iceland bound

so two weeks ago, after staring at an orbitz.com screen for a couple of hours i bought plane tickets for a ten day trip to iceland. i'm going solo. doing the hostel thing, which i've never done and have always wanted to do. the first question out of everyone's mouth is "why iceland." the reasons all come off a bit metaphysical and/or dorky, so i give pause when telling people. it only makes sense then, that i just suck it up and tell the world. here goes:

why iceland?

a. north tends to be the direction i head to get my head clear (i grew up in boston and would always head to the coast of maine for vacation, camping, etc.). north is clean. cold. it has wisdom to it. weight.

b. the atlantic carries with it the same symbolism and weight as the direction north. i like to throw my biggest questions to the sea. i've always done that. hopefully i'll never stop.

c. from what i've seen so far, the landscape in iceland looks like the perfect place to head. i'm a fan of raw/harsh/wide/beautiful landscapes so it made the decision easy.

d. i hear the people there are friggin' awesome.

e. since it's my first solo backpack trip, i figured i'd get my wings in one of the safest countries in the world. how safe is iceland? mothers of infants leave them in thier strollers outside when they go shopping. try that anywhere else.

f. when i was in school i always wanted to go to new zealand. but the more i've learned about iceland over the past few years the more it offers more of what i'm looking for. i like that they speak icelandic and not english as a primary language (even though they all speak english anyway) it gives me the chance to spend the next couple of weeks learning one of the oldest spoken languages in the world. besides, but the atlantic is my ocean. and at this point in my life i'd like to keep it around for this trip. there are enough changes going on.

g. the country is literally cut in half by the mid ocean ridge which means it is still in the process of becoming. terra nova. enter my penchant for metaphor and symbolism.

i hope to use this site to share some experiences. before, during and after.

in the meantime, if you're considering backpacking student-style anytime soon, then i heavily recommend travelpunk there are lots of great articles and even more cool people there willing to hook you up with information.