I’ve come to the realization that I hate to write (type) my last post for any trip.  It’s so final – the trip is done and that’s the last chapter in the book (yes, hence my blog post titles this time).  Maybe part of it is that coming back I’ve had to get back into the ‘work mind-set’, which seems to be harder these last several years.  😦

Regardless, I’m pushing through this and pulling together the final chapter of Iceland 2019.  Let’s start with Reykjavik.  We stayed here at the very beginning of our week before heading to Vik and spent our last several nights here before catching our flight.  Nothing is more fitting for a visit to this island than their (well-known) icon – Hallgrimskirkja.

A few notable facts:

• Stands guard over the city and is the largest church in Iceland.
• Concrete façade is an ode to modernism and a reminder of the Icelandic landscape and took 41 years to build.
• Named after Iceland’s most celebrated religious poet.

This time I got to the very top since the elevator rehab was complete, unlike in May.

After driving along the Southern coast, we spent our last several nights in Reykjavik.  Teams were putting this together earlier in the week, but we had no idea what it was.  Upon our return, it had been completed.   It is supposed to be huge, scary with blazing red eyes.   We learned the legend of the ‘Christmas Cat’.

It is among the best-known Icelandic Christmas creatures.  Legend has it, the Cat eats those who don’t get new clothes for Christmas (Oh, don’t forget the cat is humongous).  To avoid this, everyone needs to do their chores to receive a gift at Christmas, no matter how small or simple.

Since we’re on the topic of cats………..we did find this guy as we were walking through town.  He was definitely getting his share of attention, especially since someone had placed a wool blanket on the ledge.  He was almost as popular as the Christmas cat.  He does not look terrifying, just perturbed.

 

From cats to bras……………….Uh?

Yeah, I didn’t know how to make that transition flow smoothly.  We drove past this earlier in the week and when returning to Reykjavik we stopped for a quick photo.

HAD to google it (bra fence Iceland) and found this info.

• Said to have started in 2012 as some locals were having a party and stole some bras from a local lady nearby.
• 10 to 20 people contribute undergarments daily.
• Local farmers and the landowners chuckle at the colorful site and remove items once the fence gets weighted down.

Let’s talk ice- glacial ice.  Adrienne had some great photos she let me include.  I’m giving a shout-out to her sister.  Adrienne picked up photography tips from her through the years.

And was able to catch the ice water drip as they slowly dissolved.

From ice to snow….…………

My favorite ‘secret lagoon’.

Adrienne has the new I-phone 11 which captured interesting photos at the black sand beach – sunset and moon rise.

There’s a subject I’ve been holding until the last post – The Northern Lights.  There’s never a guarantee, some make multiple trips without every seeing them and I had no expectations that we would see them.  Our last night in Vik, walking back to our place, the sky had faint coloration that was not moonlight.  Yes, we were seeing The Northern Lights.

A number of years ago, I went parasailing and the company was called YELO – You Only Live Once.  Who would have guessed that I would find this along a deserted stretch of the ring road in Iceland.  I definitely believe that phrase – I’m not trying to be a ‘daredevil’ but experience interesting things along life’s journey..

Okay, there you have it – the final Iceland post for my November 2019 trip.

The last photo I’m included is a smaller version spotted during my first trip.  We unknowingly walked past it our last night in Reykjavik.  I love to travel and squeeze in trips whenever possible – even if only a long weekend.  I don’t need more ‘stuff’ to remind me of my travels, but experience-gathering is my focus.  Don’t get me wrong, I still pick up an occasional souvenir, but I go more for something edible or wearable to remind me of moments I’ve experienced, thousands of miles away or nearby.

Goodbye Iceland for now, I will be back.

Ginny

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whhhaaaattttt?  How does a lagoon and tomatoes combine for a blog post you might ask?  You would be surprised.  Read on to find the connection.

 

Our last full day in Iceland and we woke to this……..

Overnight rain had turned into ice on our windshield with a smattering of snow.   Good thing our rental car included an ice-scraper!  I haven’t used one of those in years (Okay, actually decades.  A Florida ice-scraper is any available credit card, HA!)

Plans had been made to visit the ‘secret lagoon’, an hour away from Reykjavik.  Plugged in our route and Adrienne started driving.  We had to drive over a mountain pass and the sprinkling of snow we saw in town was turning into this.

Before I knew it, we were following two snowplows, trying to keep the road cleared.

Soon enough, we were traveling through the countryside and saw Icelandic horses enjoying the snow.

Along with some sheep.   Yep, not the best photo but we never did get another chance for a sheep photo during our trip.

The last half mile before reaching the secret lagoon………….we’re driving through this.

The Secret Lagoon – which is kind of a misnomer – is not really a secret.  Eric and I did this as part of our Golden Circle tour in May and I really enjoyed it.  I was looking forward to this as soon as we started planning this trip.

There are specific instructions before getting into the geothermal-heated water – what you can and cannot wear.

Shoes are removed first in a communal room.

Lockers (separate men & womens in case you’re wondering) are provided to secure your clothes and any other necessary items.

The next step is taken very seriously and important – a shower sans clothing.  Nothing fancy, kind of sterile, almost like being back in gym class – except cold!  The door to exit to the lagoon was at the end where I’m standing.

Signs were everywhere……………………..

My first visit was humorous.   Those that had not done their homework were shocked when the group was given their instructions……..and asked the cashier to repeat the instructions, several times.

I saw a phrase  “There is no shame, we are the same.”  The shower idea makes sense once you realize that no chemicals are used to clean and monitor the water.

So, you’re wet, head to toe, slip on your swimsuit and head outside – it’s cold!  But you are greeted by this sight.  Those little white specks you see in my photo……….snow!  The fog in the background, actually steam from boiling water.

It was magical – truly!  The water is (steaming) hot, you’re quickly warmed up upon stepping into the chest-deep pool.  Notice the white stuff on my head – yep, snow.  It quickly melted, but they were large, wet, sloppy snowflakes.

The edges are local rock and the bottom is pebbled with volcanic rock.  Some enterprising individuals created their own stacked rocks.  Full disclosure…….my stack is on the right and another’s on the left – they had waaaaaay more patience than I did finding the right size rocks and getting them stacked.

Past the fence is a series of thermal spots where water bubbles up and flows into the pool.

 

Signs were posted to ensure everyone is aware of the absurdly hot temps when the water erupts.

There are at least 3 lifeguards keeping an eye on the water and its participants:  1 inside looking through a glass sliding door, another is walking the perimeter and occasionally 1 guard is inside this box – staying warm.

Afterwards I grabbed a coffee to end my time, others selected different options.

I love this place!  Not sure I would enjoy any other geothermal heated pool and with the snow, even more magical. Man – wish I could step into this pool at least once each week.

 

So now you’ve heard about the ‘lagoon’ in the title, what about ‘tomatoes’?

 

I’d been reading about a family greenhouse business:  Fridheimar.

A little internet research and it was within 15 minutes of the secret lagoon – yeah!!!

A few facts:

• It is a family business, focusing on greenhouse production of (4) tomatoes.
• 1995-purchased the farm with 2 greenhouses on site.
• 2002-expanded and upgraded their greenhouses to produce tomatoes year around, while also traveling to nearby countries (primarily Finland) specializing in greenhouse tomato production.
• 2007-added an equestrian center.
• 2012-developed food products and greenhouse tours. 
  

We did need a reservation and finally the stars aligned and they could seat the two of us Saturday afternoon.  We had been emailing back and forth for several days.  They only serve 12 noon to 4pm and are open every day of the year (except for a few holidays).  While waiting to be seated, we stopped at the bar for a red tomato beer and a green tomato beer.

Surprisingly, the beer wasn’t bad.  The red beer (left) had a lingering tomato taste, the green one (right) did not.

It was a simple menu – tomato soup and bread.  Yes, that’s basically it.  If you don’t like tomatoes – don’t stop.  You could add skewers of protein and they also had a salad on their menu.

LOVED their olive bread.  No olives inside the bread like many recipes, so the olive taste was not overwhelming.

At each table setting, these centerpieces were multi-functional – snip basil leaves to add to your soup. Or, you could add a chunk of butter, sour cream or shredded veggies to your bowl.  Even the water had tomatoes slipped inside for a slight tomato flavor.

A bloody mary was added to enjoy the meal.

And yes, even the desserts were created from tomatoes.  The left was the tomato ice cream (served with 2 different sauces, green tomato & vanilla and the other red tomato & strawberry) with the right being the cheese cake (topped with tomato jam containing cinnamon and thyme).  Don’t wrinkle your nose – they were both delicious and had no overriding tomato flavor. Being served in clay flower pots added to their charm.

There was opportunity to walk among the tomato plants and production was similar to what I did when I worked at The Land at Epcot.

Man, wished we had those rolling ladders when I worked in a greenhouse.  We had to carry and move the ladders ourselves.

 

The more I read, the more I became fascinated.

• 18% of Iceland’s tomatoes come from this one facility.
• They are very ‘eco’ focused and specialize in natural resources, being recognized locally and nationally for their dedication and direction.
• Resources being geothermal water to heat the greenhouses and ‘green’ electricity from hydro and geothermal power plants.
• Climate controlled computer system, which monitors weather and light, reacting to their ever-changing environment.
• Glass panes are only 4mm thick to maximize sunlight.

You are literally dining in one of their production greenhouses, surrounded by vining and ripening tomatoes.

This is not really ‘farm to table’ but ‘plant to plate’  🙂  One more Icelandic post coming.

Ginny