After the previous days exertions today’s plan was to explore more of Reykjavik but on foot this time. We met Barry & Ellie for breakfast at 9am and by 10am were wrapped up warm with several layers to leave the Hotel. We headed down to the waterfront.
Although the temperature was -5c it was a gloriously bright day with beautiful blue skies and sunshine. I had brought my sunglasses with me on this trip, I couldn’t find them before we left the room which was annoying as Karen, Barry and were now wearing theirs to help with the glare. Even with the thermometer as low as it was we all were able to take our gloves off, which felt strange.
The mountains the other side of the peninsula looked stunning with the sun glistening off their snow-covered tops. I had read that recently people had seen whales just offshore whilst walking along the same harbour path that we were taking but we were not so lucky.
We kept stopping to look at various things including a large patch of ice that Barry simply could not resist trying to skate upon.
Then we came to the Sunseeker Sculpture of a ship which is made of some kind of metal and looked good in the sun against the snowy mountain backdrop.
We passed the Symphony Hall which was an interesting glass building which to me looked as if it has been built on the ‘huh’. We managed to carry on by without Karen dragging us into the quite nice-looking café contained within.
The walk or meander carried on at a nice pace. We kept stopping admiring various statues and reading different information boards as we went along.
Eventually we came to the harbour itself. There were some good-looking cafes and restaurants but most seemed to be closed for the winter. I tried to persuade Barry & Ellie to go with Karen on a whale watching trip as it would get me out of doing so at a later trip, but it was not high on their priority list for this trip. Instead, we carried on to what seemed to be a new ‘industrial’ type estate the other side of the harbour. Industrial units may be somewhat harsh as there were many supermarkets amongst them but they were new units that could and had been adapted for many different uses.
One of the uses was as a Whale Museum. Barry & Ellie were keen to explore it but I was non plussed and Karen wasn’t too bothered either so we left them and went to wait in a very nearby café called Kaffivagninn. It turned out to be the oldest café in Iceland. It was a good place to while away the time. We had some hot drinks and watched as many locals came in and ordered their lunches. Karen passed the time browsing the M&S sale online on her phone. I read todays newspapers on the Apple app.
Barry & Ellie eventually joined us and we were pleased they had really enjoyed the Whale Museum even if the film they had seen there was all gloom and doom about all whale’s future fate thanks to us humans. Karen got them some drinks and she and Ellie had something sweet to eat.
Then we walked back to one of the supermarkets to get somethings from the bakery inside to have for lunch. Sadly, there were no benches around so like some cheap tourists we ate them standing around in the sunshine in their car park.
Then we walked onto the Lava Show building, host to the only live Lava show in the world. We just missed the 2pm showing and after some contemplation agreed that Barry’s idea of returning later in the car for the last showing of the day at 6pm was a good one.
We set off on a deliberately slow walk back through Reykjavik old town. It was very pretty with lovely coloured houses and other interesting architectural features. There were many houses with enormous murals on them all of which added to the picturesque nature of the town.
As may have been gathered. I have been really taken by Iceland and in particular Reykjavik in a way I never expected to be. It is walkable, friendly, safe and not too busy. A lovely city. The traffic is light and courteous. It has many things of interest to see and do. The shops have different products that you would not find anywhere else. I really like it and would rank it highly amongst the other capital cities I have been fortunate enough to visit. It feels foreign, especially with the complicated language and alphabet but everyone speaks English. It is taught in all the schools although why they teach it to be spoken with such an accent is beyond me.
The only real challenges that I can see for visitors are twofold. Firstly, the prices for anything and everything. They really are exorbitant. I liked the look of the hand knitted traditional Icelandic jumpers but never saw any that were less than £300 each and many were £400+. The second issue is the increasing likelihood that any part of Iceland could be destroyed or damaged by volcanic eruption at any given moment and you could me stranded for a considerable period. But heigh ho.
We wandered into a few shops and nearly but not quite bought several things. I fancied a Viking horn but their cost each was up with the cost of jumpers so they stayed on the shelf. Barry said it would just be another thing he would have to throw in a skip.
It took us twice as long to walk back as it had to get to the furthest point this morning, but that is what a day like today is all about. Barry was very patient with us as I am sure he would have powered back much quicker without us all dawdling and looking at things.
After about an hour back in our room we headed out again, this time in the car to drive back to the Lava Show. We arrived in good time and secured good seats in the purpose-built arena. The show was hosted by a French Vulcanologist who spoke good English with an Icelandic accent. He was amusing, informative and good at his role.
After some background and information regarding the current eruptions we were shown a very gloomy film about volcanos form and erupt and ultimately how we are all doomed from one of the super volcanos around the world. Fingers crossed it will not be for several hundreds of thousands years. In the meantime, Bastian our hosts teased about anyone still to visit The Blue Lagoon at this moment in time as the next eruption is still predicted to be just hours away directly in the immediate vicinity of it. It was a good job we had already been there as otherwise I am not convinced; we would have been able to persuade Karen to go there at all.
Then it was time for the main event. Molten lava (that was apparently reheated and constantly reused basalt from an eruption 100 years ago) was poured slowly down a slide between the audience. It was super impressive. We then watched as it cooled and then ice was placed on it causing the lava to bubble. Bastian kind of played and moulded it using a very long steel pole. He fielded well many and mostly sensible questions from the audience. On the way out I succumbed and bought some volcanic glass as souvenirs for us.
The ticket price for this was not cheap but it was a real enjoyable and so educational show. It was easy to understand why the attraction had won so many awards since it had opened.
We moved the car along and parked outside Flatey’s restaurant which we think operated many of the offerings in the Hlemmur Food Hall. We all had delicious pizzas and a drink. Again, not that heap but in comparison to other meals – quite reasonable.
Before heading back, Ellie remembered that it was still Feb 29th and warned Barry that he still had a few hours to ‘survive’ her not proposing. He took the teasing well.
Back in the room we got our belongings back together ready for our earlyish departure in the morning.
And so, Iceland – you have surprised me and surpassed my expectations. We have had a great time. If I come back then it would maybe in the summer time to see the greenery and contrast. Barry & Ellie have been great company and we have had many laughs and giggles between us. I don’t think we held them back too much, and indeed they kept us going where we may have had breaks but this only enabled us to see and do more. The hotel and its location were good and the car despite my initial difficulties behaved itself. We also learnt that Ellie would love for her and Barry to have matching jumpers!
My closing remarks are that Neil would have loved it.
