Unlike Ireland, where I was more than happy to try everything on the menu, in Iceland, I wasn't that brave.  First of all, I can't read Icelandic and I'm not sure the English translation was 100%.

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Secondly, I cannot...and I mean CANNOT even think about eating WHALE or PUFFIN.  I like whales and puffins are too damn cute.  NOPE!  NO WAY.  I couldn't even walk into a restaurant that served it.  Thank goodness the restaurants posted their menus.

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Lucky for me, I discovered two important restaurants.  The first was a Greek restaurant that made the most delicious chicken souvlaki on pita.  I mean, my mouth watered every time I was near that restaurant.  The second was The Lebowski.  Yep!  The Lebowski is alive and well in Reykjavik.  It is the only bar I found that served food. I ordered the Lebowski Burger and it tasted like Heaven!

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The bars in Reykjavik (and there are a ton of them), do not serve food.  Looking for a dish of peanuts or pretzels on the bar?  Forget it.  If you want to eat - go eat.  If you want to drink, here it is.  I spent a few hours checking out the different bars in Reykjavik. 

 

The Irish Man, was of course my favorite batr.  It was right across the street from the hotel.  From bar stool to bed in under 7 minutes (if the elevator is cooperating).  I was able to sit back in a deep booth and casually contemplate my trip.  There were couples laughing with friends or couples with the heads together speaking softly.  There was also a dart game going on, which seemed to be very friendly and competitive.  

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I also visited a techno-bar.  Very interesting - I enjoyed the DJ and the bartender was a hoot.  Nope, no peanuts here either.

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Shopping really wasn't for me.  I mean, I live in Florida.  What am I going to do with a fur Viking hat, thick sweaters, etc.  I did pick up a few souvenirs for the family, but I passed on serious shopping.   

 

I will admit to something that I ALMOST did.  It seems everyone has a tattoo these days, and I never liked anything enough to put it on my body and look at it for the next 30 years.  However, I thought...how about a small Celtic symbol on my left shoulder blade to represent my trip to Ireland and a Viking rune on my right shoulder blade to represent my trip to Iceland.  Like a passport!  Why didn't I do it?  The tattoo shop across from my hotel decided to close early and said come back tomorrow.  I flew home the next day.  No tattoo.

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