A few of you have messaged me asking where the shots of the Northern Lights are, after-all, this was the entire purpose of my trek to Iceland.

Unfortunately, during my visit the country was experiencing its worst snow in eight years* which created sufficient cloud cover for the trip to be called off.

So, I arrive back wonderless. Am I disappointed? Mildly. But, it was made up for by a great night out in Reykjavik on Saturday night, where I found out first hand that it really is as trendy as I heard it was, think Greenwich Village but smaller and of course colder.

This of course gives steam to my plan to visit Canada, where aurora borealis is of course widely visible in the Northern territories like Yukon and Manitoba.

*According to a local taxi driver, the capital Reykjavik usually has some snow but it rarely sticks, not often do they have this much.

Stuck in Limbo for 24 hours, I’m finally on the last leg of my journey home.
Airports are devilish places, being in a world where the proprietors of business are deluded to the point that a cheese sandwich is worth £5, but worse still, normally sensible people, myself included, become convinced that this is fair and reach for the cash. The surroundings, by design, break you down to the point that you’re completely at their mercy.

After a two hour delay at Reykjavik, due to adverse weather conditions (it was blowing a 100mph gale, literally), subsequently missing my connecting train to Cardiff, I found myself at the Paddington Hilton, trying to catch some ZzZ’s, but finding the bed rather too large to get comfortable in. Eventually though, gladly, it happened.

Iceland is a beautiful country, when covered in snow. Draped in rain clouds however, as it was on the morning of departure, it became all too familiarly drab. But perhaps I’m being too pessimistic? After all, is anywhere picturesque when lit through grey storm clouds? Not my favourite backdrop, I will admit.

A most perfect Saturday morning was achieved at the Blue Lagoon spa, undoubtedly the most relaxing experience that I believe I have ever had, and this is a high honour coming from someone who has been to some of the most peaceful and beautiful corners of the world.

The water being geothermal, seawater heated naturally underground to 39c and being high in mineral content, the experience was delectable. The salt content also being so high that it was almost possible to float completely unaided only adds to the sense of pure relaxation. I could be forgiven for assuming that it in some way contributes to the fact that Iceland has extraordinarily low crime rates. If only this kind of therapy could be attained here in the UK, road rage and street violence would be unheard of.

My favourite SLR-bridge camera stopped working just a week before the trip, I was rewarded for investing in a new one, however. Some of the shots that I managed to get are spectacular. They are currently up on Facebook, and after being cropped, re-touched and made into ‘final’ shots they will appear on my FlickR photostream. Oh, and there’s a mildly amusing video too which will be YouTube’d as soon as I get home.

Ps.
Commiserations to all those supposed to be enjoying Morrissey at the London Roundhouse on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, only to have him cancel and send on Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross and David Walliams to explain the situation. Being ill is fine by us Mozzer, but for heaven’s sake, don’t send out those cucumbers to settle a crowd of mostly 30-40 year old male’s!