Today I’m going to combine a Fun Photo Friday with a Fun Food Friday featuring a lunch review of the restaurant at Hótel Skógafoss in Skógar, just minutes away from on foot from the magnificent Skógafoss waterfall. We’ll start with a glance at the lunch menu at the Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar:
Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar
But that menu does not show you the full selection available. There were also sandwiches, French fries, and other popular fair:
Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar burger and fries
Mmmm…. Looks good. Let’s take a closer look:
Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar
Something a bit more local, perhaps?
Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar
Or a cross between the traditional and the popular:
Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar
Yes, this is a bar as well. Don’t forget to see what they have on tap to accompany your lunch:
Borg Beer at Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar
Oh, my bad. Wrong Borg. Here you go:
Borg Beer Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar
Now for today’sFun Photo Friday segment of Reykjavik area favorites:
It’s approaching noon on 12 May and we’re heading back to the tour bus. To get to the bus we once again pass the Royal Palace and the gardens (see below). Our next destination awaits, and it’s a bit of a drive. We’re about to head north for an hour-long journey.
Royal Palace of Almudaina
Our next stop is the enchanting mountain village of Valldemossa. Actually, the word enchanting doesn’t really do this place justice. You’ll find photo-worthy scenes at every corner, and many more between those different street corners.
Valldemossa tour map
For a better description I refer you to this Wikipedia article on Valldemossa, which states, “Since the 19th century Valldemossa has been promoted internationally as a place of outstanding beauty, largely as a result of the affection of distinguished traveller and cultural writer, the Austrian Archduke Ludwig Salvator. Valldemossa is a very attractive tourist destination, as it shows early Spanish culture. There are many shops and restaurants to indulge in Spanish culture.“
Valldemossa, Mallorca Island, Spain
After a brief stint with our tour guide, our group was released with instructions to return to the bus at a specified time. So, when I tell you that today I’m going to give you a taste of Valldemossa, I do mean taste. Let’s start with a promising looking panadería (bakery) and repostería (pastry) shop on Via Blanquerna near the corner at Plaça Ramon Llull. Here we’ll try a popular local dish similar to pizza.
Ca’n Cerdà Pastisseria
The dish is calledcoca de trampó, and it’s simply delish. It’s a bed of delectable vegies sitting atop a thin crust:
Coca de trampó
Did I mention that this establishment is also a bakery and pastry shop? This thing may look like a doughnut, and taste similar to one, but you’ll never believe what the base ingredient of coca de patata is:
Coca de patata con chocolate (potato flour roll with chocolate)
So Ursula and I loaded up with:
It was so good that we returned for another helping. Meanwhile, let’s go hit the streets:
You’ll recall that this series on The Pink Store will also feature some recent El Paso sunset and desert flowers. The above photo gets one of those two out of the way for today. I’ll feature later today a photo of a cactus in our front yard that blooms but once a year, and 25 April was this year’s date. But for now we’re looking at The Pink Store, and today’s focus will be on works of art you can find there. For instance, the photo below contains a carved wooden niche with a colorful depiction of Saint Michael the Archangel. We have a similar work hanging in a guest bath in our home.
Saint Michael the Archangel
Much of the wooden art in The The Pink Store has religious overtones, but the inherent beauty of these works can integrate with most any home’s decor:
Art of The Pink Store
Other works lean toward the whimsical. Ursula absolutely loves this style for decorating bedrooms:
Whimsical art at The Pink Store
Other artists carried byThe Pink Store have a more modern feel, as you can see from the two statues below:
Modernist statues
One of my favorite modern pieces is the cobalt blue mask below. The artist also had examples on display in The Pink Store in yellow and green.
Art in The Pink Store
The entire store is a feast for the eyes, or the camera, as you look about at the explosion of colors and textures throughout:
Color everywhere
Speaking of color, let me sneak in this cactus from our front yard. This thing only blooms once a year:
Cactus Flower
But enough of that. Let’s continue with The Pink Store. As I showed you last week, Day of the Dead pieces feature prominently:
Day of the Dead at The Pink Store
Three more quick views of The Pink Store merchandise, and we’ll continue on Wednesday:
Decisions — Murder in Paradise
The Globe — Murder in Luxury
R. Doug Wicker — Author 