Gifts of Grace

Sleep deprivation -- as in a late-leaving overnight flight with quite a bit of turbulence -- quickly reduces the number of properly functioning brain cells to a level almost undetectable. We were both feeling shattered when our flight from Toronto landed at Keflavik Airport this morning, and found trying to navigate in an unfamiliar airport almost impossible.

As we'd flown Economy Comfort class on Icelandair, we were entitled to use the very beautiful Saga Lounge at the airport, and were much in need of coffee and some food, as we'd had only a mini croissant and cup of tea on the plane before landing.

However, when we finally found our way to the Saga Lounge, the very polite woman there said that its services were intended for departing passengers only. We told her that the Icelandair flight atttendant had said we could use the lounge, and how we'd had hardly any sleep, and I guess we looked so pitiful that she couldn't resist. She said that she'd be bending the rules, but to go ahead, and we did, with gratitude. A good breakfast from the buffet there and two strong coffee drinks each woke us up enough to get on the Flybus that runs between Keflavik Airport and downtown Reykjavik.

Whilst on the coach, I texted JG to let him know that we were on our way to Reykjavik and his rental apartment. I mentioned that we were very tired from our flight, and when the Flybus pulled into the coach terminal where we were to get off and find a taxi to a destination, there was JG to drive us directly to our downtown apartment! It was a wonderful surprise and definitely appreciated by us.

After long naps this afternoon, Phil and I headed for Reykjavik's main shopping and restaurant street to find a place for supper. I had a list of possibilities in hand, but when we walked past Gamla/Old Island, a simple and inviting small cafe serving traditional, homemade Icelandic food, we knew that would be perfect.

And indeed it was -- we enjoyed traditional lamb and vegetable soup, a fish and potatotes mash (plokkfiskur), smoked lamb on rye bread, and Marital Bliss -- an Icelandic oatcake layered with rhubarb jam -- along with two fine Icelandic beers. The co-owner, Gudrun, and I soon were chatting back and forth about local food, recipes, and related topics, and Phil joined in too. It felt like a home away from home, and we're looking forward to several more visits to this cafe. Today's photo was taken not far from there, on the same street -- Laugavegur. Labeling it the major shopping and restaurant street, as Reykjavik tourist information does, seems a bit of a stretch!