We met in the breakfast room for the breakfast buffet and figured out what we needed to wear today, lots of layers. We were on a guided walking food tour around the downtown of Reykjavik; it was predicted to be a very cold and rainy day. After deciding to pack everything I could to be warm in my backpack, we met in the foyer of the hotel. Our guide showed up right around 11:00 am.
Stefon started with a short description of our tour and what we would be tasting. When he mentioned the fermented shark, he proceeded to give us specific instructions on how to eat it when the time came.
As we set out he began to regale us with funny stories and colorful information about Icelandic history and culture. Stefon does have a very good sense of humor, and we learned so much!
The best way for me to tell you about our experience is with the pictures,
Stefon started with a short description of our tour and what we would be tasting. When he mentioned the fermented shark, he proceeded to give us specific instructions on how to eat it when the time came.
As we set out he began to regale us with funny stories and colorful information about Icelandic history and culture. Stefon does have a very good sense of humor, and we learned so much!
The best way for me to tell you about our experience is with the pictures,
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Meet the polar bear which is not native to Iceland nor do any live in Iceland. Sometimes they make their way to Iceland on an iceberg. They are eliminated immediately as they are the only bear that will eat you alive, so Stefon told us. Too dangerous to have on the island of Iceland, and Greenland doesn’t want them back! This is reason there are no predators on the island.
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The Old Book Store in Reykjavik: this book shop is fourth generation and very quaint. While it was not a food stop, Sandy wanted to check it out so we went in.
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The first food tour stop was Taste of Iceland.
One interesting thing we learned at this stop was how the country gets the smokey flavor in foods since there are very few trees in Iceland. They use sheep dung or as our guide said "Sheep sh*t." |
In route to our next stop we passed by the rainbow road. |
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Stop number two of the tour. The Iceland hot dog is made from lamb and pork. Then boiled in beer. |
Stop three was at a very old restaurant and bar for Lamb Stew. We all managed to climb up a very steep set of steps. We had no idea we would be asked to carry our plates down these step. With all of our stuff, it was quite a feat.
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Do you believe that the day got colder and halfway through our tour the rain began in earnest, getting us very wet. It was time to use the rain gear we had stowed in our backpacks.
The tour finished up at the restaurant Kokteilsedill which is where Stefon had worked for a while so he knew the owner. The tastings started with a beverage of your choice. Most of us chose the wine. Mary Ellen opted for the beer and Kathleen declined so she stuck with water.
Salted Cod with potatoes and tomato sauce.
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Skyr with a raspberry topping
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Fermented Shark has to be eaten in a specific way and then after 5 - 10 minutes it is chased by a glass of Black Death (Icelandic Schnapps) to keep the ammonia taste from coming back to haunt you.
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We thanked him for a wonderful tour before he headed out. This was supposed to be a three-hour tour period. By the time we finished it was almost four o'clock, so it turned into a 5 hour food tour. I think the tour guide had as much fun as we did! Before Stefon left he gave us all a present. It was a magnet with the Vegvísir symbol that will guide us on our way.
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With the tour ended, Kathleen headed off to the bookstore that she wanted to check out. The rest of us headed up to find Rainbow road, so we could go check out the Hallgrímskirkja, the Lutheran church that our guide had mentioned during the tour. Sandra wanted to take a ride up to the top of the steeple but the rest wanted to do a little shopping so we headed out. Sandra later told us that she had taken the elevator up to almost the top then had to walk up 32 step; as she was leaning over to look, the bells peeled above beside her head and made her jump.
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Mary Ellen, Linda, and I had it back down to do some shopping and went into the Taste of Iceland. Mary Ellen and Linda looked at a few items then decided that they wanted to go to a different store. I was making purchases so we split up at this point. With my purchases in hand, I headed back to the hotel as I was tired.
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After Mary Ellen came back and had a little nap, we decided to go find something for dinner. Sandy joined us and we ended up back at the food hall from last night. This time I had a wonderful salad with freshmade Bufala cheese. Mary Ellen had delicious Pho, and Sandy had a Chinese bun.
After dinner Sandy headed back to the hotel while Mary Ellen and I went back down to walk along the shoreline again. This time we headed the other direction. I wanted to go down and see the house where the treaty had been signed that ended the Cold war. |
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Tomorrow we transfer to a different hotel and stop to see the Pelan observatory on the way.