August 18 - Chilling in Reykjavik

This was the view from the stern this morning.  I just liked the contrast of the flag, the hill partly shrouded in clouds and the lone white house on the treeless flatland at the water's edge.

I confess I’ve been really bad today.  We’re docked in Reykjavik, capital of Iceland, and I decided to take a day off.  I had booked an all day tour and this morning I just couldn’t drag myself out of bed early enough to go.  I have excuses though.  I’ve been here before (albeit a long time ago) and I’m scheduled to come  again next year.  I know I don’t need an excuse, but it makes me feel better.  I spent the day reading, taking care of a few business things, and talking with friends.  For the first time since I boarded on the 9th I had a couple of pieces of sushi with friends in the Club.  I had forgotten how good it is.  Then I dined with my friends from Oahu.  They were the couple who picked me up in Honolulu last December and took me to their club on Waikiki Beach for lunch and the afternoon.  They have a daughter married to a German man and living not too far from where I was born and where I still have family.  We had a good conversation about life in a small German town and the wonders of freshly baked German bread and the variety of sausages you can find in an old-fashioned butcher shop.

There was no show tonight but there was a dance party. Of course I went and danced a little.  Some of the music played was a little more modern than my favorite.  I can’t help being stuck in the 60’s and 70’s.  I stayed talking with friends until well past the end of the party.  Several of us are also widows and I believe we all experience the same thing.  At home our opportunities for conversation are more limited so when we come on a ship we just like the companionship and  talks.

I know it sounds like a boring day but it was just what I needed for a day.  I feel like my batteries recharged.  Tomorrow we’ll be in our last Icelandic port and I will do my tour there.

These three characters showed up in the Seabourn Square this morning.  They occupied a whole sofa, but they weren't very noisy so they didn'r disturb those of reading there.