Iceland was calling, aka This is not Africa....

[Pushka]

We need a picture of a $70 beanie.

 

[tgh]

super pics…more…..

 

[RooFlyer]

Right now, the weather is fantastic. I'm not even wearing a jumper so we're taking the opportunity to see the city from the observation deck at Hallgrimskirkja Church. The organist music is beautiful

Sorry, can't resist. You get the cathedral design, don't you?

 

[Denali]

We need a picture of a $70 beanie.

The ladies at the store were lovely and I'm pretty sure they have bets on who puts this on the wrong way.....which mine did until she told him





This is also where you can buy the hand knitted
lopapeysa jumpers but I was too afraid to look at the price but they had some lovely wool throws, gloves and beanies.

Sorry, can't resist. You get the cathedral design, don't you?

Embarrassed to say I don't. I was enjoying the music but didn't read the info on the wall.

You can take an elevator to the observation deck for approx $12aud pp but no one checks tickets so you can sneak up for free as well I guess.




Kinder kids visiting the church

 

[JohnM]

Don’t bother analysing the design. It’s something to do with concrete impersonating rocks....

He can’t help it....

 

[Denali]

I've read you can walk around the city in a day and it's not far wrong but I guess it depends on what you like or find boring so Reykjavik is our base and today was some walking around for logistics and take it easy as tomorrow Hubbys diving with a early pickup.

Have to remind myself to look around for street art

 

[bPeteb]

What a cracker of a TR Denali. I'm going to have to change my writing style. Loved the street art in Iceland.

 

[Denali]

So despite the near perfect weather, decided to get some supplies and back to our place for a break and we'll wander some more later

Went to Bonus grocery store where I had a list of essentials only needed but I had hubby with me so behold the $20 strawberries he had to have.



Bonus is like Aldi so we were totally being judged for buying this expensive item and then further judged over how badly we packed the bag in the allowed 20 seconds given but next time I rock up at Woolies, behold my new reusable shopping bag.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sorry, can't resist. You get the cathedral design, don't you?

Embarrassed to say I don't. I was enjoying the music but didn't read the info on the wall.

Those pole like things that make up the outside of the cathedral represent columns on basalt - the stuff that keeps Iceland above the water.

Don’t bother analysing the design. It’s something to do with concrete impersonating rocks....

He can’t help it....

Never mind him, he's just jealous there's nothing much growing there.

 

[RooFlyer]

Went to Bonus grocery store where I had a list of essentials only needed but I had hubby with me so behold the $20 strawberries he had to have

Did you look at the label? ( As I know you read Icelandic). Were they grown locally, like the bananas?

 

[Denali]

Strawberries not grown here but the tomatoes were as the greenhouse/business is on the must see list for tourists..... Or we're running out of things to see. There's an on-site restaurant and everything is tomatoes inc the icecream. A visit is on my wish list but most tours put it as part of an all day tour and I'm not that interested in spending that long with strangers on a bus.

Edit Strawberries are from Spain

 

[Denali]

I could take pics but they won't be as good as the listing but this is where we're staying in Reykjavik and what you see in the pics is what you get

The main shopping street is just meters away, bakeries, grocery store, Hallgrimskirkja Church, sun voyager, local thermal pools and designated tour bus stops are all two to four blocks away. Only negative is the bathroom is small, like it was a closet small but functional but the bed rooms and space is just what I wanted

Highly recommend and would stay here again

Scandinavian-Inspired Style in Central Downtown - Apartments for Rent in Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

 

[Denali]

So after a long quite afternoon of hubby napping the jet lag away, we didn't go walking around as planned but did go out for dinner and there are a lot of choices nearby . I wanted Icelandic Street Food restaurant but hubby wanted beef so we went to Harry's Fish and Grill, both are literally 2.5 mins walk from our place

The fish was very good.




The on the way home, after looking at a few shops, hubby sees a poster for IceWear. it's a beautiful couple looking far far away to the distance and the man seems to be wearing a poncho and hubby, this man I've been married to for almost 20yrs says, "I would like a poncho"

My reaction....


So he drags me to the store but sadly we couldn't find the one in the poster and thinking we could escape, he found staff to ask. As the girl lead him away to look at ponchos .... In the ladies section..... I mouthed "please don't sell him a poncho"

This is when it gets weird...er. Hubby literally drags the young lady out of the store and up the street to look at the poster of the manly man in a poncho.

My reaction

 

[Denali]

But before I figured out how to get to funds for bail, they return with the news that the manly man is not wearing a poncho but a blanket (thank God) although they did offer to put a hole in the blanket to make it a poncho for him.



Why am I telling you this? The few minutes chatting with the Irish backpacker staff was a lot of fun and they were lovely (and kind to the old crazy Aussie guy that wanted a poncho) and when we were almost to our door, we found 5000kr/$50aud in the street!

Firstly looking around for anyone to return it to then looking around for A Current Affair and then worried about karma doing bad things to us, we decided to go back and give it to the girls and say enjoy coffees on us and being young Irish backpackers living in a place where a glass of beer can cost up to $15, they said they'll have a couple of beers instead!

 

[sydunipete]

Try the lamb - it tastes amazing there. Because of the cold it has more fat and fat = flavour. And if you're adventurous the puffin bird and rancid shark are … well … interesting.
I remember the local art and you will see many bizarre sculptures - many of which don't make much sense, well to me at least, so whenever I see an odd sculpture I call it "Icelandic Art".

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Love the hand knitted shop - I bought wool there - and some lava earrings at a jewellers near by.

 

[craven morehead]

Changi J lounge was like a dammed zoo and on our return I'm paying money for a transit hotel room to avoid it just so I can get a proper shower but it was only a two hour transit and soon we we're on our way again, this time it was the 359.

View attachment 159212

Thanks to a generous AFFer, hubby was comfy.

View attachment 159213

These seats are not terrible but I do wonder how they come about the design to get little things wrong that combine into uggg. At some point, just after waking with excruciating leg cramps, I hobbled to the empty bulk head seat I was eyeing off and moved myself.

This flight menu
View attachment 159214

I skipped first meal as body clock was saying 3am is too late for dinner so was looking forward to breakfast but again, what's happened to you SQ? The frittata was watery and chewy, potatoes bland but thankfully the sausage was awesome.

View attachment 159216

We arrived about 7.30am and Amsterdam was a dream to clear immigration and get our bags, where we had a 5hr layover.

I felt good but strangely hubby, who usually is the strong one holding me together on long hauls, was snarky so guessing he watched movies instead of sleeping took him across the road to the Sheraton where we paid way too much for a day room but sent him to the restaurant for second breakfast and then a nap.

Our Sheraton view
View attachment 159222

Geez they're massive eye shades on the old boy but they do match the QF pyjamas

 

[love_the_life]

We bought an Icelandic sheepskin. rug for our daughter when we were there. The fleece is amazing, long and wavy, almost Angora like.

 

[VPS]

Loving this - I MUST organise that trip to Iceland

 

[Clive005]

I have a trip planned for September, The accommodation looks great
What sort of prices did you pay for eating out?
following with intrest