Words didn’t happen in Iceland, but photos did
Just going for a drive through the fjords
Iceland, for me, was a vacation from traveling. I had few cultural experiences there (one that threatened projectile vomit), met few Icelanders (guys in a bar explained how to avoid dating one’s cousin in such a finite population), and didn’t even try much in the way of new food (except the reindeer burger, which was de-frickin-licious).
This is just alongside the highway where I stopped to autograph a snowbank.
Lake ice pushed onshore
My normal travel routines and habits didn’t fit in the bag among all those sweaters, and words fell by the wayside. I don’t know where they went, but it’s freaking me out. No, seriously. But if images are really worth a thousand of them, then I’ve got a few million to share.
Stop by a lake, and the wind has pushed sheets of ice onshore. Cuz it’s Iceland, and they do things like that here.
If only I knew where to start. I decided to grab a couple to throw on here…and that was three days ago. How about this one? Why would there not be an abandoned quarry below a fortress mountain? It’s Iceland.
No? Then do you prefer a tourist destination like Gullfoss, the epic (yet strangely difficult to photograph) waterfall on the famous Golden Circle loop?
Note the people on the point, for scale
How can going through these take so damn long? Can I hire an assistant to help? I can pay with…peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
Or carrots? Anybody want to help me, for carrots? These guys would.
Iceland is full of ponies. Would you be shocked to hear that they eat them? Then I won’t tell you. Maybe I shouldn’t tell you what else there is to eat up there…
But I will.
Pony burgers? Did you try them as well? Not sure if I am disturbed or intrigued! Great post even with the lack of words
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I didn’t actually see them on any of the menus where we ate (just the fancier places…which in Reykjavik get real pricey, real quick). But I’ve had horse a few times. It’s good meat, and I never felt bad about it except in the direct aftermath of actually riding one of those marvelous animals. But eating something doesn’t feel inherently disrespectful to me (it’s the factory farming that does that) so I’d have gone for it. It seems odd to me that we sanction eating three or four animals and not others. Pony burgers for all!
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I completely agree! If the animal is cared for humanly then I have no objections – and thankfully there are so many great farmers out there who are making it possible! Is horse like lamb or more like venison??
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These were definitely well-treated animals, in Iceland. I hope whoever I ate had been too!
Oy, can’t remember the flavor too well…it was a little bit sweeter than beef, if I remember correctly. And pretty lean but tender, not greasy at all. I liked it. Of course, when there isn’t that much demand, you can probably get the choice cuts.
They had horse burgers in Serbia that looked pretty indistinguishable from ground beef.
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We head to Iceland next week, only have time for the Southern part of the island unfortunately on this trip but can’t wait. Looking forward to it. Any tips? Love your photos. 🙂
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I get the feeling the entire island is incredible, but we only had time for the south too, but there is plenty to see. If you pick up the free map from the tourist office in Reykjavik it has the main attractions, the Skogafoss and Seljalandfoss waterfalls are both amazing, Dyrholaey was pretty but windy as an allergic giant’s sinus cavity, and I enjoyed walking around Skaftafell. If you go as far as Hofn, there’s an incredible glacial lagoon (you’ll see it to the left as you cross a bridge), plus on the other side a beach where the ice washes up on shore (blog on that forthcoming) and just past Hofn is the Horn, another brutal and gorgeous place (blog also forthcoming). I’m jealous that you’re going, I want to go back!
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There is so much to see and we are only going for a few days – I know I am going to want to return again. Thanks for the tips. Having been looking at Hofn, especially one of the restaurants that way (that is opening in the winter months!!!) which looks like it might be a good place to stop off for lunch. 🙂
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Cafe Hornid? I have a blog about something on their menu coming up… I think it’s the second one from now though. (We mostly ate at the Hali hotel restaurant, which was also very good.)
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Thanks for the tip will check that hotel out. Trying to find a list of places that will be open at this time of year so that I appear slightly prepared! 🙂
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We stayed at the Gerdi hotel, next to Hali. They are the closest hotels to Jokulsarlon (https://vagabondurges.com/2014/03/18/now-thats-just-far-too-pretty-this-is-jokulsarlon/) and are open. Enjoy! (The staff at Hali was almost entirely Czech kids, so prep your “dekuji”.)
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Yu have taken some fantastic photos. I hope the landscape is similar when we get there this weekend 🙂
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I’m sure it will be, good luck and enjoy!
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And what were their top tips for making sure you don’t date your cousin?
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I hate to say it, but: There’s an app for that. They enter the prospective hook-up’s name, and it spits out the familial proximity. The guy who told me about it looked slightly offended at the test, but much relieved at the outcome.
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I’m just glad a technique exists to avoid dating your cousin.
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Indeed. Not something I’ve thought to worry about… 😉
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