- IMG 3174
While planning our Iceland trip, we found a great web site called Creative Iceland, which sets tourists up with local experts / artisans for various creative endeavors. We really liked the sound of the "Viking Knife Making Workshop" in a suburb of Reykjavik, where you spend 6 hours with a master craftsman carving and shaping a knife handle from wood and animal horn and sewing a leather sheath for it. What a great way to get into the local culture, and to have a truly unique souvenir to take home! So we had inquired about availability and booked a private workshop for our last full day in Iceland. The hotel had booked a taxi for us last night, and it was set to arrive at 9:10 a.m. to pick us up. After breakfast, the taxi arrived a few minutes early. We had a pleasant ride ~25 minutes out of the city to Knifemaker Palli's home in Mosfellsbær. - IMG 3181
Craig's cream of lobster soup at Messinn - IMG 3183
Dinner at Messinn - IMG 3184
Steph's fish pan at Messinn: fillet of cod in a sauce of chili, curry, leek, apples, mango chutney, white wine, cream, and parmesan - IMG 3185
Craig's fish pan at Messinn: Atlantic wolf fish with mushrooms, bell peppers, grapes, cream cheese, black pepper, white wine, and cream - IMG 3186
After finishing our main course at Messinn, we decided to share a dessert. The description "Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and whipped cream" hardly did it justice. It was like the fudgiest brownie ever, and so Instagrammable, artfully presented on a colorful plate! - IMG 3187
Porthole at Messinn - IMG 3190
We left the small storefront dining room to use the restroom, and noticed that there was another small dining room in back, which had table configurations to serve larger parties. The restrooms were designated as gender neutral via brass plaques depicting a little boy urinating into a pot and a little girl sitting on a chamber pot. That Icelandic humor again! Love it! - IMG 3192
We had made an online reservation for dinner at Messinn for 6:30 p.m.. My friend Julia had come to Iceland a couple of weeks ago, and when I asked for recommendations, this was the restaurant that she said we needed to go to. And when our guide Sölvi was giving recommendations of good places to eat near our hotel, he also mentioned it. We had tried to go last night, but without a reservation on a Friday night it was hopeless. The restaurant was right next to Bus Stop #3, only about a two minute walk from the hotel. It is small and intimate, decorated with nautical antiques. Our table was next to an actual porthole which gave a glimpse into the kitchen. - IMG 3193
Restaurant marketing - IMG 3194
Words of wisdom from the Smokin' Puffin - IMG 3196
Drinks at the Smokin' Puffiin - IMG 3197
Drinks at the Smokin' Puffiin - Image-17
On our flight home from Reykjavik, I was thumbing through the Icelandair Stopover in-flight magazine when I noticed a familiar face smiling up at me! - IMG 3205
Love the tiny balcony!