When in Rome....

I am eating at gas stations and I am eating hot dogs. Altho tonight I am being adventurous and having a hamburger.

I still care about maintaining some degree of health, but this is not unusual in Iceland. And it is certainly the thing to do as a traveler in Iceland.

I had been reading about the hot dogs (pylsa) in the food section in the guidebook. So I tried my first one a week ago. It was just a regular wiener in a white hot dog bun with choice of the usual toppings - ketchup, mustard, may, etc. But they are cheap - 200 Ikr.

Compare that with the price of last nights meal. I ate at a pub style cafe with a view of the harbour and ordered the cheapest main on the menu - Icelandic meat soup, which came with a small salad and some bread. It was indeed very tasty but it was 1850 Ikr!! I can´t bring myself to tell you how much that is, so you figure it out.

Gas stations offer a small menu of meals under 1000 Ikr - hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, fries. My hamburger was just delivered to my table on a plate with metal cutlery and I am impressed. Certainly not McDonald's. And this place is busy... and only a few are buying the gas.

If I can manage to get a room in a hostel, then I can buy food at the grocery store and make my meals. But tourist season is July and August and it is brutal trying to get accommodation if you haven´t planned well in advance. This is forcing me to make a quick plan, then phone ahead for reservations. But this still isn´t working. I am on my way to Akureyri tomorrow and every place I have phoned during the last 2 days is full. I have my sleeping bag. Campsites sometimes have big huts where you can sleep in your bag. You can also use your bag and stay at guest houses at a reduced rate. I have my fingers crossed for any kind of roof for tomorrow.

I haven´t tried hitchhiking yet (transportation isn´t cheap either). Iceland is probably the one remaining country where it is safe to do so. I am still using the buses.

I went to the penis museum this afternoon (www.phallus.is). I wasn´t impressed, but it is often that way, isn´t it?

If you are thinking of going to Italy this month, you will not find any Italians there. They are ALL here.

Until next time, bless (goodbye).