An Icelandic Hot Pot

I keep this photo at my desk where I can see it every day. It reminds me of a great time in the midst of stress and the unknown. 

Gabe and Amanda had just joined us for the second leg of our holiday and after they had a few hours sleep in the tent while we tried to rent a larger vehicle, we hit the road for Akureyri. We are enjoying this Icelandic hot pot - after detouring off the main road and driving over a bumpy, pitted secondary trail for miles and miles - in ten degree air temperature. Directly in front of us is the ocean, so there are plenty of cool ocean breezes wafting over and around us. You can see our clothes piled behind us; after changing into our bathing suits in a small washroom, we raced across the yard to the pot to warm up! We met a wonderful family from Spain while soaking in 38 degree thermally heated water and exchanged tales of the road with them. 

My husband tried to make small talk with the “owner" of the hot pot and restaurant, but Icelanders, although very accommodating and helpful, are generally not known for their need to chat. Eventually he did manage to get the gentleman involved in a small conversation and that was how we learned that 50 women were on their way to use the pot! Too bad I hadn’t been in a situation to ask if I could take some photos (wet, cold and in a rush to get back on the road before we got lost) because when those women started arriving, it was the most wonderful fashion show of some of the most beautiful Icelandic wool sweaters ever! There were not two the same and all the women wore one, without exception. Such a lovely surprise seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Such is the delight of Iceland - surprises at every turn!