(Note: found this damn post floating around in the ether. I’m such a Luddite. Sorry it’s out of order)
Everyone was a little nerved up today knowing it was the last in Iceland. The girls had purchased many treasures and even though we had contemplated that possibility we hadn’t brought an extra bag. So that was our mission today. First my daughter needed to complete her Terry Pratchett collection. She had found a book store selling his books for much less than she could get them in Canada. So they went shopping while I sat with a really good coffee and people watched. She also had to go back and have another look at a reindeer hide she wanted but ultimately decided it wasn’t perfect enough. I had to have a final look see at the wool shop and of course couldn’t resist another “small😜” bag of wool. There’s just something about the colors and textures I just can’t get enough of.
I hadn’t had an Icelandic hotdog yet so we stopped for one for lunch. They are snappy little things, very sheepy, but in a good bun with crunchy fried onions and sweet brown mustard. A must have while visiting here. Then off to IKEA we went to find a bag. What luck!! We found the perfect cheap little duffel–bought two to double them up for more structure and were quite pleased with ourselves. Last time we spent an unfortunate amount of money in a “real” duffle from a department store.
With blue skies calling we headed out of town on our last adventure. North to Pingvellar, the ancient site of Icelands first parliament. Situated in the northern mountains on a fault where the two tectonic plates meet, it’s really only a half hour out of Reykjavik. When we were here last it was all snow covered, now we could see what had been buried under the snow. It was quite beautiful, on a lake, and the willows were pooping out little catkins.
We walked along the fault to a beautiful waterfall then back in the other side of the river.
What a gorgeous day–hot–we all stripped down to our tee shirts. We have been so blessed with the weather 5 out of six days were sunny and mild. The worst weather was our island day and even that was quite exhilarating to be walking in. On our way back we stopped at a nice little bakery for a nibble then home to pack up our IKEA bag. I thought we should have had some tape to secure it more but we couldn’t find any. One of the girls at reception suggested we use Saran Wrap so we picked up a roll when we went out for supper.
Aidan had spotted a restaurant that had fried Camembert and she was all keen to try it.
Sissy wanted the langoustine salad and I saw beer braised mussels.
OMG the best meal ever!!
We had an Icelandic stout to wash it all down with and waddled out of the restaurant completely satisfied. It almost erased the memory of that horrible lamb. We walked a loop of the neighbourhood–the stout was 5.6% alcohol and I am a cheap drunk. I didn’t want to drive while wibbly. Back to the hotel for a final pack and bit of telly before bed. It’s been a great trip to Iceland. Aidan flies home tomorrow and we fly to Paris on another adventure.
A Sheeps' Trail 