Day started with a breakfast that we will no doubt repeat over the next 5 days so will give one look at it today. The added value of beetroot shots will be monitored over the week, a very earthy start to the day. Other Icelandic elements the skyr yoghurt.
On the subject of earth, a bit of toilet humour as I share some of the insights you find in this hotel be it in our own toilet or the public spaces. I completely get it!
Today was about heading towards a new site being erected in honour of the old Nordic gods. A bit of neo pagan right up my street, the voices of Odin, Thor, Freya and Frigg go a long way in my world. Coming back with force over here apparently with a couple of thousand joining up in the last few years, a couple of mainstream religions would take that sort of recruitment drive. This article is a good summary of the direction of travel https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/02/iceland-temple-norse-gods-1000-years
Our route out to this temple took us past airport, the edge of the CBD, and then out to the University and various nature trails. The journey was probably more impressive than the destination at first, as is still a bit of a construction site, although stumbling across Thor’s wooden hammer in the woods was a highlight, as well as a bit of plane spotting at the airport, and fringing the city centre to get there. It should be noted that the domestic airport, just a stones throw from the CBD set up by British when they moved in during world war 2. Think Iceland were neutral for the most part, but you can imagine a pretty strategic location for both sides.
The temple was a construction site, but ever one to look for a sign I found one. As I moved toward the front of the site where there was a bit of a cornerstone I was greeted by a friendly black rabbit. Just sitting there, a sign of the pagan gods if ever there was one, I could have sworn he was trying to communicate with me. I hadn’t eaten any of the local foliage I promise. At one with the natural world. Perhaps pagan these days really means green, although I did have the hooded man of Clannad ringing around me at times. No, I did not eat anything!
Perhaps invigorated by this natural world we then stumbled upon something of a bit of a phenomenem. Scooters everywhere buzzing around this city, and is a bit of a pick one up/drop one down as you need them. So chrissi and I downloaded the app, Hopp scooters. Found a couple outside the university ( which was near the temple) and we were soon whizzing around the cycle lanes of Reykjavik, great way to get up and down some hills for decent photo shots,and got us back to the city centre. Pretty action packed. Also reduces the carbon footprint apparently although perhaps not as an alternative to walking! Finding my inner hippy for sure.
Top of the city is the main church and a statue of Leifur Eiriksson, the real Viking explorer to first set foot in North America, pre Columbus. Took a while to take that in, then walked back through the city centre past all the quirky sculptures, colourful buildings and quiet bustle. They are very much in the right gear out here.
With plans to be out in the evening we had made the decision to have our main meal at lunchtime at kopar. There was a financial thought here, still high quality and local possibilities,but without the night time premium. We had a 3 courser that was quite exquisite. Starter of crab/shrimp soup that felt Thai without the spices but rich ocean creamy flavours. Main of lamb like I have never tasted before, cooked to perfection,juicy, succulent, you name it. Dessert involved sorbet,Icelandic yoghurt and something crunchy that amounted to a cheesecake that was magical. Washed down with more craft ale, today the slightly less offensive titled but equally tasty Borg.
The plans for the evening didn’t quite go to plan. The Blue Lagoon has to wait for another day as 40 mins of not being picked up at a bus stop put pay to that. After a bit of rearranging we revisited our plans from yesterday and visited the municipal baths. It might be cold outside but their outdoor pools are warm, their hot tubs hot, and their steam rooms steamy. Friday night post work in Iceland is all about a chat and a swim. If they had got some cider in it might have almost felt like home.
We walked back to the hotel for a peaceful and quiet end to the day. Perhaps a little bit more blogging than I would have liked and have probably missed some of my important observations from the first draft! But albeit in a calm and measured way, perhaps a sign of this relaxed place, it was a comforting task to rewrite, with Bryn down at Ashton gate giving me good news about the Swans. So it might be oh so quiet in Iceland but it’s still the Swansea boys making all the noise…. Viking style, many think the name Swansea has Norse origins http://www.medievalswansea.ac.uk/en/context/viking-swansea/
I feel your pain. I have had to many wonderful blog posts eaten by the computer, the second one never feels as good.
ReplyDeleteBut from my point of view this second effort is epic. Not only the great music to start, but some amazing food. I think I need to add Iceland to my list, it looks amazing.
As usual you have had a very busy day with a lot of enjoyable activities. As enjoyable to read as I hope they were to write (twice).
Hope the rest of your break goes as well.
You and Drew would love it here Haydn. So many restaurants, many with those massive 7 course menus that you love. I probably won't be able to make recommendations at that end of the scale but suffice to say with your level of research you would find easily. I've passed a couple and very much remarked to Chrissi these would be Haydns kind of place!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful.
DeletePrompted by your travels I've been looking at a few restaurants of the kind you mention, they do seem to have plenty in Reykjavik. Dill looks especially good though Matur og Drykkur and ÓX both look good too.
Drew would like the Viking connection. His surname is a town name in Norway, so he fancies he has Viking blood. I don't quiet see him as a berserker 😉