It is now my fourth day in Reykjavik. It’s been daylight here the whole time. I’m starting to forget what it’s like to be in the dark.
Yesterday I got up bright and early to go on The Golden Circle Route tour (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Circle_%28Iceland%29). I saw some great sites of Iceland including The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nesjavellir), þingvellir where the Icelandic Parliament first met in 930 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Eingvellir), The Gullfoss Waterfall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gullfoss), and Hukadalur Valley which has several geysirs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haukadalur#Haukadalur.2C_Golden_Circle). I took a lot of beautiful pics which you will see when I return. I also took some amazing videos of The Gullfoss Waterfall and one of a geysir going off.
I met a nice fellow from Ottawa on the tour named Adrian who was studying in Sweden. After the tour we met up at a local establishment and decided to try some hakarl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakarl), a popular delicacy in Iceland which is simply fermented shark. I was previously told it was absolutely disgusting but I decided to try it anyway. I had the first piece without smelling it and while it definitely wasn’t good, I can’t say it was the absolute worst thing I’ve ever tasted. I smelled the second piece and got a whiff of the ammonia used to prepare it which wasn’t too pleasant. I’ve attached a picture taken with my phone of the hakarl tasting experience.
After that I went out and experienced some Icelandic nightlife. I went to a local music club called Nasa and saw an Icelandic band whose name I don’t recall. I took a bit of a tumble walking down some stairs and scraped my knee a bit but I am all right. The band was fun and I had a great time dancing with all the locals there even though I didn’t understand anything the band was saying.
I went to another place afterwards at around 3:30am and talked with someone from Montreal. I told her I was from New Jersey and she told a funny slogan she came up with for us: "New Jersey - America’s Storage Space".
I decided I was tired from all the nightlife after 4am so after I got some pizza I headed back to my hotel. Things were still going strong and I could hear music being played from a lot of clubs. These folks love to party and don’t seem to sleep. Things don’t really get going around here until after midnight.
Today I’m going to take in some local downtown sites including The National Museum of Iceland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland_National_Museum) and check out some local shops. Shopping in Iceland is tax-free.
Tomorrow I’m going to go on a hiking tour and after that will visit The Blue Lagoon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Lagoon_%28geothermal_spa%29), a geothermal spa which is a popular tourist spot.
I’ll be leaving here early on Monday and then heading over to Dublin via De Gaulle.
Until then...
Gulfoss Waterfall:
Geysir erupting:
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| þingvellir |
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| Geysir |
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| Me looking badass |
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| Hákarl with Brennivín chaser |
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| Me trying hákarl |
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| Icelandic band at Nasa |
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| Yours truly at Nasa |
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