Blown Away

While the last couple days haven't been super exciting, they have been interesting. I've mostly stuck around the downtown area, though I did finish my Christmas Shopping which is very exciting I think. I had debated doing the Blue Ice tour, which is the one on the glacier, but it was canceled for several days, and after seeing this wind, I can appreciate why.
I have never encountered wind like this! The days would be comfortable otherwise, but the wind is bitterly cold at times. And so strong! There were times when I was walking into it, and I would literally almost not be moving at all. And just when you thought you'd made some headway, you would pass a side street and one would catch you from the side, almost keeling you straight over. The couple of us braving the streets were probably amusing to watch as we leaned weird directions only to be staggered sideways randomly.
It wasn't too long before I chose to just hole up inside and call it a day. Plus the fact that the sun is literally only up for two hours at this point, though it is light for much longer as the sun skirts right below the horizon.
Jemma stopped by that night, and we decided to go try our hand at the runtur. In most of Iceland, this is their way to hangout in the evening, they all get in their cars and do laps around the towns slowly, stopping in car parks to chat with others once in awhile. They do this all night. In Reykjavik, they've altered it a little though. No cars necessary here! They have turned it into their form of all night bar hopping, though drinks are so expensive that it is acceptable to only drink one or two things all evening. We didn't stay out too long though, we were both too tired unfortunately. We did have a great dinner, and I tried the Icelandic beers which were quite tasty.
You can see the effects the next day though. Both yesterday and today, I have noticed that nothing opens for quite some time. It is 11 am, and the coffee shop across the street still has stools stacked and all lights off. I guess that's what happens though when the whole town is out until 5-6 in the morning. Still, it's weird that the town is still almost completely asleep this close to noon. The sun is even up...kinda...
Last night was fun though. I'd sat around talking to my mom on skype when I decided to go to the grocery store to get food. I didn't realize how late it was though (Ironically, you stay awake a lot because it's so dark all the time you never realize when it has become late, it all just feels the same.) and the store was closed. I figured I'd just grab a bite a nearby bar, when I heard the music coming out of the alley. Really, how I didn't notice it sooner is beyond me. You could feel the bass through the sidewalk for blocks. So I wandered back and spent the next while enjoying an awesome Icelandic band perform. People had climbed trees for seats, and random people were headbanging and whipping their hair around, and to songs that were not headbanging songs. Everyone got way into the music. After the set was over and the band was tearing down, I went back to my hostel. As I climbed into bed, I realized I had forgotten to get food, which had been my whole intent in going out. Nonetheless, I feel it was a highly successful outing. I just wish I knew the bands name, but unfortunately, that's the downside to not speaking their language. I can't understand a word they said when they announced themselves, and there were not signs or posters up at all. Oh well.