Down to zero

Well actually that's probably a bit overdramatic. They've obviously had some snow here in Reykjavik, but although it's certainly chilly compared to dear old London town it's only just dipped below freezing at the moment.

After a busy month volunteering for Crisis at Christmas (which will continue til mid January) and You Me Bum Bum Train (good fun), and taking over SLT Box Office (if I offer to do any more volunteering, will someone please shoot me), I have a mini break in Iceland as I got a Groupon deal which seems to be one of the cheapest ways to get a chance to witness the wonder of the Northern lights.

After an ok flight from Gatwick via Squeezyjet and 2 well-organised coaches, arrived at this nice little Hotel Fron around 8.15pm. I'm handily slap bang in the middle of the city centre, with the main shopping street  Laugavegur right outside my window. Haven't really explored very much beyond here as of course when it's dark it's a tricky exercise, plus I was hungry and concerned about kitchens closing. Pity really, when an ok salmon dinner with a glass of wine and a coffee has cost me £30 - so I have to ignore the "sod it" instinct over the next few days I think to be good to my waistline and my wallet!

When I say it's the main shopping street, it's more like a county town rather than Oxford Street - quite narrow, chicaned and with very little traffic. Lots of nice shops, some quite out-there merchandise, but not many price tickets in the windows. And a Rossopomodoro Italian joint, which is a bit bizarre - of all the chains to find. All very Anglicised, apart from the restaurants which sell puffin, lobster and whale meat, none of which I will be eating. There's also a cuddly toy shop devoted entirely to puffins, and one to polar bears. Polar bears aren't native to Iceland, but apparently one or two have rocked up. Odd. There are probably more of them in the shop.

The coach driver said that a lot of coaches have gone out in search of the Northern lights tonight, so I do hope that we get clear skies tomorrow which is what's needed to encourage their appearance.

I'll keep this pretty brief as I want to have an early night to make the most of the one full day I have in Reykjavik tomorrow - plus I have no pictures yet. I worked out tonight that this is the 27th place I have stayed in since my long leave began in July, and the first one that I've bought thermal underwear for. So I hope it does get colder, else that will feel like a waste as it never seems to be cold enough at home, and being a woman of a certain age my need for this type of garment has diminished considerably - I'm usually the one glowing violently in the corner of the tube carriage......