Iceland for Christmas

As our kids get older, we have been developing new rituals around holidays and other gatherings. This year, we thought we'd replace a focus on Christmas and presents with travel - in particular a trip to Iceland, one of the most queer friendly countries in the world. So Meg and I got plane tickets and car rentals and an airbnb. Micah and Ivy and Adam got passports. 

We flew overnight on Icelandair. 

We arrived in the dark. I knew it would be dark - but not THAT dark. At 8 am, it was still darker than it ever got when we were there in the summer. The roads were wet, with a freezing rain starting to fall. The tires made a funny sound on the pavement as the studs from the winter tires hit the road surface. 

By the time we got to the pass between Reykjavik and Hveragerði, snow showers reduced the visibility, the plows were out, and the driving was getting difficult. By the time we got groceries and settled at our Airbnb - the whole country was under a yellow travel advisory - and some of the roads we took that morning were closed. We hunkered in to wait out the storm - and enjoy Christmas!

Periodically, we ventured outside for walks through the horizontal sleet, grapple, and wind. The gusts were so strong that it was sometimes a challenge to stay upright!