Day 1: Reykjavík to Toronto

3 October 2018

We are moving on again today, starting the next stage in our journey – this time Toronto. It is a strange day as our flight isn’t until 5pm but with transport and check-in timing we will need to leave soon after 1pm (and checkout is at 11.00).

We have a leisurely morning and chatted with Colin and Nerissa at breakfast. Then back to our rooms to do some ‘life maintenance” and sort out photos, packing etc. We leave our bags at reception and then head out for a final explore of Reykjavík.

Today we head down another shopping street that heads down the hill from the Hallgrimskirkja cathedral. This was a much more interesting street than the main street we had explored earlier that had had mostly touristy shops. This street was full of art and craft shop – everything from ceramics to jewellery to knitwear to photography and paintings.

We had a wonderful time meeting and talking to either the artisans themselves or members of their families and hearing the stories about their work. We were especially taken with one shop where the knitwear had felted patterns that looked like lava or the Aurora or ice. A ceramic studio had a vast range of pottery and I especially liked an ancient viking helmet that the artist had made 35 years ago. A photography store was decorated with hundreds of old cameras and camera equipment. A jewellery shop had designs inspired by ancient carvings, sea shells, knitting and even bubble seaweed. I bought some earrings and a little zippered purse made of fish skin leather. Then we stopped for a lunch of savoury crepes before heading back to pick up our bags.

 

We got to the bus stop a little early and there was a transfer bus still there. He had room for us so we went with him and were very thankful as it started to rain soon after we got on the bus. At the bus terminal we were also able to get on an earlier bus and figured we may as well get to the airport and wait there as wait at the bus terminal.

The 45minute drive was marginally better than the last time we had gone that way – but not a lot as the rain was setting in and snow was forecast for later on. We were grateful once we finally got on our flight as the airport is one of the most chaotic and disorganised we have visited.

It is a 5 hour 55minute flight through to Toronto and no complimentary meals are served so we have our snacks at the ready and settle back for the duration. There is a 4 hour time zone difference so it will be 7pm Toronto time when we arrive but it will be 11pm for us.

Toronto airport is as congested and chaotic as Reykjavík. Although we are given arrival declaration cards to fill in, they appear to be just bringing in a new electronic system (and still figuring out how to do it). At one point soon after we disembarked everyone is corralled off to the side and strictly told that everyone must complete the process at the kiosks.

Then we get to another confusion point and again corralled off to the side. When we show them that we have already got the receipt they tell us that we must go and join the queue ‘over there’, which involves pushing through several more groups of people waiting in huddles and joining another slow-moving queue. When we were nearly at the desks, an official selects us, ticks our forms and sends us straight through.

We had been given several directions that our bags would be on carousel 11 but nothing much was happening there. I went to change some money and fortuitously saw our bags on carousel 8.

My friend Marcia volunteered to pick us up from the airport in Toronto as she lives only 15 minutes away. I hadn’t seen her for 5 years since we travelled in India together – it is so good to see her again. She lives in a delightful bungalow in a peaceful green area that you wouldn’t believe was central city.

We have some cheese and crackers and a cup of tea, and then retire downstairs to the guest wing – exhausted.

Please join me over the next several posts as I take you on our Journey to the Arctic (and more).

The Joy of Business Class

Copenhagen Stopover Day 1
Copenhagen Stopover Day 2

Arctic Express: Northern Lights
Day 1: Copenhagen to Reykjavik
Day 2: Reykjavik to Constable Point, Greenland
Day 3: Scoresby Sund: Frederiksdal & Flyvefjord
Day 4: Scoresby Sund: Nordvestfjord & Ingmikortilaq
Day 5: Scoresby Sund: Eskimobugt & Immikkeerikajik
Day 6: Scoresby Sund: Danmark Island & Vikingsbugt
Day 7: Scoresby Sund: Cap Hope & Ittoqqortoormiit
Day 8: Scoresby Sund: Steward Island & Constable Point
Day 9: Constable Point back to Reykjavik

Iceland Discovery
Day 1: Reykjavik: Blue Lagoon
Day 2: Golden Circle
Day 3: South Coast
Day 4: Jokulsarlon
Day 5: Eastern Fjords & Moorudalur Valley
Day 6: Moorudalur Valley & Lake Myvatn
Day 7: Akureyri & Trollaskagi Peninsular
Day 8: Grabrok Volcano & Snaefellsnes Peninsular
Day 9: Snaefellsness to Reykjavik

Toronto, Canada
Day 1: Reykjavik to Toronto
Day 2: Toronto to Port Perry
Day 3: Lake Muskoka
Day 4: Millbrook
Day 5: Back to Toronto
Day 6: Toronto
Day 7: Niagara Falls

 

 

 

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For this and other similar tours see:

Explore Europe with Intrepid Travel (a range of different travel styles – see my post on travel styles)

Peregrine Adventures (Comfort tours)

Geckos Adventures (for 18 to 30s)

Note: After people telling me they had booked an Intrepid Tour on my recommendation, I now have affiliate links with the Intrepid Travel group of companies and may receive a commission if you book a tour online within a couple of months after clicking through to these sites.  So if you are enjoying my tips and stories and finding them useful in choosing your own travel, please click on these links and help me to bring you more .

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