Day 13 Eat The Menu

We have just a few hours before heading out to the airport, so we squeeze in just a little more walking. First stop: the Penis Museum. We did this one on our last trip, when it was in a far humbler space in Húsavík. Today, we're just hitting the gift shop to see what's new. Highly recommend The Final Member documentary if you cannot make it to this museum. Or even if you can. 

 One of the things we looked at yesterday was the Icelandic Punk Museum, but we make it today. The entire thing is set up in a public toilet, with exhibits in indivudual stalls and every surface. I've been to the Go Go Museum in DC, which is all digital displays and this is far better an experience. The most high tech thing here is headphones playing spcific albums on repeat. A fun, quick stop that has Bill excited to get his Sugar Cubes CDs out of storage. They also have a playlist on YouTube.

Close up of one of the earliest entries in the history captured in the museum.

Icelandic Punk Museum clearly in a bathroom

Our last real stop is a bakery where I get a cardamom bun and he gets one last coffee. This is in the same little complex of buildings as the restaurants we've eaten at both nights here. Solid grouping, would dine again.

 

Bill enjoying one last coffee.

The view from where we wait for the airport shuttle

Then we are off to the airport for a day of mostly sitting. There is a bit of excitement as we somehow forgot all about needing to clear customs and left the lounge later than we should have. The line was insanely long as apparently all the flights to North America leave in the same 30 minute window. It moved fast, and we made it easily after the initial stress. Sad bo be leaving so soon. We'll have to stay longer next time.

Whale Watching

We made it. Only one change in airports and 3 delayed flights to end up arriving only six minutes after we were supposed to. Plenty of time to get through immigration, exchange funds, and catch our bus to the Blue Lagoon.

I had read a few recommendations to visit that geothermal spa on the way to the airport, but I like our way better. A nice hot bath was wonderful after a day of air travel, and we have the option of showering again in the near future instead of at the end of a long day of air travel. Also, it means this is the first place we see here.

Then it was off to Reykjavik where we discovered that our hotel has good rooms and is in a great location. We wandered around for a few hours to familiarize ourselves with the area. This was mostly looking in shops and ogling building before dinner. Also, making friends with other tourists.

This was Pride Weekend, but most of the fun stuff was yesterday. If I had known when we were booking flights, I'd have tried to get here yesterday to see the drag queens at NASA.

I also got to learn a couple of new words in Icelandic. Útsala and gullsmiður. No chance to use both in the same sentence yet.


Some had suggested that we would find disgusting fare so we did our best to start off with traditional dishes. No rotten shark fin. I'm still undecided on that. I'm not going to look for places that have it, but if we're in one, I am not sure I won't order it just to see. I did have haggis and whale as part of a sampler platter. I have fond memories of haggis from Scotland and this was an entirely different experience. Interesting, in a livery way, not terrible, but not something I'll get again. Whale, however, was pretty good. Closer to beef than fish in flavor and prepared with just a sear to the outside. Still haven't tried the Black Death, but I've got all week.