Traveling with a Busload of Torons.
As we spend our last day on our Icelandic tour, since it’s my 1st tour, I thought I’d give some pros and cons to organized tours:
1. Pro-the deluxe motor coach is roomie and you can relax without driving. Con-you’re on a bus with no free will
2. Pro-You go to places that you’d never go to on your own. Con-you go to places that you’d NEVER choose to go to on your own.
3. Pro-the tour guide is knowledgeable. Con-the tour guide doesn’t shut the hell up with all his knowledge like a miked-up Cliffy Clavin.
4. Pro-the tour guide thoroughly informs you what you need to do and how to proceed. Con-I’ve been in a buffet line before and would be able to identify the salad area from the main courses without a 10-minute lecture/demo. Same with checking in at the airport. Everyone figured it out and got to Iceland in the first place.
5. Pro-With the average age of tourists about 75, you feel young in comparison. Con-you might as well book through AARP and get your new hip now, if you’re living life in this slow lane
6. Pro-You get to go to the front of the line on any side tours. Con-Waiting for 20 old people to get out the bathroom ahead of you, especially having to follow cantankerous Mr. Wilson, who must have excreted some of his black soul into the bowl, only to have the others who use the loo after you think that you’re the one who blew up the bathroom (I did not have the horse stew or whale au gratin)
7. Pro-Having a fixed plan each day Con-having a fixed plan each day down to when you can use a bathroom
8. Pro-Learning about Icelandic culture and topography Con-Knowing more Icelandic history than the average Viking, who made it
9. Pro-Being able to ask a fellow tour member to take your picture. Con-Not being able to smile, as you’re sick of looking at their face all week.
10. Pro-Never seeing 90% of the tour members again. Con-getting stuck next to Mr. Wilson on the flight home.
Well, tonight was the last chance to see the Northern Lights-I think that’s been the biggest con. My optimism is officially depleted. Home tomorrow.
Rubber Chicken 