Iceland Trip - Day 1

Lots of positive feedback on the pictures. I updated them with some new ones ---> http://picasaweb.google.com/acaprio/Iceland

We will keep adding new pictures at least until we switch hotels on Monday of next week. Once we get to the next hotel we will see what connectivity options they have and will post pictures and e-mail if we can.

The boys had a ball today. Some slept on the plane and others were too excited to close their eyes. For some it was their first airplane ride or time being out of the country. Iceland is a extremely friendly country. They seem very intrigued by our boys and are treating them somewhat like celebrities. The local time is 4 hours ahead of NJ, so we landed in Iceland about 6AM Iceland time and we got to our hotel around 10AM. Check out the unbelievable pictures from the plane and the bus ride. The actual ground is very dry and brown, but the sky is blue, the air is crisp, the water is crystal clear, pure and delicious and most dramatic is the snow covered mountain ranges contrasted by the never ending view out over the ocean. I tried to capture this in many of the pictures.

We walked into town (about 10 minutes) to a local bakery and had lunch consisting of chili soup, assorted breads and flavored doughs and sandwiches. The person on the Iceland end who helped coordinate everything is named Kenny and he did an outstanding job. Our boys as having an experience of a lifetime. After lunch we came back to the hotel and then they went swimming. Check out the pictures of the swimming complex from the top of the hill. This complex is where they will practice and play initial games while in Bourgarnes.

In some pictures you can see the snow covered mountains behind the boys while they are swimming. The air temp during the day was 16 degrees Celsius (about 60 degrees fahrenheit). All of the pools and hot tubs are warmed by the geo-thermal heat from the ground. After the pool we came back to the hotel to rest before practice at 7:30pm. While the coaches were working out with the team some of the parents visited a local restaurant for dinner which was very good. It seems that the news that there is a basketball team in town from the has gotten a lot of attention. The local girls showed up at the gym and hotel and tonight they came en-mass after practice. Check out the last 2 pictures of about 8 to 12 girls hanging out and talking with the boys (don't worry, we were chaperoning in the background) The girls were forward and not shy, but not inappropriate. They talked and laughed and seemed to get along great. The hotel manager kicked the girls out at around 10:45pm and the boys headed to their rooms.

Tomorrow they have early morning practice at the gym. We are reminding them to do their school work (those who were assigned it) and to make sure to keep a daily journal.

Please be assured that we are reminding the young men that they are representing their club (Sports U), their country and their sport and they are doing an excellent job and you would be proud of each and every one of them.

More tomorrow... Andy