Iceland

Being that I was just in Iceland about 6 months ago and saw a bunch of the sites, I didn't expect much from my 3 hr layover visit this time. I was tempted to visit the Blue Lagoon again but the layover is too short and is in the middle of the night. Instead I thought I'd watch a movie and take a nap. 

You'll never guess what surprised me on this visit. I was totally surprised because it didn't even cross my mind as a possibility. The Northern Lights!  I got to see them this visit and from the best possible seat imaginable.  

I was napping on my flight from Boston to Iceland when the pilot comes on the intercom and says about five words, two of which are northern lights. Enough said. There's a sudden buzz in the cabin, window shades go up and people get out of their seats to look. Luckily, they were just outside my window and not on the other side of the plane. All the lights are off including the blinking lights on the wing that were on earlier.

Outside it isn't dark. You can see a floor of clouds and a ceiling of stars. In the foreground is the wing of the plane. And a strange lighting from off stage. But it must have been from the northern lights there is no other light source at midnight up here in the stars. 

It was like a paintbrush stroke going from right to left with a flick upwards at the end as the line receded into the background.  And an ever slightly green glow. I realized I should take a picture to share. This is what I got. 

The whole tableau was just surreal. Seeing something astronomical while floating up above the ground. I felt like I was in space, beyond the atmosphere. Completely surreal. And completely unexpected. What a sight to wake up to. 

And here I was planning a list of trips in my future to chase the northern lights and they just came to me. I'm still going to pursue them, frankly because my eye glasses need to be updated. It was a glorious site but not a crisp clear site. I almost put my contacts back in but my eyes were tired. What a glorious surprise at the start of my trip. I was half expecting to run into someone I know while at Logan. Instead I get this surprise.

Also, while killing time at my layover I dump all of Nicks loose change he would leave at dads over the years from a ton of countries. 

See those dirty bills - those are Nicks and going to a good cause for homeless children.  I was worried I wouldn't find a donation box. I lost count how many there were in Iceland. Apparently nothing to worry about. 

The rest of the time was spent window shopping. First thing I see is a "waterfall" of yarn from a local artist. 

I scoped out what I might pick up on my way back. Love their outerwear, especially the furry ear flapped hat. And this sweater, which if my conversion is right is $200. Maybe I'll try to copy it instead. 

And chuckled that the souvenirs from my earlier trip that I picked up for free we're bottled and sold in the airport. Check out the glacier, mountain and volcano. I don't know what the glacier could be - wouldn't it just melt?