July 6 – Reykjavik, Iceland to CALGARY

Weather – 8º when we left Reykavik at 6:30AM and 23º when we arrived home

Steps – 7,560

Ahhhh, travel day. Not my favourite day in the world but I don't think I can stay on vacation for ever. The ride to the airport from downtown Reykjavik was about 45min and $220CAD!!!!!!! We knew this would be the price, it is a flat rate to the airport, so weren’t surprised and knew we weren’t getting screwed like so many cab drivers the world over like to do. We actually were screwed, but it was just upfront.

The fun didn’t stop there – the Westjet “system” at the airport was ‘down’. GOOD GRIEF!!! We were in the ‘priority’ line, so didn’t wait as long as those who weren’t in that line, but – sheesh! One woman in the other line was quite irate and voiced her displeasure to the airport staff, who basically told her to get stuffed and take it up with Westjet.

The flight was fine and that was that!

Thanks to everyone who came along on this Artic journey with us! Until next time…ALASKA and JAPAN (I guess Chris has grown to appreciate the cold – nope)

July 5 – Reykjavik, Iceland

Hallgrímskirkja church

July 5 – Reykjavik, Iceland

church door

Weather – 20º!

Steps – 15,650

Last day of the tour and the only full day in Reykjavik. The old part of town is very charming with many pubs, bars, restaurants, and shops. It would be nice to spend a bit more time here. However, it is not cheep! Especially the cabs. The 12 min cab ride from the port to the hotel was $60CAN!!! The 45 min ride to the airport was $220! 2 pints was $35. Sheesh! We knew Iceland was pricy before we arrived, but being faced with it was WOW!

Þingvellir rift

As with every last day on the cruise we are off

Þingvallavatn lake and cool sky

EARLY. They need to turn 90% of the boat over for new guests. One of the very best days on a cruise (other than when we gain an hour of sleep or play Canadian Name That Tune) is when we stay on for the next cruise. We haven’t done it a lot, but when everyone is scrambling to leave, we sleep in and relax.

The one rare time our hotel room is ready early, we can’t take advantage. Our tour to 3 of Iceland’s top attractions meets shortly after we arrive at our hotel for the night, the Apotek Reykjavik

Geysir is starting

.

We had a bit of time to wander early morning

there is goes!

Reykjavik as it is waking up. I’m not a fan of waking up early, but when it’s imposed on me I like to watch patios being set up, people having coffee etc.

We were able to see the Hallgrímskirkja – the iconic Lutheran church that once I started researching Iceland you see everywhere. As with other non-Catholic Christian churches this one is interesting and beautiful in its own way, but very plain.

We were picked up from a bus stop in the centre to transfer to the bus stop where the Golden Circle tour departed from.

Our first stop about 40 minutes outside of Reykjavik is Thingvellir (Þingvellir in

little geysir

Icelandic) National Park. The reason to visit here is to see the rift where two tectonic plates (the North

Gullfoss 

American and the Eurasian ones) are gradually separating, creating some super steep cliffs. This is very cool. There’s also Þingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland. There is a bit of walking to this place, so we were able to stretch our legs. We are warm here…I’m glad I wore a t-shirt and a thin zippy.

About 20 minutes down the road was the Great Geysir, Geothermal Area. The

looking at Gullfoss 

entire area bubbles with geothermal activity from

Gullfoss 

steam vents and boiling mud pits. The main attraction was the geysers. Geysers the world over, are named for Geysir. The geyser ‘explodes’ about 200 feet into the air about every 10 minutes – super cool. We suspect that there is some kind of ‘manipulation’ going on as some research tells us that eruptions are infrequent – either way, it’s very cool.

This is where we have lunch. We opted for a “Golden Circle Direct” tour which is fast compared to a longer one. Getting off the boat today, didn’t really let us meet the longer tour, plus – we like getting in and getting out. We don’t need time to l

and more Gullfoss 

inger. I wasn’t sure there would be time for lunch, so I smuggled snacks from the boat, but we had time to split a quick burger.

The most popular waterfall in Iceland is Gullfoss

'helmets' near Gullfoss 

(the golden falls), our last stop. This is one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls. The falls are on the Hvita River and 32 meters over two tiers into the gorge below. This place was chilly – we were about an hour and a half into the mountains, so the temp isn’t surprising.

The rest of the tour was the 90 ride back to Reykjavik.

buying from the bar

Back in Reykjavik, we checked in to the hotel and rested a bit. Or should I say, I rested, and Chris

watching the game

watched the Germany/Spain game. It was funny, because we had our windows open and could hear the roaring of pubs around, but about 20 seconds late – must have been a different, delayed feed.

Later we wandered a bit and found a pub for the France/Portugal game. We arrived halfway into the first half and were able to find great/comfy seats. Eventually the place packed up. We ended up sharing our table with some German people and then some Swiss guys. I’m not sure if there were any Icelandic people in the place at all.

when in Reykjavik

After the game we walked half a block to the famous Reykjavik hotdog stand. Apparently, this place has been open every day for almost 90 years. It was good, but we shared one doctored as they recommended - ketchup, sweet mustard, crisp fried onion and raw onion.

We split a pizza on the way home and called it a loooooong day.

July 4 – Reykjavik, Iceland

lupins

last French 75

Weather – 13º

Steps – 13,025

Northness - 64º (Calgary - 51º)

I can’t remember when we’ve arrived at a port in the evening prior to disembarkation day. Today is that day.

Originally, we were getting into Reykjavik at 4PM giving us time for an evening excursion to Sky Lagoon. However, upon boarding we found out that we weren’t getting in until 8PM, so no outing. I’m still a bit

miffed about it. We weren’t given any explanation other than that the port is busy. Weather (or ice) I

gas is about 3CAN

can totally get behind – safety or other reason out of Regent’s control, but this seems IN Regent’s control. I’m glad we’re staying in Reykavik tomorrow and have a tour planned. We’re not going to a Lagoon – which honestly, I wasn’t super pumped about, but seemed like the thing to do in Iceland.

Suzie made me feel better last night by telling me I’ve probably been to hot springs in Canada. I certainly have and have actually been to the natural ones you just hike into. Not the same as being in Iceland, but it’ll have to do. We can

keep it on our list for the next time we are in Iceland.

Most of the day was spent doing mostly nothing. We’ve quickly come to realize that an ocean crossing (a northern one) is not really up our street. The lack of being about to spend any real time outside makes things a bit boring for us. For some reason, sitting on the balcony watching the ocean go by all day, or at the pool watching the old people go by all day doesn’t seem as boring.

One we were in port and had gone through face-to-face immigration we popped out for what we hoped for was at the very least a walk and hopefully a beer someplace. We walked for about half an hour, found a small neighborhood by the port with a hostel and pub to get a local beer. Nope…things aren’t cheep in Iceland. 2 local beers on ‘sale’ as the waitress described them were 20CAN. I wouldn’t think twice about paying $10 in Calgary for a beer, but probably not a local one during happy hour. Anyway…they had WIFI, it was charming, and I didn’t mind one bit.

We walked there and back past many, many lupins. We saw these in our other 2 Iceland ports. I had seen the lupin fields during my Iceland research, but they really are everywhere. There are other blossoms/flowers on trees. I’m not sure which are perfuming the air, but it’s lovely to walk with the sweet scent.

July 3 – AT SEA, Cruising the Denmark Strait

India represented

Greenland is huge

Weather – 7º and cloudy, I’ve been looking at the Calgary weather and I’m pretty sure I’ll be missing Greenland next week…30º!?!

Steps – 7,564

We lost the hour we gained in Greenland last night, but still made it to the gym this morning - definitely busier on a sea day, than when we are in port. Still…the gym on this boat, the Splendor, is roomier than on the Mariner, the boat we’ve been on most recently.

Lunch was a seafood extravaganza…with the requisite ice sculpture. We hopped to sit outside but things were PACKED!

hip hop gang

just for lunch

Krew Kapers was the main attraction today. This is the crew show, and is the best show all cruise on any cruise. It’s when the folks cleaning my toilet sing, and those making my meals dance and the laundry team do the YMCA. They don’t get paid to rehearse or prepare. It was and always is VERY well attended.

Dinner tonight was with a fun British couple (Suzie and Jeff) we met earlier in the cruise playing Name that Tune. After dinner we watched the show and then hit 80’s Name that Tune…we won – actually tied for first, but that’s a win to me. The piano player, Kelly from Australia, has been great. Lots of Regent piano players have been around a long time, but she is new to us.

Against my better judgment we finished the night at the disco. I keep thinking this is the last time I might hear music from the 21^st century, so we had to take advantage. We were there for a good time not a long time.

July 2 – NOT Qaqortoq, Greenland

one last iceberg shot

Weather – 4º

Steps – 5,665

Northness – If we had made it to Qaqortoq…61º (Calgary - 51º)

I have never been much of a spa lover, I’m not much for treatments. I’m certainly happy to sit around and relax, but I prefer to do it at home or on this ship in my room, or in better weather at the pool. We still have the terrible problem of ship-board credit to spend. So, this morning I had a massage. It was fine, expensive 280USD for 75min– I sure wouldn’t have paid out

not sure I got $350 worth of restoration!

of pocket for this.

We had a wine and cheese tasting set up for later in the afternoon, so we thought a small room service lunch was a good idea…it was, even had time for a micro nap.

The wine and cheese tasting was delicious, but basic as far as learning goes. 5 cheeses paired with 5 wines. These were wines that come at an extra charge onboard, so the opportunity to try a few new wines was good. Although we drink our fair share on vacation, we rarely have a few glasses of wine in the afternoon. Today’s 3ish, made for more than a predinner micro nap.

BRET THE HITMAN HART!!!

I think I need to get my spa $ back

Every cruise director has a daily morning show, where they out line the activities for the day, and give other pertinent cruise info. They all seem to have their own shtick or tag line or something that sets them apart from other cruise directors. Dru Pavlov, our current cruise director is about our same vintage and is Canadian. It was great to eat dinner with him early in the cruise. He was fun to talk to, plus, in subsequent days, we’ve run into each other and can chat…discuss Canadian music after our Canada Day music trivia victory.

Anyway…part of his morning show shtick is to do a ‘guess that celebrity birthday’ based on a bit of a description. Today one of his descriptions started with was “the hitman”. That was all we needed! BRET THE HITMAN HART!!! Are you kidding? A guy from Calgary made the morning show in the middle of the north Atlantic Ocean!

The rest of the day was dinner in the main dining room, followed by a one-man rock show. The thing I’m most impressed with this cruise is the entertainment…I haven’t heard Lady in Red once!

July 1 – NOT Paamiut, Greenland, but another day in Nuuk

Weather – 10º

HOT TUB!!

Steps – 14,665

Northness – Paamiut would have been 62º, but as we’re still in Nuuk…64º (Calgary - 51º)

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

Yesterday was the day to see what there is to see in Nuuk. Today we planned DIY day in Nuuk.

I finally dragged myself to the gym…not sure why it has taken me so long this trip…seemed like something else always got in the way.

By about noon, we were on our way to

reindeer

Nuuk Centre, the mall where the brewery is – it was about a 10 min walk. Unfortunately, the brewery is closed Monday and Sunday. Yesterday, we knew everything booze related was closed, but hoped would be open today…nope. Oh, well. We walked

musk ox

to the mall anyway and checked out a couple or grocery stores. In the grocery stores we found reindeer and muskox! We also found the fish jerky we tried in Iceland, but by now that’s old news to us – it was very expensive.

We came back to the boat for lunch and then spent some time in the hot tub. I’m not much for hot tubs but figured it might be a nice way to spend the afternoon. It was both…hot and a nice way to

spend the afternoon. We met a couple from San Diego who we chatted with for a while

After dinner we played a name that tune Canada version put on by the Canadian cruise director. Guess who won??? Of course we did! With a score of 14 out of 15. We were pretty sure the other teams would give us a run for our money, but

midnight-ish

nope…the closest other team has 11 out of 15. The only one we missed was Robbie Robertson’s, The Band. I’m super familiar with Robbie Robertson, but not so much with the Band. Chris figured he should have known it, but me…no way.

3 means we won the most points

Blogged outside as icebergs passed in broad daylight at 11:30 - wow!

distant iceberg