Blue Lagoon (First video blog)! Today we did so many things! We spent a lot of time just chilling at the Blue Lagoon. It was lovely and relaxing and helped clear my stuffy nose, even if only for a little bit. Then we drove a long long way to see the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, lots of geothermal activity, and a huge crater (Grabrock). We finally ended our day at Hotel Hvammstangi where we made a very um... simple dinner in the room, because all two restaurants closed at 9pm and we got in too late. The little hotel was humble and sweet. Aware that it was our anniversary they left us a glass of wine a piece and a box of chocolates. It was a small town and a nice quiet stopover. Big Day! Silica mud mask at the Lagoon... I'm pretty sure I kept the mask on for all of 5 seconds. The wind and the wet mud made my face feel so cold. No me gusta! I was pretty stoked about putting on the silica mask! Everyone who slathered it on seemed oh so very happy therefore it must be excellent. Hmmm, I didn't think.... Laura's Blue Lagoon FAQs I'll have to see about how I feel about these video blogs after doing a few of them. a) I realize that I don't really like my mannerisms and b) everyone hates the sound of their voice and I'm not excluded from that. SO if you can get beyond my voice then have a look! My biggest tip here is to explore! There lots of interesting little inlets and caves that you wouldn't find without some exploring! Photos, photos, photos! Click "READ MORE" to follow more adventures in Iceland!
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As we flew to Boston I began realizing that our journey was no longer a story I was telling. This was really happening and a little panic set in. Holy crap... I don't have a job. I don't have a home. I'm living out of a backpack and I'm not sure if I'll see anyone again. I'm terrified of flying and I'm about to begin a life of flying. WHAT ARE WE DOING? I cried a few tears but then begin to hear all the words everyone has been saying.... and viewed through others visions the excitement ahead. This was about to be an amazing journey and this IS a once in a lifetime experience. Reservations and self-doubt are normal. I begin to reflect on my fears and realized that I felt the same way when I got married. Before the wedding I wondered how my life would change beyond a different last name. Would I be different? Would I miss my single life? As I look back at that I can say YES I have changed and my life is different... but really in a most spectacular way and I love who I am today. I begin to sink into a thought process that this will be the same. As we leave the comforts of our routines it is scary, no matter what that is: a job change, moving, marriage, and so on. This is just the next step and I am lucky that I/we have made this choice. We have chosen to go on this adventure. Okay.. feeling calmer. As our plane took off I knew this was it. Then I got to see something I never thought I would. Our steward woke us up and pointed out the northern lights. It was amazing and I knew that our journey would be full of moments like this. ATX Adios On our US tour we were so fortunate to see so many people! The goodbyes started in that place we will always call home, Austin, TX. Friends we hadn’t seen in way too long were able to gather and it was a grand send off. Thanks to each of you who helped but especially to Lupe (who housed us and let us use your car to finish our endless chores and runs to REI) and to Brad (for storing our precious pinball machines)! My coworkers also gave me a sweet going away. Potluck lunches, happy hours, and memories never to be forgotten! Lots to be thankful for and I’m not sure I will ever work with peers I respect so much. I regret not taking more photos but I'm thankful for what I did get! Thanks to my friends Cat and Erica for remembering to take pictures! Granbury and Dallas Goodbyes Spent several days with my parents and sister's family in Granbury. My mom was so proud and introduced me to anyone who walked by as "her daughter that is traveling the world for two years." Sometimes that introduction was to people she knew and I am still not sure if some of those were greetings to total strangers, including all the sweet people at the mani/pedi place. She gave this announcement with both smiles and tears. She did good though, I know this isn't easy for everyone. Mom and Jim have been fantastically supportive, picking us up in Austin and mailing stuff last minute for us as well as managing our mail while we are gone. This would be much harder without their help! Then we headed to Dallas to see Brent's Dad and a few friends. It was great to hit a few of our favorite Dallas spots including Nova on our way out. Saying goodbye to Brent's dad was especially hard. I think saying goodbye to him represented a final goodbye to Texas. I will miss everyone but also know I'm going to be able to come back with some amazing stories! Florida Farewells Florida was our final family and friend farewell. Our friend Andy generously let us crash at his place our first and last nights in Florida. Our buddy Bryan just moved to Orlando from ATX and it was a great treat to see him before we left. Next we went to Titusville and stayed with Aunt Sherry and Uncle Jeff. Great food, margaritas, and laughter were had here! What a great time. Uncle Jeff was so nice to take us out to the wildlife refuge for some gator spottin, bird watching, and beautiful butterflies! The next day we went to NASA where I totally nerded out on some outer space action. Then on to Mimi's where we hit the ButterBean (yum, yum, yum!) and celebrated her 87th birthday! What great timing as her bday brought in all the family on my dad's side so I could see everyone in one stop. So glad to spend her birthday at her house. Last we stopped at my cousin Brook and Bryan's house. THank you for hosting a gathering for us! Here I was able to see my mom's side of the family. What a great relaxing day with good food, beer, and the final round of Q and A's about our trip! I'm certain I forgot someone in here I was supposed to thank BUT thank you all. I love you all. We'll see you soon and keep you posted on our adventures as we are able!
Per request by many..................
How to contact Brent and Laura during our world travels: For Iphone / Ipad users only: Viber * PRIMARY METHOD OF COMMUNICATING WITH US - Free Viber to Viber calls and text. Just download the app, sign up, and then use the contacts to free text or free call us. SUPER EASY! Facetime – You can contact us on FaceTime when we are connected to WiFi only. Just use our phone numbers and choose FaceTime when you call us. Both sides will need to have a decent internet connection to support the video. IMessage - (text messaging on an Iphone only) – text us using your Iphone and we’ll receive and send messages when we have WiFi connections. WiFi calling - This is not available as of yet on the Iphone, but may be coming soon. Stay tuned. For all other phones / computers / tablets: Viber * PRIMARY METHOD OF COMMUNICATING WITH US - Free Viber to Viber calls and text. Just download the app, sign up, and then use the contacts to free text or free call us. SUPER EASY! Skype – Brent’s Username is: brentslane, Laura’s is L*3. We’ll help you add our contact information to your phone / Ipad (if we see you before we leave). Once added, simply click on the username in Skype…. Skype can also be used to text message and voice call us just like a phone if we are on WiFi. Email – We’ll check email when we have WiFi service Brent.s.lane@gmail.com streetblane@gmail.com lauralouiselane@gmail.com Facebook – Use Facebook Messenger to text us and we’ll receive and respond when we have WiFi. How did we get here?
We’ve revealed to our friends and family our plans of travels over the next year or so and we hear words of excitement, fear, wonder, and… oh my jesus these people have lost their minds! Some say we are “lucky” or “brave” but really we are planners. Though there is some crazy luck and an ounce of bravery, this has been a very deliberate decision. This choice seems sudden to many as if this was a whim of spontaneity and a quick decision but I am here to assure you we have been planning this for quite some time. Planning Summary: 1) Brent and I met in April 2006. Soon after we began dating he invited me to live abroad in Roatan, Honduras. I quickly gave an emphatic “NO.” After all, I barely knew him. 2) The invitation prompted travel discussions. Dreams of living overseas developed and by the end of 2006 we were talking about this regularly. We knew we weren’t planning to have children and in a sense this became our child. We nurtured this dream and fluctuated between both excitement and fear for how it would develop. 3) Talk eventually became action and in late 2010 we moved to Dallas to be closer to our families and reveal our intentions to live overseas. We wanted to spend more time with them before we departed the U.S. (I think they heard us with hesitant ears… hearing but not believing it would happen.) 4) January 2013 I began an MPH program. My dream was also to become an epidemiologist and working overseas in any official capacity would be helped with a master’s degree. I don’t particularly care to work as an illegal when I move abroad. If you know me, you know I’m a true rule follower. 5) In December of 2014 we thought we were going to begin our world move BUT Brent’s job offered him a position in Austin. We couldn’t resist going back for one last stint living in a place we consider home. I obtained a fantastic job as an epidemiologist working in the Tuberculosis and Refugee Services Branch of DSHS as an epidemiologist. Austin was luring us back in with the comforts of familiarity and good fortune. Rent was high so we began looking for a condo. 6) We found a home, put down a contract, and regularly discussed what this meant for our world plans. It would lock us down for a while for sure but we kept telling ourselves was, “it’s a good investment.” We both knew though that this might keep us in Austin indefinitely and I think we both saw the dreams of living abroad fading away. (For any of you who have read the Alchemist I read this during this time and became aware I was being lured off course by Austin, my beautiful lady. I was fearful I was going to lose my personal legend. OUR personal legend). 7) Life intervened. Rumors began at Brent’s company that it was going to split. It eventually became clear he was going to lose his job. He did and we were able to get out of the contract for the condo. On top of it, the universe was sending us out on our journey with a little bonus check, which means we don’t have to just throw darts at a globe and blindly move, as originally planned. We can travel and explore and have our own adventure! 8) April 28th 2015, days before the anniversary of the date we met, we are departing on our world journey. What a gift to be able to travel, vacation, explore and determine where our feet will land. We will get to see so many places I’ve only dreamed of and taste food, smell smells, and smile at the world first hand. Our relationship began in an unexpected way. Our journey has been uniquely ours and we own our decisions and chances. I really believe that God or the universe or whatever you want to call it, is sending us on the journey we have been asking for for so long. Our intentions are paying off in an amazing way. With that in mind I’ve already learned so much and we haven’t even left the US. I learned that you can never anticipate what will make you sad to give up (for me the robot shirt nearly put me out). You really can’t foresee which people will make you the saddest to speak goodbyes. Laughter and tears have already smattered this journey and I know there is more to come. Selling life belongings and beginning this journey is scary and wonderful. It has challenged communication with Brent and strengthened it as well. This will continue and this is the part of the journey I am most excited about. Getting to know my love in a way that is deeper than making life’s daily ritual seem sufficient. I recognize this isn’t for everyone and I am in no way saying this is what everyone should do. But, this is definitely what WE should do and I’m so glad that our hard work, luck, and life have brought us here. I expect my views to change as I see the good and bad in the world. Here you will be able to follow that with me. The race |