Alright kids, here’s a quick run through on our last full day on Iceland, still struggling with WordPress and the new website, so bear with me.
We need to get on down to Central Reykjavík and see if the buzz is justified, but first check out this DIY military RV/caravan that was in the neighborhood. This is a vehicle that can handle the worst of Iceland’s roads and weather, like an Aussie outback rig but owned by someone short of cash.
A funny thing, vegan food is hot here, yet so is eating puffin and whale. Fish and lamb, locally farmed, are evilly expensive, so vegetarianism is attractive, but puffin and whale are heavily marketed towards tourists. Can’t imagine puffin is very tasty but I will never find out: Abby is appalled. On the other hand, if you’re a soup fan you are in the right place, Iceland is surely the soup capital of the world.
The weather is, once again, diabolical, raw as a plate of sashimi, but that doesn’t deter the masses of tourists in the center of town. This area is compact and stylish, in a Northern outpost way, but not sure why it is such a hot ticket at the moment.
Since the Vikings arrived here back here in the 9th Century, creating the first civilization, Norse mythology is big here, though, likely, Celtic monks from Ireland were here before them. The Celts buggered off back to Ireland because it was too damn cold and the Vikings had terrible table manners. Either way, it must have been a daunting, bleak, frigid landscape for the first settlers. But since we’re shopping on Laugavega Street can I interest you in an outsize plastic hammer of Thor, or a life size bust of the warrior goddess Freya?
The Icelandic Punk Museum, located in a repurposed underground public lavatory, looks like a fine destination but, sadly, we never see it opened in our time there. In between Arctic squalls and violent wind microbursts old Reykjavík and the harbor are checked out, and it’s picturesque enough, with plenty of museums and expensive tourist attractions, but it is still bloody freezing.
We brought cold weather gear but for Iceland you need to step up your clothing game and pony up for some serious wool and hi-tech accoutrements.
The Drunken Rabbit, an Irish pub, is our refuge from the elements but,, watch out, the rabbit has a gun. Finally onto an atmospheric old bar and restaurant, Prikid, for a vegan burger. Very early departure tomorrow for Glasgow, Scotland so that’s it for Iceland. See you in Scotland where it will be 5C warmer.
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