Lazy Days!

The Þorroblót last Saturday night heralded the start of a very lazy week, the hallway is half finished, I should have painted the door frames and doors by now but just haven't...no excuse really! 

If you want to know what a Þorroblót is checkout this post and this one from last year.  This year I have to say the food was more to my taste, Sigga took pity on us foreigners and prepared sushi and chicken wings and instead of the sheeps head we had sheeps head paté made by Kristin which was quite tasty.  Patricia (a food scientist) marinated the sheeps testicals, rotten shark and whale in a mixture of various herbs and spices which I think certainly improved their original flavours, although her partner Bjarki was not so sure, as his idea of heaven is the traditional þorroblót food...what can I say...each to their own!

 Our array of food...you can see the sushi in the far left corner and Patricia's marinade in the squarish container, the chicken wings are hidden from public view, we were already treading dangerous ground with the sushi!

Our little group was multinational

L-R Patricia (from Brazil) and Annabell (from France)

L-R Sigga and Bjarki (both from Iceland but they have lived overseas before, Sigga in Australia and Germany and Bjarki in Japan where he met his lovely Patricia) and of course the missing Aussie photographer.  And to make it truly an international event we all ate with chopsticks.

The view from my windows are amazing and they entice me outdoors, so this week I have been on a few long walks. Wednesday morning after standing at the kitchen window admiring the vista of the fjord I had the irresistible urge to walk along the shoreline, the temperature was about -7c but it felt wonderful, the air here is amazing. That was the first thing I noticed when I stepped outside the airport after arrival...the air is just so phenomenally clean and fresh and invigorating.  I always feel rejuvenated after a good walk here.  I have posted too many pictures of inside lately so here are a few of the outdoors...the landscape here never fails to take my breath away.

The shore here is covered in pebbles/rocks of all colour and size

I am still picking up heart shaped ones and went home with my pockets bulging...the large one is bigger than my fist.

The weather on Thursday was an absolutely magnificent 4c, the sky was blue, the sun was out and the air was still, so this time I walked up over the graveyard and down the other side with Freyja (who missed out on the walk the day before...I felt guilty and had to make it up to her).

 The view of the town from the graveyard

 Sheep here are very curious animals and as soon as they see you they come closer to check you out.

Whilst walking, Freyja and I encountered a man on horseback taking his trusty steed for a little tölt. Freyja was very good only making a half hearted bark at him.

The tölt is so smooth the rider barely moves up and down, this is my style of horseriding suitable for young and old...hopefully in the summer I get to have a go.

The days here are getting longer and before I know it there will be nearly 24 hrs of daylight, at the moment sunrise is around 9.30am and sunset about 5.30pm.

Monday Ice: The Icelandic Horse

For the next few weeks I will highlight a few of the animals that seem to have a great impact on the culture and traditions of Iceland.  To start off we will take a peek at the Icelandic horse...they have quite a unique look compared to other horse breeds, small in stature but I think large in heart.

Icelanders are very pragmatic when it comes to food and food sources, as a nation that needs to import much of its foods they have learned through need to make the most of what they have.  Most animals in and around Iceland are consumed and the horse is no different, it is a significant part of the Icelandic diet.  I tried it several times on my last trip, previously discussed here and it is one of my favourite meats.  Very tender and lean and readily available at the local co-op/supermarket.  However the Icelandic horse has a much greater hold on the hearts of Icelanders than just a food source.

Outside of Reykjavik there are horses everywhere, they really are a part of the landscape and most people still ride although now mainly for leisure and competitions but horses are still used on farms to round up the sheep.

It differs from other horse breeds as it is capable of 5 gaits.  The tölt is a smooth four beat gait where at least one foot is on the ground. It is a joy to watch and apparently to ride as it is smooth enough to drink a beer while riding! Plus for the more experienced the faster tölt or 5th gait can crack a flying pace. Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported into the country and exported animals are not allowed to return, this keeps the breed pure and disease free.

This video demonstrates the various gaits and to up the degree of difficulty they are trotting on ice!

There are many popular horse riding tours for tourists in Iceland and it seems like a great way to see the country up close.

I have promised myself when I return I will learn how to ride, these horses look like the gentle type that would suit me!  This little 5 year old learning dressage makes it look so easy!

Now for the finale and closing credits of the fabulous Sigur Rós Heima series which concluded its tour in the capital Reykjavik.