Iceland - Reykjavik

[hillsbro]

Yes, alcohol is heavily taxed in Iceland and liquor stores are a state monopoly as in other Nordic countries. We went more-or-less teetotal during our visit though I did buy a bottle of brennivin, the local fire-water.

 

Another book full of interesting background information about Iceland is Desmond Bagley's novel Running Blind.

[Dozer]

Thanks for the recommendation, hillsbro. Just downloaded a sample chapter. Looks like a cracking read.

[hillsbro]

I'm sure you'll enjoy the book, Dozer...Maybe I should go back to Iceland; it would be interesting to see how it has changed in 40 years. In 1974, apart from in the Reykjavík area and other towns such as Akureyri, the only surfaced road was the one between Keflavík airport and Reykjavík - everywhere else it was gravel. Reykjavík is neat, tidy and welcoming; it has some nice old buildings and some striking, modern ones (such as the Hallgrimskirkja). And Iceland offers some striking scenery.

 

On the few occasions that we ate in restaurants the food was very good but some of the Icelandic specialities aren't to everyone's taste. Hangikjöt (heavily smoked mutton) is rather pungent. I didn't dare try hákarl (shark meat that's been buried in the sand for several weeks to "cure", then dug up and hung in strips for 4 to 5 months. I know - it sounds awful, and it probably tastes like rotten shark). But skýr (a type of yogurt) is good, as is the ice cream..

[scottcross]

First time in Iceland 1985 at that time it was the most expensive country i have ever visited .Then you were allowed to buy duty free drinks when you landed to compensate for the high drink prices.Hillsbro you did the right thing in not trying Hakari,i was given some to try in the Faroe Islands several years ago and its the vilest food i have ever tried,was not told what it was until i had emptied my guts a few times.