Reykjavik (July 2008)

The first thing I noticed about Reykjavik was the crisp, clean air and the smell of the sea. Located on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay, Reykjavik is a quaint, quirky city of approximately 120,000 people.

Reykjavik’s centre is compact and easily explored in 1 day. I started by exploring the main shopping street of Laugavegur. There are many small boutique style shops, as well as a few lovely cafes, like the one below.

Moving off the main thoroughfare, I went walking through the backstreets just to the south of Laugavegur, and quickly fell in love with the beautiful, brightly coloured corrugated iron houses. This neighbourhood was quiet, orderly and clean; in fact, sometimes I had the feeling I was walking through a ghost town.

Another highlight of this area is the unique Hallgrímskirkja church. Taking 38 years to complete, it was designed and built in to resemble the basalt lava flows of Iceland’s landscape. The statue in front is of Leif Eriksson, a Norse explorer who is regarded as the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.

There is a rich history of seafaring in Iceland’s history, and even today their main industry, cod fishing in the North Atlantic, relies on their relationship with the ocean. Below are a couple of other examples that refer to this history.

Situated along the main waterfront road, Sæbraut, the Solfar Suncraft was completed in 1986 and is a sculpture of a Viking ship. With the open water and mountains behind, it makes for an impressive site on a sunny day.

After a couple of days in Reykjavik, it was time drive back to Keflavik International Airport, some 50 minutes south west of the capital city. I had an afternoon flight, so I decided to leave early and explore Reykjavik’s immediate surrounds. This charming church is just north of the city.

Heading back through the city towards the airport, I stopped at the landmark Perlan (The Pearl). Perlan is situated on Öskjuhlíð hill and used to be hot water storage tanks for the city. In 1991 the tanks were updated and a hemispherical structure placed on top. It’s now an exhibition centre, museum, hosts concerts, has a restaurant, and has a 360° viewing platform, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounds.

Finally and by no means least, I spent a few hours at the fascinating Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa in the lava fields. The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulphur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 37–39 degrees Celsius. I’d go as far as saying that you could not visit Iceland and not go to the Blue Lagoon, it is that unique an experience.