Arrival Day

Today was our second day of travel, and it was a full one. We landed in Iceland at 6 a.m., greeted by crisp morning air and the quiet hum of Keflavík Airport. With a four-hour layover ahead of us, Sarah and I found a cozy café and enjoyed a simple but delicious breakfast: fresh bread, cheese, and blueberry skyr. If heaven comes in a bowl, I think it might taste like that skyr.

The Reykjavík airport is small—smaller than PDX—but constantly buzzing with travelers. Flights were arriving and departing for destinations all over Europe, and the atmosphere was a swirl of languages and accents. Before long, we were boarding our connecting flight to Glasgow, and just a little over two hours later, we were stepping onto Scottish soil.

Rather than grab a taxi, we hopped on a city bus from the airport into town. That’s when Glasgow hit us—bustling, vibrant, and nothing like Portland, New York, or Chicago. People, people, people everywhere. In true traveler fashion, we missed our stop and found ourselves at the central bus terminal. No problem—just a chance to see more of the city. Our stroll to the train station turned into an unexpected highlight when we rounded a corner and—boom!—there it was: a blue police box. A real one. The Doctor was in!

After some meandering and a few mixed communications with friendly locals, we reached the train station, tickets in hand, and had 20 minutes to relax before departure. Onboard, we met a lovely couple from Edinburgh returning from their holiday in Ireland. They gave us some helpful tips about the Scottish rail system, and before we knew it, we were pulling into Edinburgh.

Our last leg of the journey was a one-mile walk over cobblestone streets to our lodging. Here’s a note for my fellow travelers: suitcases and cobblestones do not mix. By the time we reached our destination—a beautifully preserved old stone mill house along the river, built before the Industrial Revolution—we were sore, sweaty, and utterly exhausted. We lay down for a “quick nap” that turned into a full night’s sleep.

And honestly? We wouldn’t have had it any other way.