Day 0 - SFO to SEA to KEF

 Today Rick and I are off to our first international trip since 2019.  Yeah, a COVID pandemic got in the way of our fun.  But at last, it is now 2023 and most travel restrictions have lifted and we are ready to wander about again.

Let me just tell you that the resurgence of travel is not without it's issues.  First of all, my passport expired in July 2022 so upon deciding that we are going to Iceland, we immediately applied for a passport renewal in early January.  The application was received by the passport authorities on 01/11/2023.  All the way to the week before our travel date, I had still not received my passport.  With much effort in the prior weeks to call the passport authorities and requesting updates, getting countless run-arounds, finally an appointment for the day of travel to go get my passport, I will have to say, WTF people?  It's a renewal, not even a new application so why does it take more than 10 weeks to still not be completed?  They blame it on COVID... So, there was A LOT of drama around whether or not I would get the passport in time for travel... I was even willing to travel to L.A., San Diego, Seattle passport authorities to get it but NOPE, there were no appointments available... 

At last, we did receive my renewed passport on Wednesday the week before we were scheduled to leave... Good good, Rick did not have to go without me and send pictures and you now get to read our blog about Iceland.

Ok, so passport drama over, we are leaving for Iceland today (03/20/203) for 8 days and then onward to Copenhagen for 3 days.  We fly from San Francisco to Seattle and then fly to Keflavik on Iceland Air.  The total trip over should take about 10 hours total.

We decided to go in March as I am interested in seeing the Northern lights and March seems to be a good month to see them in Iceland, weather permitting of course.  I am really hoping that we will be able to get some decent weather to allow us to see them.  Fingers crossed so that it happens and I will share with you my photos of what we saw.  March is still considered winter in Iceland so I am expecting to see a lot of snow.  The current weather forecast for the next 10 days are below.  

It will be cold but mainly, we have to plan for all weather conditions so I packed 4 different coats/jackets.  We normally don't check baggage when we travel but we did this time... Lot's of layering was the advice and heck, I am from California, anything below fifty degrees is COLD!    But I am packed and READY for that cold, bring it on!  Actually, please don't be too cold, I am a cold whimp!

We are flying out at noon and are already at the airport and are all checked in by 10:45 a.m.  The weather is good, all set to fly. 

More updates once we are in Iceland.