Relative Something

Late in the evening of our third day, an app on Cyndie’s phone alerted her to our first possibility of aurora visibility. It was really chilly out, so I elected to glance through the window while Cyndie, Barb, and Mike stepped out to watch.

It was a good first opportunity, but I was holding out for something much more vivid.

For the duration of our visit, the temperatures danced between freezing overnight and warmed into the mid-40s to lower-50sF during the day (0-12°C). The amount of sunshine and level of wind made a big impact on how nice the days became. We needed to flinch and grit our teeth against the bite of the cold in the morning a few times but were usually rewarded with much more pleasant conditions in the afternoons.

The morning of our 4th day was as chilly as the night before as we set out to hike the circumference of the Kerid Crater.

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The lake that formed at the bottom of the crater was simply the result of the water table level in the area. The lake’s shoreline goes up and down depending on extended periods of wet or dry weather.

It was an easy hike with great views, but the cold wind had us moving briskly. We were eager to return to the warmth of our vehicle. Did I mention it is often very windy in Iceland?

We had a reservation for lunch at Fridheimar Tomato Farm, which happens to be located inside one of their greenhouses.

Noticing a small grocery store nearby and arriving with time to spare, our intrepid planners picked up foods for our meals in the coming days. After reviewing the expense, we discovered the pricing of things was much higher than we realized. Oh well, we paid a little extra for the convenience factor.

It was a bit of a challenge to locate the entrance to Fridheimar. From the outside, I had no clue as to the treasure we were about to discover inside.

It looks a little vacant in that shot above, but when we arrived, the place was buzzing with energy. Large numbers of people were being offered a chance to visit the bar or being turned away as seating was reservation only. We sailed through to a prime table.

The first noteworthy display I spotted was their table of freshly baked bread varieties. We were invited to visit it as often as we desired. Their tomato soup was also “serve yourself” and without limit. There was fresh basil growing at each table with a small scissor to trim and garnish our selections.

I finally remembered to get a photo of my choice before it was half gone.

Roasted vegetables pizza on a tortilla crust with pesto sauce. It was as good as it looks. A side of sliced tomatoes with mozzarella, basil, a pesto drizzle, and a small dish of salt flakes was a treat shared by us all.

This was one heck of a destination restaurant and should not be missed. Just make sure to have a reservation.

From that scrumptious lunch spot, we head for our first soak in one of Iceland’s famed geothermal pools. We chose the oldest natural pool in the country, Secret Lagoon.

I’ll tell you all about our experience, tomorrow.

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