and sent me packing with a small swag bag
You must have gotten the nice receptionist. We dropped in on a December morning some years ago and weren't even able to buy swag :(
Then again... Iceland was not good to us... no wildlife on the boat tours, no Northern lights after 4 attempts, roads closed due to wind... eh well... maybe next time.
At least the food and beer were good. Actually... other than the Blue Lagoon, the highlight of our trip there (after the EVE Monument) was the Hiroshima and Nagasaki thing in the Harpa and the amazing isolation and roiling seas at Vik.
Edit: For others if you're going to Iceland: go in Spring/Summer. We had a really good time in December, but that was more our unwillingness to be defeated rather than Iceland's attempts to thwart our fun. Also: take money. Lots of money. You'll need it, and its worth it. Also, if your go to Blue Lagoon, go EARLY (7-8AM) and enjoy 2-3 hours bliss before the Americans ruin it.