Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.08.2016, Blaðsíða 56

Hverfisgata 12 · 101 Reykjavík
Tel. +354 552 15 22 · www.dillrestaurant.is
Lífið er saltfiskur
#109 Dill is a Nordic restaurant with its
focus on Iceland, the pure nature and
all the good things coming from it.

It does not matter if it’s the
ingredients or the old traditions, we
try to hold firmly on to both.
There are not many things that make
us happier than giving life to old
traditions and forgotten ingredients
with modern technique and our creative
mind as a weapon.
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M O U L E S M A R I N I È R E S
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F I S H O F T H E D A Y
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E s t . 2 0 1 2R e y k j a v i k
Eating in the Wild
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Have A Picnic In
Reykjavík
Making The Most Of The Last Bit Of Summer
“All good things…” mutters my
friend after many of the late nights
this summer, “...must come to an
end.” If Icelandic winter is long
and dark, then Icelandic summer
is short and bright—a flash. You
can hear the frustration in some-
one’s voice if they miss just one of
the few sunny days here.
One of the rare treats of Reykja-
vík is to picnic outside. There are
fewer bugs in Iceland than most
countries and a lack of basket-
stealing bears makes picnicking
not only safe, but also relatively
hassle-free. Before you head out,
make sure you have a blanket, food
and drink (I recommend red wine
so you don’t need to haul a cooler),
and maybe a book to read while
you bask in the sun, digesting.

The list of places is in order of prox-
imity to downtown:
HLJÓMSKÁLAGARÐUR—This
popular park sits on the south-
east corner of Tjörnin, Reykjavík’s
Pond. There are little public BBQs
available all over, making this the
perfect place for burgers or hot-
dogs. Not only is there a lot of room
for sports or spontaneous group
yoga, but there’s also art. This area
contains sculptures from five dif-
ferent Icelandic sculptors.
GRASAGARÐURINN—This is
the Reykjavík Botanical Gardens!
The admission is free and there’s
even a cafe if you forgot to bring
food. This is a great place to go
by yourself or with a group. It’s
particularly beautiful in the sum-
mer, bringing out the romantic
and floriculturist in anyone. I
recommend light, cold food, such
as simple sandwiches or salads.
The natural floral scent in the air
will accent any simple dish you’re
enjoying, so there’s no need for a
strong-flavoured dinner.
ELLIÐAÁRDALUR—This place
is legendary. Imagine a place
downtown where you can climb
waterfalls or chase semi-wild
rabbits? It’s a little bit away from
downtown, but the trip is worth
it. It’s located next to Árbær Mu-
seum. There are also crowberries
(krækiber) and blueberries around
for picking. My guilty pleasure:
having a KFC picnic here. Grab a
blanket, a bucket of chicken and
leave your shame at home. This is
Árbær, baby. No one will see you.
HEIÐMÖRK—This is the fur-
thest picnic spot from downtown,
but it’s with the ambitious travel.
It’s a nature reserve with a great
recreation area and walking trails.
This place is for serious berry-
pickers or birdwatchers (over 30
different species of breeding birds
have been spotted here). You can
enjoy the bushes and trees or take
a gander at the lava formations,
such as the Rauðhólar or Red Hills,
which are what’s left of the pseu-
docraters formed in a lava field.
Make sure to pack lots of food and
water and be prepared for the ele-
ments. It’s not always a sweltering
16 degrees and the weather can
change abruptly.
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Words YORK UNDERWOOD Photo ART BICNICK