Farewell to Iceland

After a good night's sleep and no need for an early morning 'suitcase out the door' we took ourselves down to breakfast and as again the skies were grey and overcast with likely light rain we decided that this narrowed down our options for how to spend our last morning in Iceland.  Jan had been looking through some brochures and found one for the Saga museum which was of the history of Iceland. It sounded good so we got a taxi to take us there.  It opened at 10 and we were there shortly after. It was excellent.  We had an audio headset that we used to take us around each of the scenes.  The mannequins were absolutely 100% life like.  So much better than Madame Tussaud's.  One of them was in a standing position but moving ever so slightly as though it was breathing!!! I initially thought that it was an actual person - and it was a part of the museum's show that he would start talking, but that wasn't the case... unbelievable.  After wandering around all the diaramas we then went out of this area to watch a video in the darkened film room of how they made all the scenes and models.  It was really interesting. They have been so exact in recreating authenticity in the clothing , weapons and everyday objects they constructed using traditional methods.  All the weapons were specifically crafted and the wool and linen articles were all hand-dyed.  As we had come into the video room with the film already started we sat through till the end, and as the video was on a loop we watched it from the start until it got to the bit where we came in.  As we went to leave I whispered to Jan that the young fellow sitting in front of me hadn't moved.  Jan wanted to know how many times he was going to sit through the movie, and it was then that I realized that 'he' was in fact a mannequin. It was so lifelike that we were still whispering to each other in case 'he' might hear us!  Being the Princesses that we are we then had great fun taking our own photos with 'him'. There was also an older Asian fellow sitting in the front row right at the end.  I asked Jan whether she thought he was a mannequin too and we both thought we had seen him earlier in the main part of the museum, but as he was sitting so still and had his eyes closed, neither of us were 100% sure.  Thankfully Jan refrained from holding a mirror up to his mouth and I didn't sit next to him and put my hand in his lap as he then opened his eyes, realized that the movie was still going, got up and left.  We almost wet ourselves laughing.  Took ourselves to the cafe area across from the video area, and had a cuppa - and a few laughs with the lass serving at the counter when we commented on the lifelikeness of the young fella watching the video.  We got the impression that most people never pick up on the idea that he isn't real!!!
Anyway we then had a little walk around the nearby area but it was quite industrial and nothing of major interest, plus it was light drizzle so we got a taxi back to out hotel and as it was already 12.30 only had a short wait for the shuttle to take us to the airport.

In the airport we had to do an online book-in at one of those silly self service things.  We both finally got our luggage labels printed up and boarding passes printed, but we weren't sitting together and it was way beyond our comprehension of how to try and find 2 seats together.  We decided that we could endure 2 1/2 hours separation during the flight. Through Immigration and then grabbed a bit of lunch then onto the plane.  It was a fairly full flight. I was really surprised to find myself seated next to 2 of the English people who had been on the ICeland tour - and what was even more of a coincidence they are the same couple that Jan had sat next to on the way from Heathrow to Reykjavik. What are the odds?
Uneventful flight so arrived at Heathrow safe and sound.  Walked for what felt like miles until we got to Border Security.  It really peeves me that we Aussies are trapped within a Commonwealth that ties us to Mother England's apron strings but we have to queue with the also-rans rather than fast tracked with the EU countries. Bah humbug... However I shall attempt to keep my anti-establishment views in check and continue the story.
When we get to the Border Security counter, we both go up to the counter together and hand over our passports.  One of the questions on the form we have to complete asks how many days are we in the UK.  We have both put 4.  The lass at the counter said something like, 'So you've come for 4 days of fun, have you? Jan says 'yes', and as the lass is stamping her passport I said 'yes' as well, 'but I want my stamp so to say "her for 4 days of fun".  The lass thought that was so funny and kept us chatting with her for about 5 minutes, bugger anyone else waiting!  She noted my middle name and said that this was her middle name to.  I said that perhaps we were related and had been separated at birth.  She thought that was hilarious, especially as she is originally from Trinidad and has a somewhat noticeably darker complexion than me.  We were clearly having so much fun at the counter, that the fellow sharing the booth next to her made a comment because he wanted to be included and she told him to get back to work. He said he kept hearing bits of what we were saying and wanted to hear more.  I did feel sorry for the young girl standing at his counter who simply wnated her passport stamped and to be allowed through!!!
Anyway, after more laughing and me still insisting that I expected to find a stamp in my passport that says 'here for 4 days of fun' we left Border Security and made our way to luggage collection that took about half an hour, but thankfully both our cases arrived okay - and I was happy to not only see mine come out on the conveyor, but that it wasn't wet!!! Then through Customs and we almost got out through the duty free shop when we spotted a bottle of Baileys that called to us to 'buy me' which we did.  It must have been a slow night in Heathrow as the sales assistant wanted to chat, to the point that another sales lady came over too and wanted to know where we had been and where we were going and what would we be doing in London - maybe they had already heard that we were here for 4 days of fun??? Eventually we got out into the main arrivals area and there was our driver waiting for us - Jan had pre-booked a car.  We then made our way to the car park where we got into the luxurious Mercedes, sat back in the soft leather back seats, put on the individual air conditioners and sat back as we drove in absolute luxury to our hotel - the Strand Palace.  Got to the hotel about 9.30 ish. Booked in to our room, had a Baileys (Jan knew where to find the ice machine) and then across the road to grab a salad and sandwich for our very late dinner.  Back to our room to eat our supper and then bed as it is now after midnight.
Weather is warm so am hoping for more of same tomorrow. We have had a terrific time in Iceland, so am expecting great things from our short London stay.
Good night for now - as I am a very tired little travelling Princess.