The Poor Man's Strength

Better weight than wisdom
a traveller cannot carry.
It is the poor man's strength
in a strange place,
worth more than wealth.

-Havamal (In the Poetic Edda, "The Tale of Oden") - 700-900 AD

Ah, Iceland. As beautiful as Santorini, as fun as anywhere, after this weekend I now have to concede it ranks as one of my favorite countries in this wide world. Tim and I had a superb opening weekend, my trip around the Ring Road by bus/hitch-hiking was all too brief but wonderful with its spectacular hiking, and the Bachelor Party was indeed as hysterical and epic as we hoped for and expected.

Uploaded some images that tell parts of the story, at least enough to provide some evidence of Iceland's beauty. Here is an album from the first week, mostly of the gorgeous landscape, various hikes, and the fabulous open roads to the horizon. Here are a few photos from the bachelor party, although no great shots of the group of 8 guys, as others were taking lots of great photographs and my camera was breathing its last at this point. Rest assured, it was a marvelous guys weekend with plenty of laughs and memories worthy of the occasion.

Almost half-way through this 6 month voyage, and I have definitely settled into an easy, relaxing rhythm, wisdom learned from extended time on the road. The ragged ever-growing beard has also become a bit of a symbol of the trip, and I have pretty well decided to just keep it going until the return at the end of September after the kudos it has received from friends old and new these past weeks. Just another element of hilarity to throw into the mix.

The spending remains just about on track in terms of the original budget as well. As the funds in the bank account gradually dwindle in exchange for the sights and sounds of the open road and its magic, Shakespeare's quote that gives title to this blog grows increasingly accurate. I like the contrast of the traveler's wisdom versus wealth in the ancient Icelandic Saga quote above too. Obviously I feel I am getting the far better end of the trade, especially as various goals and dreams for the trip gradually get realized. How appropriate that in a few hours, I get to head down to watch Rosalind speak her lines to Jacques in the Globe theatre at a matinee in the sun on the Thames.

So yes, with everything going as expected, I find myself quite content with the planning and the execution - the "poesie und praxis" - of this great time traveling abroad. As Andrew said a few times on the Keilir lava golf course yesterday, while we were playing a round at midnight on the Summer Solstice, "life is beautiful." Yes it is, my friend, yes it is.