Laugavegur Trek 2023

   DAY 5 - August 30, 2023   Today, after breakfast, we checked out of the room. We stored the duffle bags at the hotel and went for a walk in the city to occupy our time till noon. We had to be at the bus stop at noon for pickup and driving back to the airport.    We walked around at a park nearby. They had some neat sculptures and flower gardens. We also visited a cemetery and walked through it. This was the wall outside the Harpa concert hall. We had stood on this wall and taken a picture when we all visited in 2019. With the Sun Voyager sculpture. This sculpture is thought to be an ode to the sun. After strolling around the city, we headed back to catch the bus back to the airport. Waiting for the bus.  Once we reached the airport and checked in our duffle bags, we went looking for a place to eat some lunch. We decided to eat at Elda restaurant in the food court.   I ordered an acai bowl, and Neel got a sandwich, fries and soup. The soup was v...

 DAY 4 - August 29, 2023   Today was the last day of the trek. As mentioned, the "slow" trekkers, including me (sad !) were asked to leave at 6:30 am, to make the bus on time. We woke up by 5 am, had oats and fruits for breakfast, packed a lunch and headed out. It was a beautiful morning. The guide let me know there were a few uphill and downhills initially and then it was mostly flat till the end. The trail was well-marked and there was no concerns we would go the wrong way or get lost in the highlands. The guide said he and his group would leave around 9 and catch up with us, but they never did. The Emstrur huts, as we left and started walking towards Thorsmork. The sign showing it was 15 km to Thorsmork (ending point) and 39 km to Landmannalaugar (starting point). The three girls from Iowa started out before Neel and I. They were the slowest in the group. We thought we will catch up with them, but we never did. It was a gorgeous sunny day and it was amazing to be out s...