By the time the pandemic started to wane back in early 2022, I was desperate to end my self-imposed quarantine. I booked a spot on a small group tour to Iceland and enjoyed a great week indulging my long-delayed photography habit.
At the end of the tour, just before boarding the shuttle to the airport, we got the results from the airline-mandatory COVID-19 test. Every last one of us tested positive. It turned out that the tour leader’s ‘little sniffle’ had actually been full-blown Covid, and he had shared more than just his photographic knowledge with us. The authorities told us we would all have to remain in Iceland until we tested negative.
Our tour operator shuffled his feet, mumbled something like: “Sorry about that…hope you had a good time” and quickly drove away.
The hotel was fully booked, and we were left to get our stuff, check out, and scramble to find a place to stay in Reykjavik.
Which was no fun. Finding a new hotel was a pain (and expensive). To say that I was less than happy might be an understatement.
But now, a few years later, that frustration has faded away. What I remember now are the bonds the tour’s ‘survivors’ forged after we were abandoned. Those friendships remain strong to this day.
And…I remember the photos. I ended up staying an extra week in Reykjavik. Rather than sit moping in my room, I spent the time out photographing the town. Which resulted in a wealth of images that I wouldn’t have if the tour had ended as planned.
This shot is an example. The ‘Sun Voyager’ (Solfar) sculpture is my favorite spot in Reykjavik. I love it: the angles, the curves, the size…it just works for me. But as cool as it might be, the weather is rarely ideal for photography. But since I visited it multiple times over the next week, I happened to be there this particular morning as a clearing storm broke, revealing this magical vista.
As the old saying goes, “When life gives you lemons…”
Cheers!
Jeff
PS: If you would like to read my blog post about this trip, check it out here or check out my entire Icelandic portfolio by clicking here.
Related Images:
Views: 128