WELCOME TO REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - DAY 2

Thank you Susan and Patricia.

About 30 minutes before boarding time we made it over to our gate.  As it turned out all passengers who had connected on other flights had to present documentation at the check-in desk.  This included our passport, another showing of our COVID-19 test and presentation of our vaccination cards.  Interestingly enough at one point they made an announcement that they had seen 80% of the passengers which fulfilled the requirement and anyone else in line could take a seat.

Shortly before takeoff the local agent came on the speaker to say Delta was very sorry and a credit would be issued to passenger accounts.  As it turned only those in first class could utilize the entertainment system and everyone else could not.  We could although Anne Marie read her Kindle Book and Keith surfed the Internet and worked on our Blog.  In fact he's been writing portions of today's Blog on our flight 

The good news is our flight from JFK to Reykjavik left on time as did our first flight to JFK.

We took off at 10:30 PM for our flight to Reykjavik.  The aircraft was on the older side and the dinner was, well, quite different than a dinner on our go-to-airline.  With that said, with our upcoming cruise coming up on Endeavor we have plenty of great meals and cuisine to look forward to.  The flight attendants were professional and friendly and we made it to Reykjavik in one piece.

The good news is we debarked the aircraft about 30 minutes early.  Unfortunately, getting through immigrations and customs took about close to 90 minutes.   This is what happened.

​Upon landing we made our way to immigration.   Unlike our recent experience in Nassau where we made it through immigration in minutes this one was not so easy.  After leaving the aircraft we walked towards baggage claim and immigration.  We had to walk down a flight of steps which was challenging with two carry-ons and two backpacks as the escalator was not working.  Once downstairs there was confusion where do we go with hundreds upon hundred of people queued up.  As it turned out this was the line which took you in various directions.  It was Disney World without anyone directing you.  We weaved back and forth until we got to a flight of steps where we walked up to the next level.  We continued to weave back and forth on that level until ultimately we went through passport control, then we think we went down again to baggage reclaim.  It was a long process because the carousel was very long.  Keith found one piece but then time went along and he didn't see it on the carousel but eventually spotted it on the floor on the other side of the carrousel with some other bags.  With luggage in hand we got on a other line and ultimately we went through a check to verify passport, covid test and proof of vaccination.  For those not tested we saw one family along with a couple of other people being tested.  

The good news is our driver was waiting for us as soon as we exited the final check point and the walk to the vehicle was brief.  The drive into the City took about 45 minutes and we were taken to the Reykjavik Residence Hotel.  The Hotel is comprised of eight different buildings all within walking distance of where we checked-in.  Originally, we had booked a day room with the possibility our room would not be ready until 3:00 PM or later.  The good news is we were told if we waited 30 minutes our room would be ready and we would be charged for the day room.  We did this.

After getting our room cards we walked no more than two minutes to the building our room is located in.  When we say the room we have a two bedroom apartment.  There are six apartment in the building on three different floors.  The room has two bathrooms, a living area and a kitchen with oven, stovetop, refrigerator and dishwasher along with sufficient items to cook if one wanted to do just that.  Keith selected this with COVID-19 in mind even before the variant hit.  We wanted a place where we didn't have to go through a lobby filled with lots of people, not to mention the elevators.  

The hotel is conveniently located to several attractions and also a nearby food store and plenty of restaurants, and stores.  

They had asked us if we wanted a breakfast for our arrival and we said yes and we made it into a breakfast and a light lunch.  

After breakfast, we walked some including a visit to the food store.  We asked about a wine shop and since today is a National Holiday it is closed and the same is true for tomorrow.  After we got back to the room Anne Marie started to unpack while Keith went back to the grocery store to get some additional items.  We decided to have dinner in the room and get to sleep at a reasonable time since we had very little sleep.  

Keith went back out on a mission to find wine.  LOL.  He spoke with the person who registered us and he confirmed wine stores are closed.  He looked at a website where we could order wine for delivery but that seemed to complicated.  Keith had passed a restaurant where he noticed patrons having lunch accompanied by wine and beer for some.  He asked the hotel person if restaurants could sell wine for take-out.  His answer officially no but sometimes they will.  Keith went inside the restaurant and asked if they could sell wine and the answer was, technically know but he would.  LOL.  With two bottles of wine in hand he made it back to the hotel where we had a light lunch.  No wine.  Too early.

Following are some photos of our room and a couple near the food store.  

The past 24 hours+ involved travel.  Tomorrow we will start to explore.

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