Madrid 2025 – Post 1

by ginnyinshanghai

The journey began with an Uber to the airport. Thank goodness for these ride-share options. Otherwise, parking at the airport would be a huge financial shock upon return. Been there, done that.

Next stop……..The Club, MCO, for breakfast and drinks – coffee for me, not for the other two.

This adventure we used American Airlines – a first for us. Usually, Delta is the airline of choice, but a recent number of delays on other trips, led us to look for other options. We had a layover at Charlotte before going overseas.

We left the states and headed towards Spain.

Airline food is not usually photo worthy………but having real plates and silverware bumped it up a notch or two – just saying.

A glass of wine to help doze off.

But let’s get back to the main story……………….Espana!

Once we chose the country, then selected Madrid as our starting point the next decision was (1) north or (2) south. Eric ran into a couple from Spain several months ago and once he said we were ‘foodies’, they said no choice – go North. But let’s get back to Madrid………

As with most of our flights, landing in Europe occurs very, very, very early on their time. Arrival was scheduled for 5:30am. Let’s just say going through the Madrid Airport was a breeze. We kept walking, walking and more walking before we got to Customs – which was empty. Fastest we have ever gotten through!

We had reserved an AirBNB apartment in the old town of Madrid. We reserved it the night prior to our arrival in order to go straight there and nap. One of the wisest practices we started doing a number of years ago. It is so worth the extra dollars.

Instructions were fairly simple, but since we arrived in the dark, outside photos will come later. Here was the final barrier to bedtime.

A few quick photos before napping. We reserved a 2 bedroom, 2-bath apartment.

Small kitchen with everything necessary. All appliances were behind the white panel doors: fridge, disherwasher and the combo washer/dryer.

But the thing we were looking for…………….

What did the outside look like? Here’s a shot once the sun came up and we went walking. We are on floor 2 (not counting the bottom), corner apartment. Loved having the elevator. I will walk down the stairs, but walking upstairs with luggage is no fun.

The key code to open the building was the same key code to get into our place – sweet!

All were awake and ready to find lunch by 11:30am.

We have always enjoyed the European markets so Mercado de San Anton was locked and loaded in Eric’s phone – 1.1 km away, we can easily do that.

Walked in and this greeted you. Love it! Upstairs were the food stails.

I felt like a sandwich from this establishment. No, that is not a hotdog.

Spanish shaved ham, sundried tomatoes, parmasean crema with arugula was very delicious.

Adrioenne had no problem making her choice – octopus.

Eric ordered a few different things to share: scallops, cheese croquettes and oysters.

Add in local Sangria along with cider and your meal is complete.

Way more adventures to come. This day we took advantage of the ‘dry’ weather to walk more of the city. My next post will take you along our walk. The next day promised rain so that somewhat dictated our plans.

Ginny

Thanksgiving activities 2024

by ginnyinshanghai

I was able to tick off another thing on my bucket list………..5K Turkey Trot. Why was it on my list? Most ‘turkey’ runs are on the morning of Thanksgiving and I’m working. This 5K was scheduled the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. Where?

Southern Hill Farms

This is a 120-acre family-owned and operated farm in Lake County. They offer u-pick and commercially harvested blueberries, strawberries, peaches and seasonal veggies. They first planted blueberries in 2010. In the Spring and Fall, sunflowers and zinnia fields are ready for cutting.

But on sunday, they were offering a 5K race and kids fun run! Florida was having a short cold spell and these were the temps as we drove to the location.

Brrrrrr – that’s cold for us. We checked in to get our running bibs, just as the sun was coming up.

One of their structures was a rooftop deck and great for a few photos.

I was able to capture a photo with the blueberry bushes and a bit of fog that had not burned off yet.

The race kicked off at 8am. The ‘Fasties’ were stationed under the start/finish line. Those of us walking & jogging were ‘MIddle of the Pack’ group, followed by the ‘Those Strolling’.

Starting right on time, the first part of the route was paved and went through the center of their u-pick fields.

I got to pass by the western side of a sunflower field.

But then, we ran into this substance………………sand. Ugh! It was NOT fun to run/jog/walk. A few of us were sticking to the edge to find vegetation. Or at least something that was more compact. There were a few runners with their baby strollers. They were having a VERY hard time in the sand.

I mentioned they started as a blueberry farm. Yep, we were going past the perimeter of blueberry fields!

Until we went through the middle of the field.

Got to take a shot on the eastern side of the sunflower field. Can’t wait until they get a bit taller, and we can stop by for fresh produce and cut sunflowers.

Part of the course was doubling-back from where we started. Yeah! on a solid surface again. I can see the finish line!

Finally made it. Now I need to find Adrienne. I was not going to let that little kid behind me reach the finish line first.

But wait……..one of the tastiest parts of this event………warm, fresh apple-cider donuts at the finish line. They were delicious!!!!

Before heading back to the house and a shower, one last photo. Adrienne placed 3rd in her age bracket and was awarded a wooden cutting board. Another ‘goodie’ we got for participating was the small, planted succulents.

How do you refuel after that? Go for sushi.

Hot tea and assorted plates for sharing was just the thing. Feeling full and tired…..a Nap was next on the agenda.

We had one more activity planned for Thanksgiving week. Dinner thursday night at Columbia’s Restaurant in Celebraton.

It’s become our tradition to eat dinner at this Cuban restaurant after getting off work for this holiday.

The first thing we always order………Sangria, concocted table side. Two glasses please, one for me and one for Adrienne. Sorry Eric.

Bring on the Spanish bean soup, Cuban bread and the 1905 salad. These were the precursor to our meal.

One of my top favorite entres is their La Completa Cubana. A feast of lechon asado, boliche criollo, empanada de Picadillo, platonos, yuca, black beans & yellow rice. Yum, Yum. Waaaaay too much for one meal but I always plan on the leftovers to take for lunches the remainder of the week.

Eric’s selection was the Red Snapper ‘Alicante’. Boneless fillet of red snapper baked in a casserole with sweet Spanish onions, green peppers, a rich gravy, olive oil, garlic, white wine topped with sliced roasted almonds. He was happy.

Adrienne selected their traditional 1905 salad, with a nod towards Thanksgiving. Their ‘legendary’ salad is tossed table-side with crisp iceberg lettuce as the base. But instead of the baked ham, turkey is the protein. Add in swiss cheese, tomato, olives, greated Romano cheese, worcestershire sauce and their ‘famous’ garlic dressing. It is indeed a meal.

One last thing is needed to finish the night – dessert.

Pumpkin pie
Crema Catalana

That pretty much wrapped up our Thanksgiving week for 2024.

Ginny

Reykjavik Winter 2024 #7

by ginnyinshanghai

Besides the food, we had two traditional yet classic Icelandic experiences. First up, a thermal pool.

Sky Lagoon

Opened in 2021, this oceanside geothermal lagoon demonstrated the commitment to sustainability as their water sources is fueled by the country’s 600 natural hot springs. Their building techniques and building supplies were sourced intentionally and sustainable. BTW – almost every home in Iceland is heated with geothermal power.

Soaking in the warm, mineral-rich geothermal water is a beloved Icelandic tradition. We made two separate visits to the Sky Lagoon during our stay. Coming into the reception area you begin to soak in the ambience and relax.

There is ‘spa etiquette’ that everyone should be aware of and follow.

>Remove your shoes before entering the changing facilities.

>Locate a locker, store personal items inside, locking with your wristband that also serves to purchase food and refreshments.

>Shower your body, sans clothing with soap and warm water to keep the pools clean. Yes, some places have private showers, others do not. We have done both types. First time showering in front of other females felt odd, after that, no big deal. Think high school gym class when you had to shower……… only these are MUCH, MUCH, MUCH nicer showers!

>Put on your bathing suit before leaving the changing room to head to the geothermal water.

Find your spot to enjoy the warm waters and peaceful surroundings.

At the back of the above photo you can see a waterfall. We both enjoyed the spray. Me, not quite as close as Eric. 🙂

Earlier I mentioned ‘oceanside’………..the 75 metre infinity edge of the lagoon was a gathering spot for all.

Did I also mention they have a walk up/swim up bar? Your wristband serves as your payment method.

With your entrance, you are able to participate in ‘The Ritual’. This is an opportunity to slow down, take your time and experience a deeper healing journey through all of your senses.

Not going to lie. The only part of me that ‘plunged’ into the cold pool was the few inches up to my ankle. The photo on the right you can slightly see the rounded edge of the cold plunge spot.

Walking into the turf house, the next step was the sauna.

I could not spend many minutes in this part before I felt like was cooking.

This was a ‘cool’ spot. Ha, Ha! Mist sprays were slowly occurring as you walked into and out of this area.

Totally loved the next step in the ritual

They didn’t mind being in my photo.

Take as much time as you want to exfoliate.

You’re all salty, oily and it’s time to walk into the steam chamber.

Not too much to see in the steam room…………………….

You’re almost finished with the ritual and yes, slightly dehydrated.

Herbs in the elixir
Very tasty and refreshing drink.

Alas, time to brave the chilly air and winds to head back out to the geothermal lagoon.

What’s left to do after all that? Enjoy the relaxing pool. We visited this place twice during our visit. Below is a short video of the second visit – it was VERY windy (and I was in a protected area – Yikes!).

Would we do it again? A.b.s.o.l.u.t.e.l.y. Our first day in Iceland after arriving, we visited and our last full day in Iceland we went back again.

We exit the building and……………….

After some light refreshments to fuel and rehydrate, we drove the 15 minutes back to our apartment.

Oh man – wish I was back there now.

At the beginning I indicated we had 2 traditional Icelandic experiences. What was the other one?

Aurora Borealis – The Northern Lights

All our research indicated the best way to seeing the Northern Lights……booking a guided tour.

I follow several Instagrammers from Iceland and one company stood out – Artic Adventures. If your first foray with them doesn’t work out to see the Northern Lights, you can rebook another night, and another night, with your reservation good for 3 years (no refunds) until you see the lights.

Their reviews were fabulous. Rebooking did occur and still the reviews had positive things to say. We booked them. We also choose a day early in our vacation in case it didn’t work out. And it didn’t. If cloud cover or rain is forecast, the tour is canceled by 6:15pm (pick up was 8:30pm) and you can rebook. We looked at our remaining days in Iceland and the Friday night looked the best option – not great, but better than the other days of the week.

Here’s the radar that night. Our guide (also the driver) felt he could find us a window north of the city.

Our group of 18 was in an elongated super jeep. One couple on the tour had rebooked 2 other times that week and been canceled due to cloud cover. One criteria was to get away from the city and subsequent light pollution. We drove 40+ minutes before he stopped, talked with other guides and pulled off onto dirt roads. Yes, we needed the super jeep.

I had done my reading and truly did understand the lights tended to be ‘white fuzz’ to the naked eye. The camera on your smart phone could filter out that light and still give you a decent photo.

My first viewing, not really impressed.

Second photo I could faintly see pink and green.

Okay, things are getting a bit better. Definitely seeing streaks of green.

And then the money shot.

I will continue to be on the hunt for ‘dancing’ northern lights, but I’m good for now.

I plan to be back. Why? The unparalleled scenery, the abundant natural beauty, the thermal pools, the delicious food, the wide-open spaces and vast areas of untouched wilderness.

On my first visit in 2019, I found this street art on one of their buildings. I was hoping we could find it again. We did. This is why we travel:

We need to collect -great- moments. This is my last post for the 2024 Icelandic visit. Hope you enjoyed our activities and learned a bit more about the land of Fire & Ice.

Ginny, Eric & Adrienne

Reykjavik Winter #6

by ginnyinshanghai

More food and a f.a.n.t.a.s.t.i.c dining experience.

This was really one of the few times we stayed at an apartment and did no cooking or noshing. We primarily used our kitchen space for morning coffee and drinks.

Why was that? Soooooo many food options within easy walking distance! Let’s continue to explore the Icelandic food scene.

The Laundrymat Cafe

First meal of the day – breakfast. This establishment was approx. 1/2 block from our apartment. Easy walking even in windy conditions.

It had your basic breakfast options. That’s okay, that’s what we wanted.

Maybe the blood mary wasn’t the norm……………….but who’s judging.

What was in the basement, yep, a laundromat.

This place was quite popular and by the time we left, fairly full. And it was another windy day in Iceland – just saying. Some days, you needed to hold onto your hat!

Old Iceland Restaurant

Established in 2014, their focus was to highlight Icelandic produce. They use herbs and spices from the mountains of Iceland. A lunch option one afternoon was this spot. On the outside it was a quiet unassuming place, but their small plates had quite an artistic flair and flavors were punched up.

Between all of us, every meal someone ordered soup. Soup is good for the soul and for the body – another way to keep warm. Of course, you needed to accompany it with bread. 🙂

Shellfish Soup

Soup only goes so far and occasionally heartier choices was needed.

Cured salmon, rye bread crumble, smoked roe and dill oil.
Arctic char fish, confit potatoes and roasted peppers with accompanying greens.

Posthous Food Hall

This was a great stop if we needed a little something to share, a chance to duck in out of the rain & wind and still enjoy the vibe of Reykjavik.

This sushi bento box was our pick one evening. We had a large lunch but wanted a little bit something that night. This was perfect to share. By the time we left Iceland, I believe we had tasted something from most of the food stations inside this establishment! LOVE food halls!

Kopar – Reykjavik’s Old Harbor

At Kopar, they aim to provide an Icelandic dining experience that pays homage to traditional ingredients, while also surprising their guests. In their kitchen, the ingredients provide the inspiration, and the chefs follow their years of experience to deliver something new. It works!

Soups! Perfect for a rainy wintry evening.

Creamy tomato soup with aioli
Rock crab soup

Followed that with Artic char fish with tasty veggies and of course sauces. Add a nice bottle of red wine – you’re good.

At the beginning of this post, I mentioned a fantastic dining experience. Here you go.

Matur Og Drykkur

This was our ‘splurge’ meal experience.

Truthfully, I didn’t ask Eric the price because I didn’t want to know the price. They serve a 10-course dinner experience offering the freshest and best ingredients at any given time and create a unique dining experience. It was worth it!

The first four courses were these small bites.

Left – cheese and rowanberries Right – halibut and angelica

Next two plates served are below. Not enough to fill you up, leaving room for the remaining courses.

Left – monkfish liver spread with dulse seaweed crackers. Right – rutabaga and goat cheese tartlets

This next food to arrive was one of the most unassuming and amazing things we ate that evening. The chefs forage wild herbs and mushrooms as well as collaborate with local farmers to obtain the best ingredients. The brown bowls were a concentrated (locally-foraged) mushroom broth with a touch of soy sauce and vinegar. OMG!!! More great food arrived but the simplicity, the taste and the preparation for this course………to this day, we are still talking about it. At this point, I could have asked for another bowl of this heavenly broth and been done for the evening. Yes, it was that good.

When I saw this on the prix fix menu, it made me nervous. As long as I blocked out what it was……………..it was really tasty. All was gone off my plate.

Lamb heart, malt, black pressed garlic and kohlrabi

This was probably my least favorite bite and the only thing I didn’t finish. The flavors were fine but not appealing to me.

Smoked haddock, onion, celeriac mash and rye bread crumbles.

The next protein course I enjoyed, but…………….I was starting to get full.

Reindeer, beetroot, reindeer moss and pomace.

Before any food arrived after we sat down, our server told us about a ‘chef special’. She got half-way through the description, and I already knew we would be saying ‘Yes!’.

Fire!

Then this was brought to our table. So really, instead of a 10-course meal, we had an 11-course meal with the special.

Cod head – poached then roasted before coming to the table. Yes, I tried some – but I was getting full. The other two, cleaned all of the meat from it. The waitress commented they truly knew how to pick every last morsel from the bones.

We have eaten a LOT of food. But wait, there’s more. The final dessert plates.

Bottom left – Artic thyme, crowberries and cold pressed rapeseed oil. Bottom Right – Kleinur, caramelized whey and cardamon. Top – It wasn’t on the menu, but came to the table. Tasted like pressed caramelized sugar.

Upon entering the dining area, this area is set up, kind of like a shrine. Why? The red cookbook inspired the restaurant and its offerings. It was the first ever published cookbook printed in Icelandic, 1922. It means Food and Drink – hence the name of the restaurant.

These recipes were old and traditional yet simple recipes using ingredients available at that time.

Would I do it again – absolutely! We were stuffed but happy during our walk back to our apartment.

Ginny

Reykjavik Winter 2024 #5

by ginnyinshanghai

The downtown part of Reykjavik was an easy city to walk and I’ve always felt safe. I split off from the other two to re-visit some of my favorite places. Sun Voyager was one of those.

The city of Reykjavik wanted to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the city with a new outdoor sculpture. A contest was held and Jon Gunnar Arnason’s concept was chosen with the sculpture unveiled in 1990.

It is constructed of stainless steel and sits on a circle of granite slabs. The sculptor wanted everyone who came to Reykjavik to see this metal ship and imagine where they could travel with it. It is located to the north of the capital on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

The artist intended to convey the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom. It is simple yet elegant, reminiscent of a Viking ship honoring Iceland’s history and sea-faring tradition. This shot gives you a small part of Reykjavik’s cityscape.

While the sculpture sits along the water, a short distance away was one of their iconic venues – The Harpa Concert Hall & Conference Center.

Construction started 2007 in the area but was temporarily abandoned in 2008 when Iceland’s financial crisis took hold. The original plan was to include a hotel, retail & office space and apartments. Later that year, the governor decided to fully fund the half-built concert hall with the other elements on hold.

The first concert played in the building was The Iceland Symphany Orchestra in 2011. This group eventually made The Harpa their home.

The glass facade was inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland and consists of 714 LED lights.

They have concerts, exhibitions, children’s events, conferences, markets and more. I looked at their upcoming event schedule and man (!) there are some events I wish I was there to see.

Inside was a gift shop and cafe with seating along the glass walls. It is on my ever-changing bucket list to attend a concert when visiting Reykjavik.

In front of the venue was this statue.

The Musician. This Icelandic sculpture was at the previous home of the Icelandic Orchestra and when this became their home base, they brought it with them. Nice.

What is behind The Harpa? This yellow lighthouse and entrance into the port. These were the same waters the Sun Voyager oversees.

Also gave me the opportunity for un obstructed view of the water and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the western part of Iceland. A part of Iceland that is still on my bucket list to explore.

We drove through part of it in May but at that point, we were nearing the end of our Ring Road adventure and ready to get back to Reykjavik. The Snaefellsjokull volcano resides here and on clear days can be seen from Reykjavik, 75 miles away.

There was one thing happening in Reykjavik that I haven’t mentioned – Iceland Airwaves Music Festival.

The first festival was held in 1999 as a one-off event in an airplane hangar at Reykjavik Airport. In 2018, 50% of the performers were female, making the festival one of the first to include gender equality in its lineup. Their main focus is showcasing new music, both Icelandic and international. We did look at ticket prices, but they seemed steep. One evening Eric heard a group from the Faroe Islands in a local bar. He really enjoyed them.

What else is really cool (ha, ha) about Iceland this time of year? Christmas!

They don’t celebrate Thanksgiving like we do in the states, so there’s no back& forth or discussion when Christmas lights should (or should not) go up. They were wrapping the trees in the square in front of us during our visit. You can barely see the worker in the upper left corner in a high reach finishing up this tree.

I was hoping to see the Icelandic Christmas Cat or Yule Cat as mentioned in their folklore, but alas did not. We did see the statue in November 2019 if you read those blog posts…………………or goggle it.

I want to end this post with flowers. Some were seen in the greenhouse we visited, and others were part of the landscape. Enjoy.

Still have a few more Icelandic posts to write.

Ginny

Reykjavik Winter 2024 #4

by ginnyinshanghai

We headed out of town for the day’s experiences. Sunrise was 9:32am. That was an adjustment for us. Getting dark at 4:49 pm was much easier to absorb.

Once we turned off road 1 (ring road) the traffic was non-existent. And the sun has risen and blue skies with a few wispy clouds started the day.

Our second thermal pool experience for this trip! Of course, it’s not much of a secret if it is an optional add-on for those on the ‘Golden Circle’ tour.

It is called the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, dating back to 1891. The mineral- rich natural resources of the warm water from the nearby hot springs makes this special. The water flows continuously and replaces the volume in 24 hours.

In 1909 the first swimming lessons in Iceland occurred here and the pool was in continuous use through 1947, after which it fell into oblivion. 2005 the idea was raised to bring it back for a second life. make it more comfortable but keep the authenticity. It re-opened in 2014. We had visited this location in 2019 and noticed updates on this visit. Ten days this year it was closed for a rehab, not changing anything major but upgrading the existing facilities – very nice improvements.

These two found a niche in the back corner and never moved. The building behind them was the original spring house.

The bottom is pebbly with a few larger rocks intermingled. Some got creative stacking the rocks.

I wandered to the other side of the pool checking out the (cold) fountain of water piped in.

Overall, the pool was lightly attended. There for a brief time a tour bus arrived and approx. 10 joined us in the pool. When they left, less than 6 remained in the water. Nope, the other two haven’t really moved.

These pools have lifeguards. Seeing that listed as job experience on a resume would seem strange……..unless you were somewhat knowledgeable about Iceland.

My little sheep made an appearance. Unfortunately, he also got dunked.

There’s a wooden walkway surrounding the pool. That water is HOT coming straight out of the ground. About 30 feet away flows a large creek with some of the hot water making it’s way there.

Another new addition to Secret Lagoon was their lager. A beer that tastes like beer – I like it. Eric stayed with water since he was still driving to our next destination on today’s journey.

Fridheimar Greenhouses and Tomato Farm

The greenhouses have been growing tomatoes since 1946. The current owners purchased the property in 1995 and have continued to grow, expand, upgrade and offer experiences.

They started with 1 full time employee and have 70+ now. They utilized the 2020 Covid pandemic to upgrade their employee facilities and greenhouses along with another offering for food & drink: Winebar & Bistro.

The Restaurant is available noon to 4pm daily and reservations were needed. It was a 10 minute drive from the Secret Lagoon so we stopped in at their new spot until it was time.

Sat at the bar and ordered a few munchies to nibble on with the wine.

I’m not necessarily a fan of cherry tomatoes – too much skin for too little fruit – but these were some of the most flavorful cherry tomatoes I had eaten!

While we didn’t eat here this would be an option if reservations had not been available in their main restaurant.

Time for our lunch reservation!

The tables were spaced around the tomato growing area.

The menu was simple……………tomato soup is the star. You can add protein options and this time I saw a pasta with tomato sauce available, but primarily everyone was there for the soup.

We ordered an appetizer off the menu, Icelandic burrata cheese with heirloom tomatoes.

There are several buffets set up throughout the eating area holding the vats of tomato soup and the BREAD.

OMG the bread. Adrienne has been talking about that bread for 5 years when her and I visited in 2019.

On everyone’s table was this arrangement of fresh basil, sour cream, shredded cucumbers and butter if one choose to add to their bowl of soup.

Eric and Adrienne ordered bloody marys. Eric’s base tomato component was green tomato (left).

After the meal we walked around their tomato production.

They import bees from the Netherlands to pollinate the tomatoes which arrived in specialized boxes. Some were on display as part of their educational focus of their facility.

They had a small gift shop with some of their tomato products available for purchase.

This was the most amazing item (to me) in their gift shop. They had packaged a strand of tomatoes carefully in specially designed boxes with each cherry tomato cushioned. Wow!

All too soon it was time to drive back to the city.

Ginny

Reykjavik Winter 2024 #3

by ginnyinshanghai

Let’s talk (and eat) Icelandic food!

Before our ‘Funky History Walking Tour’ we stopped in at a nearby cafe for breakfast. We needed to fuel up before walking the town.

Cafe Loki – homemade traditional Icelandic food in the heart of Reykjavik.

Bagel with cream cheese and chives for me.
Homemade rye bread with egg and herring or smoked fish for Adrienne.
Homemade rye bread with cold-smoked trout for Eric.

Posthus Matholl Food Hall

Nestled in the heart of the city, it was more than your average food hall. It stands as a testament to the city’s culinary diversity and vibrancy. Locals and visitors like ourselves continued to converge upon this eating establishment when you need a little something to nibble on.

Another advantage to a food hall…..it allows us each to order different types of foods. Can’t believe that Eric ordered a hamburger! The fries were some of the best. We kept sneaking some throughout the evening.

PIzza! That was my choice. It looked good, smelled good and was mighty tasty.

Adrienne ordered salmon. She won according to Eric. She said the fish was cooked perfectly.

Wine and beer (for me) accompanied our meal that evening.

Even though it was cold (and windy), lots of walking, shopping and touring continued. A nearby brewery was a good stop to warm up and grab some salty snacks.

We had stopped in during previous visits and our beer selections were local brews. Every food stop always included a bottle of Icelandic water no matter where we landed, and the brewery was no exception. Ice was rarely available as typical of European locales. That little bowl of salty goodness – delicious! We were fighting over the last few crumbs after getting a second bowl.

Here they are solving world problems………………or the next place to eat. 🙂 That afternoon, we had the place to ourselves.

A misty sprinkle turned into a solid rain and we ducked into this establishment along one of the main roads – Messinn Seafood Restaurant. Five years ago this was part of a walking food tour and we hadn’t returned, until now. They specialize in ‘fish pans’ which are served with freshly cooked fish straight from the kitchen, together with butter-fried potatoes and vegetables.

Eric choose the ‘Cod Tung’ fish pan which are really fish ‘cheeks’. He’s seen similar along the Gulf coast but the cold water makes the meat fatty – which he loves.

While Adrienne selected Artic Char fish pan.

The damp weather had me eyeing their langoustine fish soup topped with a dollop of cream – perfect for the day. Can’t forget the bread basket.

The last restaurant for this post was literally around the corner from our apartment – Icelandic Street Food.

Screenshot

It was billed as flavorful food for a reasonable price in downtown Reykjavik offering traditional Icelandic meat soup. Their website indicates it was the first fast food concept in Iceland with traditional Icelandic food. It is a family-owned business with recipes made from their grandmother.

Order was placed at the counter with your name called once they were ready to serve you. The vats of soup were right along the bar – which was our chosen seating, right in the middle of the action.

Eric photo-bombed my shot as we were waiting. I selected the Einstok White Ale that evening.

An option was to have your soup served in a bread bowl…..which I did for my order of lamb soup which also included potatoes, carrots and root vegetables.

Eric selected the Shellfish soup with the broth made from langoustine and included Icelandic scallops and shrimps.

Did I mention that refills were free?

Along one wall a small self-serving station had this notice:

Yikes! It was a zoo. They couldn’t make the waffles fast enough. Customers were coming to the counter as they came off the iron – but were told to wait until it came to the station. A sprinkle of sugar or fruit jam was available to top them and add a touch of sweetness.

This was the night originally booked for our Northern LIghts tour – not happening.

They sent us a cancellation email 2+ hours before departure and the opportunity to rebook. Looking at the upcoming week’s forecast, we choose Friday evening, our last night in Iceland. We’ll see – or not.

Ginny

Reykjavik Winter 2024, #2

by ginnyinshanghai

Booking with AirBNB, sets you up to receive ‘suggestions’ for other activities. Eric got a notice for this local company ‘Funky Iceland’ and booked us the ‘Funky History Walk with a Local Storyteller’. Their guides take you through 1150 years of Icelandic history and the fight for surival, freedom and tolerance. These values continue to shape its liberal attitudes today. BTW – the rainbow painted on the street is considered ‘street art’. More on that further in the post.

We met at the Viking statue, in front of the Hallgrimskirkja church. We walked the area earlier and I shot these night-time photos of the church.

The tour allowed us to go inside and the history lessons started. The vaulted ceiling was truly awe-inspiring.

Turn around 180 degrees, look up to see their massive organ.

With all of the tourists around, there was a small chapel in the corner for individual solitude and prayers.

Interesting thing about their seating. The backs can be moved to face the pulpit or face the organ, locking in place for musical concerts.

Across the street was our next stop……a sculpture garden holding the work of Einer Jonsson. Also a great spot to capture the church from another angle.

He is often called the first Icelandic sculptor, gaining international attention. The Icelandic Parliament agreed to build a home for him and his wife in exchange for the donation of his collection after his death in 1954. Walking the gardens was free for all to visit, containing 20+ pieces of his art.

In honor of the upcoming holiday season………

We continued the tour through nearby residential areas and I came across street art or murals that caught my eye. Most references to street art date to 2015 when Iceland Airwaves/Uran nation collaborated for ‘Wall Poetry’. Not exactly true as street art was firmly entrenched as of 2009. ‘Tagging and vandalism occurs everywhere, but street art has much more structure around its concept.

Some are a bit more abstract than others. Some are commissioned and many are on private property.

Check the internet as there are guided and self-guided tours of Reykjavik Street art.

As we meandered to the bottom of the hill, the destination was City Hall that housed a giant relief of Iceland.

Alas, we walked in, and it was gone. There were chairs and a runway set up for a future event. The map sets upon rollers and can be rolled into a holding space when events were planned. I did my own internet research and discovered the map is based upon 1948 U.S. Army map series and was started in 1985. It is composed of 1mm thick cardboard cut along the contour lines of the maps. The are glued, stapled or nailed as needed.

Found this photo on the internet after a lot of searching since we didn’t see it in person.

What we did encounter was a protest! Really? Really!. A quiet (indoor) spot for the guide to talk history kept getting louder and full of small children. Then the parents brought out instruments of noise for their children – whatever they obviously had at home. We asked one of the adults what was going on……………………….schoolteachers were protesting for their wages. Power to the people!

The media showed up and was doing a few interviews.

It got too loud for conversation, so we headed for our last stop, an Icelandic tradition…….Icelandic hotdogs. This spot is the most ‘famous’ location for hot dogs. Yep, it is outside in a small square. What makes their hot dogs special? The main ingredients are lamb, beef and pork, mixed in a specific ratio. The recipe includes salt, paprika, pepper, garlic, onion, coriander and other seasonings.

Throughout our visit – no matter the time of day – they had a line and people eating their dogs outside. It was a thing. Besides being a cheap street food, it is one of the symbols of Icelandic food culture.

Getting a hot day ‘all the way’ included fresh onions, fried onions, sweet mustard, remoulade sauce and ketchup. No ketchup for Eric. No sweet mustard for me. Loved the fried onions which added a bit of crunch. Yum.

We enjoyed the tour and the guide. He started this venture with a few like-minded friends, and they continue to grow it. His tour had good ratings and another good one from us.

Ginny

Reykjavik, Iceland Winter 2024

by ginnyinshanghai

That’s right……………we headed back to Iceland!

Eric found direct flights to Iceland from Orlando and after conferring with Adrienne, we found a week to head north.

So excited to be on another journey to one of my (current) top places to visit. In my excitement, forgot a few steps after landing……………….deplaning outside before catching a bus to the terminal. Had to dig out the scarves, gloves and headwear from the backpack!

Yep, a great way to get used to the chilly temps for us Floridans.

Going in November we got to see the beginning of Christmas displays.

We all were able to utilize carry-on luggage and a backpack (each) so no waiting at the luggage carousel.

Short walk to the BLUE rental car company and we were quickly on our 45-minute drive to Reykjavik. We rented an apartment and got really good directions, even though we went around the block a few times. OOps. There was a parking garage underneath the building and after a few trial & errors……. we got inside and parked.

The place was next door to Hotel Borg and the key box was in the opposite alley. Eric went upstairs where another key box happened to be located, and we procured both sets of keys!

Our place was the middle balcony overlooking a square.

We made the decision to pay for the prior night of our arrival thus ensuring we had immediate access upon arrival. Flights from the U.S. arrive very early Icelandic time. Five hours was the time difference from home. My body thought it was 3am.

Two bedrooms, a living area and a small kitchen was perfect for our needs.

First order of business was breakfast after dropping off luggage and no better place than right next door at Hotel Borg at their buffet. They had a variety of offerings but truly, I wanted the basics then some sleep. Two cups of coffee had absolutely no effect on my sleeping at that point.

Four hours of sleep truly made a difference for the afternoon plans……Sky Lagoon. Originally, it seemed a bit at odds to jump into water in Iceland but LOVE their thermal baths and lagoons.

This visit (yes, there is another one) was part of a package, but more on that in another post. Here are a few highlights:

Steaming water viewed after showering and putting on swimsuits.
Three delighted participants.
Eric leading the way into the main body of water.
Liquid refreshment.

Hour+ later we met at their bar for other nourishment.

An initial tasting of lamb stew – Icelandic lamb was the only reason I now enjoy lamb.

Even in this climate, I found flowers. The center flowers are related to cabbage and tolerate colder temps and looked great.

They were surrounded by a pink heather.

Even in their winter, we found plenty of activities and as long as you’re dressed in layers, you can brave almost anything here. Hang tight, more posts to come.

Ginny

Tallahassee 2024 Part 2

by ginnyinshanghai

Food and drink are part of life and seems like our vacation spots revolve around them. Our arrival on a Sunday evening pared down those choices. We found a local brewery, Proof Brewing Company, that also had a food truck as part of their business model.

They had a really nice outside eating & drinking area, ensuring families felt comfortable stopping by with yard games and room for kids to run around.

Local beers were the plan.

Along with fish & chips (Eric) and pork BBQ sliders & fries.

Eric knew that Apalachicola’s Oyster City Brewing had an establishment here and we stopped one afternoon.

My Icelandic sheep made a few appearances. I had the Legacy Lager – a beer that tasted like beer.

Here’s a quick shot of what was on tap.

Eric ordered the Red Right Return – glass on right – a perennial favorite.

One last shot before leaving. Everyone has to have a ‘instamgrammable’ wall nowadays. Okay, I guess it worked. I got a shot and I’m posting it on the internet.

We stayed downtown with plans to walk for dinner. In the past we went to an establishment called Cypress. Alas, it no longer existed. We found another restaurant within walking distance…..

Guess what? Same place – different menu and name but same building. Go figure. Started with some drinks, selecting a pink cocktail for me, a tropical sangria. Delicious!

Eric stuck with iced tea as he was feeling a bit under the weather.

The starter recommended was an excellent choice: pickled veggies amd eggs.

Eric ordered grilled octopus along with a bowl of soup (sorry, no photo).

My filet mignon with a demi-glace was excellent and I had plenty to bring home.

Desserts were a great end to our meal. My selection highlighted glazed bananas and ice cream – an excellent choice. The photo of Eric’s ice cream (2) scoops didn’t make the cut. 🙂

Unfortunately, we cut the trip a few days short. A hurricane had been brewing in the Gulf and looked like it was headed to Central Florida. We needed to prep our house and likely go into work to assist with efforts.

Not knowing what grocery stores or gas stations would be looking like, we gassed up before leaving the city and picked up a few groceries. Stories abounded on social media of shortages in both arenas and we wanted to be prepared. Driving was great – on our side of the road. Only us, some semis hauling supplies and electric companies were headed south.

The governor opened up the far left ’emergency’ lane – crazy – and it was full of drivers.

I looked over once……………..and no vehicles heading north. Oh no. Yep, accidents were seriously delaying the escaping traffic headed north.

So glad we were not on that side of the road.

We made it home safely and prepped for the impending storm. Things like removing potential airborne outside objects, strengthening outside doorways and sand-bagging windows on the house expecting driving rain. One of the biggest challenges……..clearing space in our garage for 2 vehicles! Here’s proof we did it. It wasn’t pretty, but space was found. The guys were waiting on the storm to arrive.

Connor stepped outside for a brief moment, getting soaked in a short minute.

It reached our house at 3:20am. The force of the wind picking up branches, leaves and other debris was nerve-wracking – woke me up. Thanks, hon, for staying up the entire time to keep us safe. 🙂

Did we have any damage? Not directly, but a number of branches were down or broken from the trees we had recently pruned – thank goodness for that.

Plenty of cleanup in the days to follow. Now just waiting for the debris to get picked up.

Saw this post and it seemed fitting – and oh so true. I was talking to the neighbors 7am that morning as we all surveyed the damage in the daylight.

Exciting times are coming with my next series of posts. Heading north again, waaaaaaayyyy north. We will be packing warm clothes. Any thoughts or ideas about our destination? Three of us are going back to one of my favorite spots. Posts will be coming soon.

Ginny