Monday 5th February 2024

An odd day all round, which began with some other Brit guy accusing me of videoing him in the hotels breakfast bar.

Again.

I was checking the aurora app, in fact, and when Jools confronted him, and then me, he grunted an apology.

Of sorts.

This was the day in which my knee said "no". In no uncertain terms, and with us going out early evening on a gastronomic food tour, despite it being clear and sunny, it was bitterly cold, so we stayed in the room most of the day until it was time to leave for the walk.

Recent snow had partially melted leaving sheets of ice, but the cleats were out as we would be going in and out of bars and restaurants. So, I had a walking pole, and we walked down the main street, then down to the Opera House to meet our guide.

At least it was warm inside the Opera House.

Other members of the tour, and the guide "Day" arrived just before four.

I say his name was "Day", it was what is Icelandic for Day which is Dagur.

Dagur, as well as a guide, is a reporter on one of the national TV channels, so is very good with people and putting over stories.

Which is good as there are hundreds of stories, legends and sagas in Iceland.

We went to a place for starters: one of Arctic Chard and the other lamb. Both good.

Next, to a place for the main course: cod and mashed potato and more Chard, this time cooked with a honey dressing.

Which was amazing.

Then to a hot dog stand.

Not just a hot dog stand, but the oldest in the country, and most famous.

Hot dogs here are 70% lamb and the rest: who knows. But with two sorts of onions, mustard, remoulade on, they were fabulous.

And so to our final stop, as we bailed on dessert. An Icelandic bar where we had lamb stew, and had the chance to try fermented shark.

That was the mildest version, and yet too yukky for me, so I passed.

It was bitterly cold, at least minus ten, and a very keen wind had sprung up, bringing light powdery snow with it. On top of that my knee had really begun to ache in trying to keep up, so as we were on the main street, the hotel was a ten minute hobble away, so we hobbled back home for a brew.

And for me to take drugs.