit helplessly in the passenger seat clutching the arm rest and praying that the elves who will drag our limp bodies from the wreckage will know CPR.  *deep breath*  Did I mention that I'm a tiny bit of a control freak when it comes to driving?   :)

Um, I'm sorry but this chick should not be smiling.  

Learning to drive stick should involve a lot of screaming, grinding metal, and tears, just as God intended! ;) 

99 Problems

May 13, 2014

I got 99 problems but a campground ain't one...

Ok, OKAY!  I admit, that was lame.  But with Jay Z in the news lately and my sister finding this amazing ninety-nine Euro campground solution to our Icelandic lodging issues, how could I resist!?

So it looks like we'll be able to avoid the $50 per night per person hostel rates in Iceland since Erica discovered the ah-mazingness that is the Icelandic Camping Card 2014!  Forty-four campsites, 28 days, 99 Euros.  What's not to love!?  (Other than the barely above-freezing night-time temperatures.)  Whatever.  At least the cold temps should keep the wildlife at bay, right?  RIGHT?!  So now all we have to do is decide which of the 44 campgrounds we can fit into our 7 day trip.

Piece of cake... ;)  

Passports Are Overrated

May 11, 2014

Just one month from today and Mark and I will be winging our way to sunny downtown Glasgow!  Assuming that his passport arrives by then.  Not that I'm worried.  At all.  Really.  Oh-please-oh-please-oh-please-oh-please-oh-please-arrive-before-it's-time-to-go!

And in slightly related news, apparently Iceland is damn expensive in the summer.  Who knew!  I guess us if we would have read a travel guide before booking the tickets.  Erica found out today that four nights at a hostel in Reykjavik, sleeping in a  room with 6 other people, would cost $400.  Camping is looking better and better.  How cold do the nights get there in the summer if the sun doesn't really go down?

So Many Castles, So Little Time!

May 2014

Who knew Scotland had so many castles?!  Thanks to my cousin Rhonda I recently was made aware of Historic Scotland, from which you can buy a pass to visit most of them on the super cheap.  (Although I think they may cheat a little by including some sites that don't require admission - Glasgow Cathedral anyone?  Shame, shame!)  However, in just the small portion of Scotland we're going to be visiting, there are sixteen - SIXTEEN! - historic sites I'd like to visit.  How in the heck am I going to fit that into less than eight days?!  Hmm, maybe if I cut Mark down to 5 or 6 hours of sleep per night and tell him it's part of his race training... ;)

The Importance of a Good Playlist

April 2014

Ok, the Icelandic vacation planning really needs to begin!  It's T minus 2.5 months and counting.  Any time now, one of us needs to do something.  Any time...

Me:  "So have you done or looked up anything about Iceland or the vacation?  I've been meaning to but I've been so busy lately."

Erica:  "Well... I've been downloading Icelandic music for our playlist.  Does that count"

Me:  [pause]  "Um, well, I guess we will need a good playlist for our vacation?"

Erica:  "I know, right!"

Like Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, I think my head is about to explode. :P 

(Note:  If the picture above is actually Eyjafjallajökull, my head will explode from shock!)

Huzzah!

March 2014

Let the Icelandic vacation planning begin!  After many long months, I finally, finally have a travel companion!  No more conversations like this:

Me:  "So... about the summer trip..."

Erica:  "You mean to Iceland?"

Me:  "That's the one."

Erica:  "What about it?"

Me:  "Are you still going?"

Erica:  "Yeah."

Me:  "Have you bought a ticket yet?"

Erica:  "No, but I will.  I've been busy.  I don't know why you want me to buy my tickets so early anyway."

Me:  "I don't think four months out is that early but whatever...  Have you even bought a travel book?"

Erica:  "No, I have other books I needed to buy."

Me:  "Right...because if you can't to go, it's ok.  I don't mind going by myself.  I'll be fine."

Erica:  "I'm going!"

Me:  "Uh-huh..."

And no more conversations like this:

Me:  "She still hasn't bought a ticket, Mom."

Mom:  "I'm sure she will."

Me:  "But we're only four months out!  I've had my tickets for months and months already!  

Mom:  "Why do you need her to do it so early anyway?"

Me:  "It's not that early!  And it's so I can start planning.  We're going during high tourist season so things are going to start filling up and getting reserved, which I know from reading the travel book unlike some people..."

Mom:  "Ok, I'll talk to her.

Later...

Me:  "So, did you talk to her?"

Mom:  "Yes."

Me:  "And...?"

Mom:  "She's going."

Me:  "Based on what?!  Did she buy a ticket yet?"

Mom:  "No, but she's been busy.  But she said she will."

Me:  "Augh!"

But that's all behind us now because...

obviously not the real boarding pass but you get the point!

And as happy as I am that I will not be subjected to Skyr and fermented shark meat all by myself, I am sad to report that my friend Chevon will not get to enjoy (or choke down?) those things with us.  She was planning on accompanying us but, due to a death in the family, now that won't be possible.  :(  However, I plan to make it up to her by bringing back copious amounts of scary Icelandic neon rocket fuel/alcohol!  :D