Today was a beautiful and windy day in Iceland! We started off strong with some Icelandic foods like shark, sheepshead, and smoked lamb. They were certainly interesting, but tasted pretty good!
We then went to a beautiful tomato garden- Fridheimar! This farm, owned by Knútur, produces fresh tomatoes for Iceland year round. How you might ask? Geothermal heat, a lot of light, and a well refined system
Pictured above are the tomato vines all growing and getting ready to produce fresh tomatoes. They use clear glacial water and don’t have to worry about bugs or disease. These were absolutely some of the best tomatoes I’ve ever had. This system helps alleviate Iceland’s constant need for outside help and importing. Now, they can grow fresh crops in country and ship to meet demand and satisfaction. While it may have more capital costs to produce, it also avoids the shipping costs. This also of course is an incredibly sustainable business since they use clean energy and can compost old plants. Pictured below is the tomato soup we ate for lunch.
After the farm, we headed over to Gullfoss and a geothermal area. This is where we got the first taste of true Icelandic winds. As soon as we got out of the bus and got our crampons on, the wind picked up… and didn’t stop. Walking in 60 mile per hours winds is surely an experience, not to mention the massive waterfall.
Both the waterfall and the geothermal area were absolute sights to see and very hard to put words to. While I didn’t get a picture of the geyser itself, it’s something I’ll never forget. Iceland’s landscape of both nothing and everything at the same time is stunning, and I’d love to stay here forever. Tomorrow we’ll be heading east, can’t wait to see what’s next!
Swanson School of Engineering 