Puffins and Reykjavik 海鸚鵡和雷克雅未克

June 26: After two long guided tours in the past two days, we decided to take it easy and enjoy a more relaxed pace today. We allowed ourselves to sleep in a bit, enjoying the comfort of our accommodations. Upon waking up, we were pleased to find that the weather was fair, with occasional glimpses of sunlight peeking through the clouds, and it got much better later in the day.

Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. There are many things to see and do. We visited a few attractions on the first day we arrived and would catch up with the rest today. After a delightful breakfast, we explored the City Hall and the Parliament House. Following our visit, we leisurely strolled around a charming small lake near the City Hall, enjoying the serene surroundings and the tranquil atmosphere. It was a pleasant and laid-back morning, allowing us to unwind and savor the beauty of Reykjavik at our own pace.

Believe it or not, Icelandic hot dog is a popular food in Iceland. We heard about the famous hot dog vendor that boasted of serving the best hot dogs in town, and true to the claim, there were long queues of eager customers lining up in front of the stall. Connie reminisced that just two years ago, no one was in line at that spot, and she even had photographic evidence to back it up. The pandemic has indeed brought about significant changes in tourism and visitor patterns. Despite the allure of the famous vendor, we didn't want to wait in a long line for a hot dog and opted for a hot dog from a nearby small shop. The hot dog was undeniably tasty, yet we couldn't help but feel it fell short of justifying its five-dollar price tag. Nevertheless, the experience allowed us to savor a popular Icelandic food. These little moments of exploration often leave the most lasting impressions during our travels.

Apart from hot dogs, Icelandic fish and chips are also a must-try. So, we went to another famous shop across the street from our apartment and shared one fish and chips. Over the past few days in Iceland, we've had fish and chips multiple times, and this place served a tasty version, one of the best. After paying, they even gave us two pieces of chocolate cookies as a bonus.

The street murals in Reykjavik, Iceland, elevated the city's lively artistic vibe. As we roamed the streets, we spontaneously snapped photos of these mesmerizing artworks. They provided a striking contrast to the meticulously regulated house paint in the HOA-governed neighborhoods where we reside.

One thing we hadn't done in Iceland so far was see puffins. Connie brought back many beautiful photos of adorable puffins two years ago, and this time, Chenggang hoped to see them in person. We did not get a chance to go on the puffin tour when our cruise ship stopped at Isafjordur a few days ago. There is a small island outside Reykjavik known for puffin watching, but the weather had been terrible in the past few days, and the boats couldn't go out. Finally, the sky cleared up, and the wind subsided this afternoon, and Chenggang quickly booked the last available spot.

After a delightful fifteen-minute ride, the boat arrived at the protected island near the city. Passengers could not disembark on the island due to its conservation status. Instead, everybody remained on the boat, eagerly observing the diverse birds inhabiting the area, including the adorable and agile puffins. With a long lens, Chenggang captured their charm and grace in photographs. He took snapshots of the puffins in flight, expertly clutching fish in their mouths, and some captivating close-ups of the puffins gracefully gliding across the sea. The encounter with these charming creatures undoubtedly became a highlight of the day, filling him with joy and leaving him with cherished memories of this enchanting island adventure.

We opted for a delicious dinner from the supermarket, enjoying roasted pork belly and traditional Icelandic lamb soup. The lamb soup was a delightful surprise, as it was incredibly flavorful without any gamey taste, leaving us wishing we had tried it more often during our stay.

After a satisfying meal, we took advantage of the rare good weather and went for a leisurely stroll along the picturesque seaside. Along the way, we visited and revisited a few more attractions. It was the perfect way to end the day and our long journey, immersing ourselves in the serene surroundings and soaking in the tranquil atmosphere, making the most of our time and creating lasting memories of our incredible time in Iceland.

It's time to go home.

6/26: 今天没什么大安排，睡了个懒觉。起床后，发现今天天气还可以，不能说是大晴天，但太阳时常会露面一会儿。早餐后，去市政府楼和议会大楼那里看看，环绕着市政府楼边的小湖走了一圈。

都说来冰岛要尝一下冰岛热狗，号称是这里最好热狗的网红小贩的亭子前排着长队，佩民说二年前亭子前一个人都没有，有照片为证，都是疫情惹的祸。我们今天就不凑这个热闹，而是在旁边一家小店里要了个热狗。味道还不错，但怎么也不值五美金。

除了热狗，冰岛的炸鱼块和薯条也是必须要尝的。接着我们来到公寓对面的另一网红店俩人分享了一份炸鱼块和薯条。其实来冰岛这几天炸鱼块和薯条已经吃了好几次，今天的这家网红店味道的确不错，付款后还给了二块巧克力饼干。

回房休息一会儿后，天气转晴，风也小下来了。来冰岛后，还有一事没做成-看海鸚鵡。佩民二年前带回许多漂亮可爱海鹦鹉的照片，这次来冰岛就一直希望也能亲眼目睹。Reykjavik 外面有一个小岛是看海鹦鹉的好地方，前几天的天气实在太糟糕，船都不能出海，今天下午总算是云开雾散，赶紧订票抢了最后一个名额。

乘坐小船十五分钟后来到城市不远的小岛边，小岛受保护的，不能上岛，只能远远停在海上观望，岛上各种鸟不少，海鹦鹉很小，飞得又快，既是用了长镜头，由于水平有限，今天的照片不能和两年前的照片相比的，差一段距离，但也算碰上冰岛最可爱的动物了。

晚饭是超市里买的烤五花肉和冰岛传统羊肉汤。羊肉汤一点羊肉腥都没有，很好喝，早知道就多该尝试几次。难得的好天气，饭后去海边散步，再补上几个景点。