It’s not a secret that travelling doesn’t include only visiting sights and enjoying sceneries, but it also means to discover a culture that can be much different from your own. We’ve made a short list of things that are very “Icelandic” that we had tested ourselves. :) So if you want to be like an awesome local you should try this:

1) To eat an ice-cream even when it’s cold

Yes, yes, strangely (for us) but often the ice-cream caffés are opened much longer that anything else! Maybe it’s the opposite thing of hot tea-drinking in Arabic countries?

2) To fish and to eat what you’ve caught

A fishing rod can be found in every gas station and supermarket. In theory, the best way is to buy a license and fish salmon or trout in rivers. We tried an alternative variant for dummies (and for free) – going to any harbor and getting some flatfish.  It is very tasty as well, even though the Icelanders would never bite a piece, claiming that flat fish is dirty and reserved for the children fun.

3) To relax in a hot-pot

A fishing rod can be found in every gas station and supermarket. In theory, the best way is to buy a license and fish salmon or trout in rivers. We tried an alternative variant for dummies (and for free) – going to any harbor and getting some flatfish.  It is very tasty as well, even though the Icelanders would never bite a piece, claiming that flat fish is dirty and reserved for the children fun.

4) To participate in autumn sheep collecting

Around the end of September, the farmers start to collect all their sheep who walk around Iceland in order to get ready for the “winter”. And it’s a thing to see, even if it makes feel slightly uneasy for the sheep.

5) To eat Skyr with milk

Around the end of September, the farmers start to collect all their sheep who walk around Iceland in order to get ready for the “winter”. And it’s a thing to see, even if it makes feel slightly uneasy for the sheep.

6) To spend a night in an isolated farm

Best way to try the atmosphere of rural Iceland. If you’re lost when the night comes don’t hesitate to knock at someone’s door, out of the capital area, people are much more welcoming.

7) To shop in Bonus

The cheapest supermarket with the “widest” selection but with the most horrible emblem that we’ve ever seen in our life. Just look at this disgusting pig! And it followed us during the whole trip on the plastic bags of all possible sizes.

8) To learn how to knit

We’ve lost our chance to be taught at school (as it’s done in Iceland), but it’s never late. Not sure that I’ll have enough patience to create an Icelandic sweater though.

9) No Blue Lagoon

As it’s reserved mainly for tourists, naturally. Still we came to have a look, and it was more than enough: the crowd in the lagoon itself sobered us up, so we preferred the basic swimming pool.

Finally, here are two points that we failed to try, but maybe you’ll be luckier than us!

10) To take a ride in 4×4

Even a short one, but it is part of local “new” culture, as well as these damned burgers.

11) To go in the mountains for several days with a couple of horses

This is one of the usages that horses in Iceland serve for! So everyone who is fond of “bucket lists” – don’t forget to put it in!

[:en]Iceland[:fr]Islande[:]

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