Recap Day #2-Blue Lagoon and Lobster House Dinner

Saturday, May 27, 2006--Temperature, Hi 50°F and Lo 37°F.

On Saturday, we sleep in due to our late night out. Some of us were perkier than others and you can probably guess who based on yesterday’s blog. But, we all rallied and got ready to go to the Blue Lagoon to test whether it was true that it can cure a late night out.

The Blue Lagoon is basically a big lake of geothermal waste but it is oh so pretty and relaxing. Although it was only 50°F, we change into our swimsuits in a very European dressing room (don’t worry, we wore flip flops and didn’t touch a thing) and venture outside to the Blue Lagoon. The internet explains:

Due to the proximity of the sea that seeps into the underground water system, the water is saline and this, along with the presence of various minerals, makes it unsuitable for direct central heating purposes. The geothermal seawater is used to heat spring water, which is used for central heating. At the outlet point, the water from the power station, which has a temperature of 158 °F (70 °C) and a salt concentration approximately equal to that of the sea, has formed a lagoon in the surrounding lava field. In this unique ecosystem, high levels of silica, minerals and algae form light natural sediment on its bottom and give the lagoon its rich blue color. The geothermal seawater is taken directly from the well and transferred via pipeline to the Lagoon. At the time the temperatures of the Water is ~320°F/160 °C - the water travels under air pressure and is then directed through special mixing wells where the water is cooled down to comfortable bathing temperatures ~98 - 102°F/36 - 39 °C.

The Blue Lagoon is basically the color of a husky dog’s blue eyes and is surrounded by lava fields and mountains. Steam rises everywhere as you bathe in the hot water with 200 or so of your closest friends, none of whom are speaking English. The water has a silky texture and the bottom is mushy in some places and rocky in other places. At various locations you can use the silica mud as an exfoliant to give yourself a facial.

After almost two hours, Kelly and Mary Beth have to go to the bathroom so they head back to the bathhouse. As soon as leaving the relaxing waters, their skin seems to shrivel up and is dry as parchment paper. They decide the information they read on the Blue Lagoon is true and they may have dried their skin out enough for the day so they decide to shower and hit the bar instead. While at the bar, Kelly witnesses a dad buying his pre-teen son a Viking beer, but hey, it’s Europe, so whatever. Kelly and Mary Beth relax “pool side” with their Viking beers (think Cancun but dressed in winter sweaters) while Angela and Gayle continue to float their worries away. Kelly and Mary Beth also sample the Blue Lagoon cocktail because you can’t find it anywhere else!

After almost another hour, Angela and Gayle say goodbye to the Blue Lagoon and hit the showers where Gayle quickly learns that it was true that you shouldn’t put your hair in the water when she can’t get her comb through her hair. As of press time, her hair still isn’t back to normal but she is improving every day. A little VO5 hot oil treatment should cure it. This also explains why Angela is wearing the “Georgia Baseball” hat in the pictures as she heeded the warnings with her curly locks.

We leave the Blue Lagoon after hitting the gift shop and head back into Reykjavik. We decide that tonight is going to be our “fancy night out”, so we consult the guide books to find a nice restaurant. We get all decked out in our Reykjavik best and head to Humarhusid Restaurant (aka The Lobster House) located on Amtmannstig based on JK’s advice that although Icelandic lobsters are very small (basically not much larger than a big crawfish) they are very very good due to the pure waters off of the Iceland coast.

Angela chooses a nice bottle of Bolla Pinot Grigio for us and we decide to each get an appetizer to share around. Angela, always the soup girl, chooses the Rjomalogud Humarsupa (aka Cream of Lobster Soup). Gayle, always the brave one, chooses the Hestapynnur Med Gaesalifrar-brulee Og Sveppa-Braudteningum (aka Horsemeat Carpaccio with Foie Gras Brulee and Mushroom Croutons) as a warning to the horse that she will ride tomorrow. Not to be outdone, Mary Beth and Kelly chose the two things left on the appetizer menu that doesn’t sound like you could order it back home - Hrar Hvalur Tataki Med Shitake-Sveppum Og Wasabi-Geu (aka Raw Whale Tataki with Shitake Mushrooms and Wasabi Gel) and Svertur Lax Med Hvitlauk Og Eldpiparmauki (aka Blacked Salmon with Garlic and Chili Relish). The chef also treats us to a halibut sushi roll, which was by far everyone’s favorite. Sorry Kelly’s Mom, but she did try everything and so did Angela - yeah her! Also, if you check out our pictures, you will find that Angela likes to take pictures of the food.

For dinner we all chose the same thing - Grilladir Humarhalar Med Hvilauk Og Salati (aka Grilled Icelandic Lobster Tails with Garlic and Salad) - because everything else on the menu sounded like something you could get at Ocean (something we discovered most places - very Americanized). We ordered the small portion each and it came out heaping with 8 lobster tails. We were only able to eat 5 to 6 each so we of course had to ask how big the large portion would have been - 14 lobster tails!! We have no idea how much we spent on the meal because we never did get the hang of converting Icelandic Kronur to US Dollars but we’ll figure it out when the credit card bill comes. It was definitely worth it, if not for the very very hot and oh so European guy in the corner with the two girls in hot pink cowboy hats. And the food was very good too!

We left The Lobster House and headed back out on the town for a mellower night. We first headed to Kaffi Reykjavik (aka Ice Bar), which JK had refused to take us to because it was “too touristy”. Hello, we are tourists! So, we walked over there only to discover that the place had been rented out for a graduation party but we were able to peek through the window and take pictures. Based on the huge parkas and overalls hanging outside the Ice Bar that you have to wear in order to be able to go in, we weren’t entirely disappointed.

We next walk to the Hressingarskálinn (Hressó) on Austurstræti (the bar of “Sweet Home Alabama” fame) and stay there for a while listening to the live band and drinking Viking beer (our new favorite). While there, Angela and Mary Beth supposedly pick out their future husbands but Gayle declared them Euro-trash and we leave.

We head back to Café Oliver hoping for the same fun night from the night before but find that they have switched from American music to what we assume was European music or Bjork or something. We hang out there for a little while and then head home (but not without first stopping by Kebab Húsið and the other mobile kebabs establishments located across the street for a snack) to attempt to sleep again in the daylight.

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