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Well its been a long old day today, so far its 21 hours awake so apologies in advance if this blog makes no sense what so ever.

We never managed the lay in at the hotel this morning, firstly there was something or someone crashing loudly out on the street below the hotel and then around 0800 someone started drilling, not what we were hoping for at all.

Its always difficult that last day, we hate killing time especially when you feel that you should be doing something with it as time in any holiday destination is precious but we had already covered everything that we could do within a drivable distance of Reykjavik so killing time it was at hat means only one thing........shops.

First we drove ut to look around ILVA (scandinavian furniture store). We used to have three of these in England and we loved everything that they sold, it was nice to know that we still do and that made me want to buy loads. Thank the lord for luggage restrictions as it saved us both from a serious hole in the wallet. Next stop was the main mall and a quick coffee stop before giving in and making a slow drive back to Keflavik airport, we both figured that it was better to be sat bored in an airport lounge that in a shopping mall, at least all the food and drink is free in there!

We took the hire car back, checked in and headed of to the lounge where we took advantage of all the complimentories. We were travelling in SAGA class which is the equivalent of business class on Iceland air and by the looks of the lounge things were looking good for the flight.

I have to say that we both thought that Iceland Air were fantastic and I really recommend them to anyone. If your looking for a cheap way to make it to the USA or Canada have a look at flying via Iceland....top travel tip!

The flight itself took us on a route right over Greenland and then over the Arctic Circle. The views from the aeroplane window were absolutely breathtaking and Jonathan actually nearly burst into tears at one point as it was just beautiful. You could see the blackness of space creeping into a perfect blue sky. Below us was untouched land masses of snow and ice with only the slightest hint of rock or the actual substrate that all that snow and ice was sitting on. It went on and on for hours and truly was a spectacle, they could actually get away with charging extra for window seats on this flight and I dont think that anyone would be disappointed.

Trevor spent the majority of the flight plugged into the lap top working on the website (can you spot the difference ???) where as Jonathan plumed for the film option and gazing out of the window, we both agreed that it was the fastest seven hour flight that we had ever been on and that Iceland Air was a winner........makes everything look up for the flight back from New York.

As the plane headed over the top of Alaska it was more constant snow covered mountain ranges but that broke about half an hour before landing. Now the landscape was replaced by pine forests as far as the eye could see with twisting snake like rivers cutting through them, there were waterways everywhere.

Now as the plane landed we went to the gate only to find that after they opened the plane door and we were about to get out that suddenly this gate was no good and we all had to sit down again whilst the plane moved to another gate the other side of the airport, they then kept us waiting on the plane even longer as apparently customs was too busy and they did not want anymore people turning up in the queues.

When we did finally get off Anchorage airport was like stepping back to the 1970's. All fake wood formica cladding and orange and brown carpet, you must get the picture, the whole terminal carried on this way.

As we waited outside for the courtesy bus to take us downtown to our hotel there was no denying Anchorages beautiful location. The whole city seemed to be wrapped in snow covered mountains and pine forests but as we drove in the 1970's airport theme seemed to follow us all the way to our hotel, time has definitely stood still here.

We dumped the bags in our room (yes 1970 bed spreads and chipped formica furniture) and headed downtown for some food. We were both fighting off the time difference and trying to hang on in there for a few more hours and food seemed like a good idea. Now Anchorage has a 1970's trash charm about it (more will become apparent by the meaning of that statement tomorrow when we go out with our cameras). We ended up both having burger and chips in some corner steak and beer place nothing special but cheap and cheerful and it did for us. On the way back to the hotel the local hells angels all drove past on their super loud Harley's and custom choppers and I got the felling that this is how the people of Anchorage like to have fun. Let just hope that tomorrow proves me wrong and I have to eat my own words.

Laid on the bed now both fighting with our eyelids so signing off for now...shattered!

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