Shark meat

It has been a grand day. The weather was wonderful and we started off by taking a long hike along the ridge above the ocean and what a view. Iceland is volcanic and the scenery is so very different and so wildly dramatic. The columns that rise out of the ocean and that form the coastline remind me of the Cliffs of Mohr in Ireland. Now, granted, it rained the day we were at the Cliffs of Mohr so I may not have a totally accurate image of them, but this is what I remember. But these are more rugged and the volcanic rock is so unusual. All around for miles is volcanic and moss is the first vegetation that comes back after a volcanic eruption. So the fields are black lava rock with the green moss and the contrast is so exquisite. The formations are amazing and the mountains formed by the explosions are so vast that it is impossible to realize the scale unless you see sheep dotting the hillsides and see those tiny dots and then you realize how massive it is. Our hike ended at a restaurant on the shore and it was quaint with its 5 tables and the deck outside with tables. The homemade bread hit the spot and they made me a quiche while everyone else enjoyed the soup which had fish and shrimp and not sure what else in it. But all said it was good. We went along the coastline today in a big circle and it just went on and on and continually changed. There were the Icelandic horses in the fields (thought of Delaney and Emily on that one) and we stopped at a shark farm. Shark meat is toxic because sharks to not have kidneys. I think I have that right. So they have to be "treated" to be edible-in other words, it is rotted shark meat. They say if you can get beyond the smell it is quite good. Well, Jim and I get 4 stars for trying it but it was one of those things that got worse the longer it was in your mouth. It tasted like ammonia and got worse. We grabbed a wint o green lifesaver as soon as we could get back to the bus! But it is a delicacy here so we felt we needed to try it, just in case. It is definitely a "been there, done that" moment.
Did I tell you yesterday that they had changed our hotel here on us? I assume I did. It is actually a nice, VERY small hotel and across the street from a bakery and the HobbitInn. It looks like the biggest shopping street in town and so we have mostly walked to the harbor, grocery store for snacks, and checked out all the scenic spots in sight. We did not get to climb the mountain where you get your wish if you get to the top in silence without looking back. But Oddur assures us he has done it many times and never got his wish, so we must believe him. After the long hike this AM, none of us was too sorry to not do this. We did however look among the lava fields for the gnomes and elves that are supposed to live there. I think I spotted a few....
I will put a couple of photos from yesterday on and see if I can get todays downloaded to add. I am still getting used to the netbook and feel a little awkward with it.