iceland , what to buy?
 

very late , I know!
DH and I will travel to Reykjavik in a couple of days ... I just now thought of asking those who have been to Iceland ...
what did you bring home with you?
anything you did not buy and wish you had bought?
Thanks!

they do a very fine black lava ball into which silver has been forced, make lovely necklace according to Mrs Bilbo.

Gull eggs??

I'd not bother to buy the blue lagoon mud. It's mud.

Unless you want to experience the thrill of smuggling forbidden goods into the US or UK, don't bring back canned whale meat.

You could bring back some hakarl.

Gravlax
Licorice flavored vodka
Black lava sea salt
wild berry jam

We were headed home to elsewhere in Europe, though, which might make a difference.

We didnt bother with the Blue Lagoon either time we were in Iceland. For a very small fraction of the price you can have an enjoyable time at any of the many public hot springs/pool all over the country.

Be careful purchasing black lava rock jewelry. Most of what is available is not from Iceland. Do a Google search for an interesting article on the subject. There is one artisan who sells the real thing named in that article . Her pieces are modern and not expensive-most set in sterling silver. The abundance of black lava beads available in most tourist shops ( including the higher end ones) are not local.

Sweaters from the knitting co-op are nice if you can tolerate the itch!

If where you live has winters then buy some woolen products. I found the "Icelandic" sweaters too expensive but I got an ear warmer and some gloves that are beautiful and very, very warm.

Reindeer bacon!

We just returned from Iceland, and we didn't buy much. I do like to shop, but honestly there wasn't that much that drew me in. The woolen items were pretty, but way too itchy for me. I did get a very nice print though, so will have that framed.

Sealskin coats!

I regret passing up that black sealskin coat in Kiev. That thing was incredibly warm.

not many reindeer (3000 wild ones) on Iceland, but loads in Finland 100,000s of the things

I wish I had bought some woolen mittens when I was there last summer. The wool sweaters were nice, but I don't wear much wool anymore.

I did buy a little necklace that had some volcanic ash in a little glass blown container. It was cute and not very expensive.

Thank you all so much!
I think I'll stick to woolen articles and jewelry, and leave the food stuff behind, especially the reindeer bacon! :)
Time to pack ... thanks again!

sparki, I bet the seal missed it too ;-)

the one thing my girls really liked is the jewelry based on Viking runes. They have pendants and earrings. Something fun and a little different...

here is an example:
http://www.ingebretsens.com/jewelry/...-runic-jewelry


the best thing we brought? great memories of an amazing country and beautiful photographs.

Hey bilbo, now that we are in the same country, when are we going to meet for a pint or three?