Reykjavik, Iceland series - 1 of 5

Spring Break - April 5-10, 2015

Sweden was never on my radar before moving to Stockholm and vacationing in Iceland had definitely never crossed my mind.  We had four full days in Reykjavik and I wish we'd had at least two more... for whale watching and more exploring. Not only have I fallen in love with Iceland, I can't wait to go back!

Random thoughts, impressions and information on Reykjavik, Iceland...

• People are friendly, speak perfect English and yes, they wear Icelandic sweaters
• Icelandair makes it easy to visit offering layovers of up to seven days on flights between Europe and the U.S. The airfare is reasonable and the planes are nice.
• We rented a roomy apartment through airbnb two blocks from the city center.  It's very easy to get around the city on foot. Most day trips outside of Reykjavik are booked through tour agencies (group and private) that are very accommodating about picking up and dropping off almost anywhere. 
• The weather is crazy!  Never has it been more true that if you don't like the weather wait five minutes...  we experienced sun, wind, rain, hail and snow several times a day. It felt like overkill packing snow boots, heavy winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves but not once we arrived. A bit of information from a visitors guide encourages you to hold onto your car door when opening it... the wind can take it off!

even the crosswalk guy wears a hat!

adding their own sunshine with a brightly colored house

a temporary break in the weather!

• 874 AD first settler in Iceland, Ingólfur Arnarson, legend states that when he spotted land he threw his oars into the water and said he would settle wherever they washed ashore... Reykjavik (then known as Arnarhóll).

the red lips make him very intimidating

• 1904 - first motorized fishing boats in Iceland made life/work easier, doubling the Icelandic population.

• Iceland is a small country with a total population of around 330,000 people.  Reykjavik is the capital where 2/3 of the population resides.  The backbone of Iceland's economy has always been fishing until recently when tourism caught up. 
• 1944 Iceland declared independence from Denmark (Greenland and the Faroe Islands are still autonomous Danish territories).

• Prior to WWII Iceland's population was 130,000.  Iceland didn't really start to prosper or register any international attention until WWII when 50,000 American and British troops were stationed there.  This was the first time currency was needed and created in Iceland.  As a result for the first time this tiny country had more money to invest in their fishing fleet.

60,000 Icelandic krona = $433 US/3,839 Swedish krona/411 Euros

• Reykja = smoke/steam, vik = bay

• Icelandic sagas are mentioned a lot around here.  A saga is described in Wikipedia as a literary phenomenon of the 13th and 14th centuries focused on family history and the struggle within the second and third generation of Icelandic settlers during the 10th and early 11th centuries. In a nutshell, sagas = historical Icelandic literature. 
• It's interesting to walk through another country's grocery store finding universal similarities and uniquely local items... like the Viking Snack of dried fish.

tasty?!  Definitely an acquired taste

• The airport duty free shop is right next to baggage claim and is packed with shoppers at midnight.
• Many businesses open late... the first grocery store we tried didn't open until 11am, the first coffee shop we came across didn't open until 9am. We were excited to find a 24/7 grocery and a restaurant or two open at 8am.  This is because the bars don't really start hopping until after 11pm and are open until 4 or 5am.... what I've read, not from experience! 
• Due to the geothermal quality of Iceland the city tap water has a very strong sulphur smell and taste. First task, buy large bottles of water at the grocery. This may have just been our apartment because our guides during the week insisted that Reykjavik's cold water is filtered through lava and is the cleanest, purest water. 
• Visiting the Tourist Information Bureau is highly recommended.  These people understand the weather, where to go, what to see based on the time of year.... much easier than trying to sort it out yourself.  They will book your tours for you and are very flexible and accommodating should you need to make any changes.  The tour buses and vans are also very accommodating dropping and picking up anywhere in Reykjavik.  

We were so lucky to be able to coordinate our vacation plans with our London friends Richard, Jayne, Annabel and Simon.  It was great to catch up and explore together. 

Wandering around Reykjavik...

Audra, Gabby, Annabel and Sofia

Annabel, Sofia, Gabby and Audra

downtown Reykjavik

Sólfar (Sun Voyager) 1990/stainless steel - artist Jón Gunnar Árnason.  Commemorates the 200th anniversary of the city of Reykjavik.  The Sun Voyager symbolizes the promise of discovery, hope, progress and freedom. 

Standing 73 meters high above the surrounding city is Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church in Iceland.  Commissioned in 1937 (Architect Guðjón Samúelsson) and designed after the basalt lava flows common in Iceland's landscape, the church was built from 1945-86. Tickets can be purchased inside to take a lift to the top of the clock tower for panoramic views of Reykjavik. 

simple, clean Scandinavian interior

large pipe organ, 15 meters tall, weighing 25 tons by German organ builder Johannes Klais

downtown Reykjavik

Leif Erikson, Icelandic explorer considered the first European to land in North America (Newfoundland, Canada) 500 years before Christopher Columbus.  The statue was a gift from the United States in 1930 commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Iceland's parliament. 

our explorers

Here and there around the city are colorful, fun murals to brighten the day.

maybe this one is a little too honest

 There are even more sculptures dotting the city landscape...

'Looking Seawards' sculpture near the old harbor

sculpture in front of Harpa

Harpa - concert hall and conference center downtown

A few miscellaneous things... 

found by the old harbor

interesting sculpture at the Reykjavik-Keflavik airport