(photo by Lee Ka-sing)
(7) Should we go?
Mrs. Bento and Ginger usually take their vacation every year in early or deep Winter. A time when they have fewer guests and can afford to take a week or ten days off. This year Mrs. Bento suggests to visit Venice and its famous Biennale. Ginger has never been to Venice and worries about the sinking, plus the Biennale only begins in May.
"Not to worry about the water!" said Mrs. Bento, "According to recent research, it would only sink by about 3 inches, relative to the sea in the next 20 years, if the current rate holds steady." That sounds less menacing except the plan still doesn't work. They will be busy from mid-April and the hectic schedule will continue through November. By good fortune Mrs. Bento remembered their last trip on the way to Spain they flew by Iceland, and stopped at the Keflavík Airport for two hours.
"What about Iceland? Do you remember we saw the northern lights in the airplane?"
"Oh yeah, I'll google a bit about Iceland. Hopefully we are not bumping into icy weather. Actually when approximately we are going?"
After much calculation and speculation about their work schedule, they have decided to go in early April. The season is not perfect, but it will already be Spring there.
"Ah, won't be too cold. Just consider our weather here, now. Won't get any worse than minus 30 degrees!" thought Mrs. Bento. "Zeez!" she quivers as she thinks of the frozen pipes two years ago, which flooded the ground floor and the basement, not once, but twice! Ginger's fingers are fast, she tabs into a web site https://www.iceland.is and she reads out loudly,
"Iceland is a country of sharp contrasts. A place where fire and ice co-exist. Where dark winters are offset by the summer’s midnight sun. A country where insular existence has spurred a rich and vibrant culture. Hallgrímskirkja Church, Viking World Museum, northern lights, thermal pools, caves and lava tunnels, Björk! Oh I found something interesting, there's an Icelandic pledge for tourists.
I PLEDGE TO BE A RESPONSIBLE TOURIST.
WHEN I EXPLORE NEW PLACES,
I WILL LEAVE THEM AS I FOUND THEM.
I WILL TAKE PHOTOS TO DIE FOR,
WITHOUT DYING FOR THEM.
I WILL FOLLOW THE ROAD INTO THE UNKNOWN,
BUT NEVER VENTURE OFF THE ROAD.
AND I WILL ONLY PARK WHERE I AM SUPPOSED TO.
WHEN I SLEEP OUT UNDER THE STARS,
I’LL STAY WITHIN A CAMPSITE.
AND WHEN NATURE CALLS,
I WON’T ANSWER THE CALL ON NATURE.
I WILL BE PREPARED FOR ALL WEATHERS,
ALL POSSIBILITIES AND ALL ADVENTURES.
Ha, if we're going to sign that now, we'll be number 55838 and 55839. Oh mom, do you remember the 2010 volcanic eruption? That horrible ash cloud causing thousands of flight cancellation across Europe. It says here it was the highest level of air travel disruption since the Second World War!"
"Oh yes, I almost forgot. Iceland is a volcanic island! Should we be going then? Now it sounds dangerous."