Eating and Hiking Around Southern Iceland: A Taste

[KennethT]

After a 2 year hiatus, we're finally back on the horse (plane)!  This trip was originally planned for summer of 2020 but we all know what happened to those plans.  Luckily, the airline (Iceland Air), all 4 hotels and the car rental company were completely understanding and were more than happy to practically indefinitely postpone our reservations considering that we had prepaid all our hotels to get the best rates.  Iceland was one of the first European countries to open up to tourism with no quarantine period, and by now we don't even need a negative test or anything else - we don't even need proof of vaccination...

 

Be prepared for some amazing, otherworldly landscapes and most probably lots of langoustine!!!  Langoustine is caught locally - unfortunately we just missed their annual Lobster Festival in Hofn which was 2 days ago.  Also popular there is locally caught artic char, horse and hopefully we'll get some reindeer somewhere.

 

Our flight leaves late tonight and we get in around 9:30AM local time.  As usual, I may put up some teasers here and there while we're away, but I'll put a whole writeup together once I get home.

Edited July 10, 2022 by Mjx
Title adjusted per OP request. (log)

[ElsieD]

Oh goody, I can't wait!  If it's on the menu, try reindeer tenderloin.  I had it once in Norway and it is delicious.  

[TicTac]

Thanks for taking us along with you @KennethT! 

 

The question is, how brave are you / will you be trying fermented shark!? 😛

[KennethT]

1 minute ago, TicTac said:

Thanks for taking us along with you @KennethT! 

 

The question is, how brave are you / will you be trying fermented shark!? 😛

I have no interest in fermented shark... who am I, Andrew Zimmern?  I'm all for trying local traditional foods if they're tasty (crickets, silk worms, etc.), but there's a lot of locals who don't even like it, so why bother?

[TicTac]

4 minutes ago, KennethT said:

I have no interest in fermented shark... who am I, Andrew Zimmern?  I'm all for trying local traditional foods if they're tasty (crickets, silk worms, etc.), but there's a lot of locals who don't even like it, so why bother?

I was unsure if you had a line of Icelandic blood coursing through you....

 

And how will you know if it's tasty or not if you don't bite the bull ......😜 

 

 

[KennethT]

2 minutes ago, TicTac said:

I was unsure if you had a line of Icelandic blood coursing through you....

 

And how will you know if it's tasty or not if you don't bite the bull ......😜 

 

 

Guidebooks and blogs talk incessantly about the fermented shark like they're giving away door prizes to anyone who tries it.  The primary description is "pungent ammonia".  I get enough caustic chemicals at work, thank you.

 

And anyone can take one look at me and know there is definitely not a drop of Viking blood in me... ha!

Edited June 28, 2022 by KennethT (log)

[Anna N]

Looking forward to this and wishing you a wonderful time in Iceland. 

[heidih]

Find myself salivating literally at the langoustine ahead, and mentally at landscape images. Anticipation is high.

[KennethT]

Just driving out of the airport the views are impressive!

 

[Anna N]

1 hour ago, KennethT said:

Just driving out of the airport the views are impressive!

They are indeed. A perfect appetizer for what is to come. 

[TicTac]

1 hour ago, KennethT said:

Just driving out of the airport the views are impressive!

 

Hope you brought your hiking boots!

 

[KennethT]

17 minutes ago, TicTac said:

Hope you brought your hiking boots!

 

You'll see soon enough!

[KennethT]

It's 10:30PM but it sure doesn't look like it!!

 

[KennethT]

Today was a great day filled with amazing sights. Tomorrow should be epic!  From earlier today:

 

ETA: that water color is real - no filter, color correction or Photoshop needed

Edited June 30, 2022 by KennethT (log)

[heidih]

So what creates that water color - the underlying formations - like the blue on white sand places?

[ElsieD]

1 hour ago, KennethT said:

It's 10:30PM but it sure doesn't look like it!!

 

 

They have those same sod storage places in L'Anse aux Meadows in the Northern Peninsula in Newfoundland.  They were used by the Norsemen when they settled the area.

[blue_dolphin]

10 minutes ago, heidih said:

So what creates that water color - the underlying formations - like the blue on white sand places?

 

I'm sure you'll get an on-the-scene response from @KennethT, but I've seen similar water color in glacier-melt pools and lakes in Canada and New Zealand and was told that there's fine sediment from rocks grinding on each other that's suspended in the water and scatters the sunlight to create that milky, aqua color. 

[heidih]

Whatever it is - it is freakin beautiful  - the kind of sight that makes your body just sigh with delight

[KennethT]

8 hours ago, heidih said:

So what creates that water color - the underlying formations - like the blue on white sand places?

I had no idea, I had just read about how blue it was. It's not a common tourist spot. What's also amazing is that you can get so close to it! I wish I could post video.

 

Thanks @blue_dolphin!

 

[gfweb]

Eat anything yet?

[Shelby]

How did I miss this???  I'm so excited to go on a trip!

 

That water is amazing.  Can you drink it straight from there?  

 

Does it stay light all night?

 

I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation  

[KennethT]

This was our reward for making it to the summit of Brenninsteinsalda:

 

[KennethT]

We just got back to the hotel room. Exhausted and need to do a bit of housekeeping before bed. Just took this photo at 11:40PM:

 

 

[curls]

Gorgeous picture and landscape!

Are you planning to enjoy some of the geothermal pools/springs?

[heidih]

3 hours ago, KennethT said:

This was our reward for making it to the summit of Brenninsteinsalda:

 

I am hungry. Looks like a bowl of chocolate pudding streaked with marshmallow creme.