On Kjuklinga and Staerk Sennep
Looks like I'll be having a white Christmas, after all. Snow is coming down pretty hard right about now, and I'd reckon there's probably about two inches of the stuff on the ground outside. Here I sit, in my robe and slippers, listening to (what else) "Sydir Guos" by Sigur Ros. Of course, as luck would have it, Iceland passed a total smoking ban on the first of July this year. Therefore, to the sidewalk of Poststraeti go I, garnering amused looks from the locals walking by in their wintry warmest garb. It's not all that cold, really - it was much worse last night with a wicked wind that just wouldn't quit. Everything is closed. There is also no room service. I think this Christmas Eve (they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve evening here) is going to be a little tricky. Thank God last night after a pint at the Irish pub across the street I stopped by the 10/11 store (a 24-hour market that is, essentially, the Icelandic 7/11) and bought cubes of Kjuklinga with some Staerk Sennep to snack on, placing them in the conveniently located wet bar fridge underneath my desk. Sound fancy? It isn't. Basically I'm munching on chunks of roasted chicken with spicy brown mustard. Oh, Radiohead just popped on. I'm reading a fantastic book called Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, on which the brilliant Showtime series is based. I also brought two bottles of California red with me; a 2004 Hook & Ladder Meritage and 2004 Bear Cave Cellars Syrah. Lonely and tinged with a healthy layer of surrealism, I will make it through today. Tonight though there will be Peace March down Laugavegur with candles and a choir singing hymns and caroles. That should warm the cockles of my heart. Peace out to everybody, and Happy Holidays to you and yours!