Iceland 1 - Reykjavik (July 2018)

Solfario: Reykjavik sea front.

Reykjavík: Mon 9- Weds 11 July 2018

Up at 03.00 for our taxi to Gatwick and the 06.30 Easyjet flight to Reykjavík. Taxi into the city centre (45mins) and we left our rucksacks at the automated lockers in the Sandollin swimming pool, and wandered into the very small city. I had been here a few years ago in January to launch a Land Rover; it was warmer in July but still grey and wet!     

We bought 24 hour ‘city cards’ which then gave us entry to a bunch of museums, art galleries and swimming pools. First stop was a cool coffee shop for much needed caffeine and cake, and our first experience of Icelandic prices : £35 for 4 coffees and 3 cakes - ouch! (But I will try not to bang on about Icelandic costs as we chose to come here knowing how expensive it is!). Next was the National Art Gallery (split into 3 locations), and then the Settlement Museum - which contains an excavated long house from approximately 1200 when Iceland was believed to have been first inhabited. 

Hallgrimskirkja

We trogged back to the pool at the end of the afternoon, collected our bags and walked 20mins to our AirBnb apartment. We used our passes to go to Laugardalslaug public pool - where all the locals go of an evening. Despite it only being 12degC (Iceland is having a really crappy summer, whilst the UK basks in 30+ degrees) everyone is swimming in large outdoor geothermal pools heated to 34degC, and then hot pools at 38 / 40 / 44 degC - with a quick immersion on the 5 degC tub to be fully local! 

Tues 10

Into the Kjarvalsstadir art museum near our apartment - with some wonderful paintings of Icelandic scenes, and some excellent quotes

“Mountaineers are shaped by the silent school of ominous peaks”

Gudmundur Einarsson fra Middal

Then off to the detailed National Museum with three excellent floors taking you through the country’s history.  After lunch we completed our tourist tour with the surprisingly good Northern Lights exhibit; going to have to come back in the spring to go Aurora hunting (Gumpa?).  

We capped our sightseeing with a visit to the quirky Museum of Punk, located in an ex-public toilet!! 

Museum off Punk Rock!!

Back to the apartment to pack for tomorrow’s bus trip & big hike.... 

We enjoyed our 1.5 days in Reykjavik. It’s probably a lot nicer bathed in sunshine, but it really does feel very small for a capital city, and none of else felt we needed to spend any more time exploring it!