Iceland January 2019

We arrived in Reykjavik at 3.40 pm it was already dark. After we settled into our hotel, we went to explore down town. We just checked the layout and as it was getting late, we started looking for a place to eat and found a Thai restaurant and decided to eat there.

The next day we were out and about quite early ready to explore the city. Our first mission was to find an ATM to get some Icelandic money and when we found one it was right next to a bookshop, which is always a favourite place for us no matter where we are. Of course, we went in and as they had a café, we had our morning coffee fix and enjoyed looking at the books. Wherever I go I like to by book by a local author of the country often a novel as I feel they if an insight into the society, though non-fiction can also be on the list. Iceland has the most authors per population than any other country, maybe because it’s so bleak and dark during winter so huddled at home one can let imagination run riot.

Typical Building

We tore ourselves away from the cosy bookshop and went up to the cathedral which dominates the city. Being a Lutheran church, the interior is plain compared to the Gothic churches in mainland Europe, but its architecture drew ideas from that making its structure a simple ‘Gothic’. The main feature is the amazing 5275 pipe organ which was installed in 1992, individuals sponsored each of the pipes and their names are inscribed on them. We then went to the Settlement Museum which is built around a 10^th century Viking longhouse. The exhibitions give a glimpse into early Icelandic life and is well worth a visit. Then off to the Modern Art Museum with ever changing exhibitions. Then off to Volcano House shows films every hour about the Vestmannaeyjar volcanoes and Eyjafjallajőkull which were very informative. 

Reykjavik Cathedral

In the evening we went to the Loftid Bar, there we had the local drinks of Brennivin a caraway flavoured spirit and Snorri pale ale. Later we went to the Uppsalir for dinner.

I was determined to taste more Icelandic food, we bought pylsur, hotdogs supposedly very special, not a fan of hotdogs anyway, so probably not a good person to judge their uniqueness or quality, we then went to the market, which was OK had a range of goods, antiques, clothes, jewellery and food. It’s here we tasted the famous or infamous hᾱkarl fermented shark, it is definitely an acquired taste and not one I would want to pursue acquiring, in a word it was disgusting and the taste seems to last in your mouth for a long time.

We walked to the cathedral again on the following day hoping there would be an organ recital but it mainly takes place in summer. There is a hand knitters association, and being a knitter myself I decided to check it out. About the only thing that is cheap in Iceland is knitting wool, I bought some as well as a pattern which I plan to knit when I get home. And near this shop we went into a bakery and bought the last Icelandic thing on my tasting list, vinarbrauᵭ a rolled pastry laced with custard and jam. Extremely yummy and definitely recommended. We also bought a CD of modern Icelandic music, which is quite haunting.

One of the Main Streets

Then off to the National Gallery and Museum both extremely interesting and well worth the visit.

We would be meeting up with our tour group the following day but had the whole day for further exploration of Reykjavik we just basically wandered around down to the coast and just enjoyed the day, another venture into the book shop from which I bought the book Independent People by Halldόr Laxness. Iceland has the most writers per population than anywhere else, maybe it’s the unforgiving weather during winter makes writing one of the few activities one can do huddled in doors during the cold and dark.

In the evening we met our tour guide plus our fellow companions. Then we had dinner and were rushed off to a Northern Lights hunt which unfortunately did not appear.

Up early for the start of the tour.