Immediately after breakfast we were informed that we would be eating the famed fermented shark and sheep’s head. Personally, this put a pit in the bottom of my stomach. However, once Ólöf explained how each was made, it got even harder to motivate myself to eat the fermented shark. Apparently the sharks live to be about 250 years old and accidentally get caught in trawler nets designed for fish. To make the meat and keep it fresh an array of spices are put on it so that it does not spoil. After I ate it, I got the distinct feeling that I just drank a cup of bleach. It was very strong and had quite the potent smell to it. Moving on from the fermented shark to the sheep’s head this did not have as strong of a smell. However it was very gooey like jello and tasted like fat. Overall, I am glad I had this experience, but I don’t think I would do this again.
After this we headed to a greenhouse where they grow tomatoes and strawberries, and have horses. This place was pretty revolutionary because it can be difficult to grow crops in Iceland due to the short growing season and lack of daylight in the winter. However, they seemed to beat the odds by using the geothermal heat that is at their disposal, LED lights and lots of buildings to fit all of the crops inside. The owner still said that it is hard to compete with Spain and Africa for tomatoes so they try to emphasize the family farm aspect on their packaging. This farm was a cool way to see how entrepreneurship can face down any challenge with enough hard work and perseverance.
From here we went to the Gullfloss (Golden Falls) waterfall which was extremely windy. There was honestly so much wind in my face that it looked like I was shedding tears, plus if I jumped in some areas, I would move 2-3 feet forward. It was definitely a moment to hold onto my camera when taking photos. Despite the wind though the views were absolutely stunning. I love the snow so much and I don’t really mind the cold so I am loving these winter scenes.
The next stop on our journey was to the Geysir Hot Spring where I got to see some boiling mud pits and a gysir in action! When the one went off, I even got blasted with some of the water, so I am definitely glad I had my waterproof coat on! After I saw the geysir I decided to hike to the top of this mountain to get a chance to see some of the surrounding views. I could have spent hours up there just taking it all in, but unfortunately we have a schedule to keep!
To wrap up the day, we went back to the hotel where I grabbed some tacos from the local food hall. I am really enjoying all of the scenery that Iceland has to offer and I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Swanson School of Engineering 