The Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik - August 29, 2023

Enjoying the sunshine in Reykjavik

One day in the spring, Jess asked me if I would like to travel with her to Iceland. A few of my friends had visited this northern country and had enjoyed their time there, so I thought, "Why not?" In no time at all, we had chosen a date, a tour, and had purchased our flights. (To be honest, Jess made all these decisions; I just agreed to them.)

This expanse of blue was outside the Blue Lagoon complex

Steam rising from the water

Our flight would rob us of a night's sleep, but, undaunted, we decided to head to the famous Blue Lagoon first. We had booked a bus from the airport before we left Canada, and all we had to do was arrive on time to make the connection. Alas, we were an hour late getting to Iceland, so we had to grab a taxi instead. Our first excursion, already quite costly in Canadian dollars, became even more so.

Our first selfie

This gives an idea of the size of the lagoon

I had heard mixed reviews of the Blue Lagoon, but we loved it. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We had gorgeous weather, a perfect summer's day in Iceland. After an overnight flight, it was relaxing and fun to soak in a hot bath, and to enjoy the perks that came with our admission.

Morning libations

Masking

One of these was a drink at the lagoon bar–I opted for a glass of rose, Jess chose a beer. Here we were, drinking at 7:00 a.m. Toronto time. The other was a pat of a mixture of silica and algae which we applied to our faces as a mask. We looked like members of a large group of kabuki performers wandering around in the milky blue water. 

The Danish Embassy is a reminder that we were in a national capital

Soup in a bread bowl. 

By midday, we were relaxed and ready to head to Reykjavik, Iceland's capital city; our bus dropped us off at a stop near our hotel. After check-in, we sought out a place for lunch. When Jess discovered that the soups at Svarta Kaffid were cream based, she left me to enjoy my lunch while she found another restaurant nearby. An American couple sitting near me invited me to join them. That was a lovely gesture, and typical of the warmth we experienced in Iceland.

Rainbow street

Colourful Ice Cream shop

I met Jess on Skipholt, Reykjavik's "rainbow street". Iceland is one of the most LGBTQ friendly countries in the world, and its capital is full of colour. Our plan for the rest of the day was to explore the city on foot. 

Geometry everywhere at Hallgrimskirka Church

Jess and Leif

We headed first to Hallgrimskirkja Church, the country's largest. Completed in 1985 after 41 years of construction, its distinctive shape was inspired by the trap rocks, mountains and glaciers of Iceland's landscape. We visited the interior of the church as well but it was nowhere near as impressive as the exterior. In front of the building is a statue of famous explorer, Leif Erickson, which was donated to Iceland by the US in 1930, long before the church was constructed. That year was the thousandth anniversary of Iceland's first parliament in 930. 

The Harpa Concert Hall

Landsbankinn Building

We meandered from there to see another distinctive modern building in the city. Completed in 2011, the Harpa Concert Hall stands close to the water, and is reflected in a pool which fronts it. Next to it, another interesting building is nearing completion. It will house the country's largest bank, Landsbankinn. I really liked the look of it, and have since discovered that it is a "green' building, and is meant to suggest Iceland's rugged landscape. 

Inukshuks along the shore

From there, we headed south east along the waterfront toward the Sun Voyager sculpture. The first photo in this post was taken during this part of our walk. The sculpture itself looks like a representation of a Viking ship. It was erected on the occasion of Reykjavik's 200th anniversary, and according to the artist, Jón Gunnar Árnason, it is a "dreamboat, or an ode to the sun meant to convey the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom."

The Prime Minister's Office

The French Hospital

During our walk, I noticed a few older buildings too, although Reykjavik is a relatively new city by European standards. One of these is the Prime Minister's Office with a statue of of Hannes Hafstein, a nineteenth century poet and politician, in front of it. Its history goes back over 250 years, when it was first used as a dungeon. The other is The French Hospital, built in 1902. It was intended to provide medical care for seamen in the fishing grounds to the west of Iceland, the vast majority of whom were from France. 

Haunting mural

I got my wings

We also passed by some interesting art. What do you make of the ghostly mural that we spotted on a house? It is very evocative, I think. Of course, Jess could not resist photographing her mother with wings. I have posed this way before–in Mexico, where angels are much loved. 

Loved this store

Colourful place.

Back in the centre of the city, I again admired the charm of the buildings there. Reykjavik has a lot of appeal, with its small size, its openness to all visitors, and its casual vibe. As the afternoon turned into evening, we slowed down and grabbed something to eat for dinner. We chose an Italian place on the main street, Rossopomodoro, where I had some pizza. 

The view from the bus

The historical Reykjavik Junior College as seen from the bus.

Jess and I saw a fair bit of Reykjavik, but we could have used more time there. I had glimpsed a great view from the bus, and we passed by the Culture House twice but we never went inside. Once the home of the National Library and the National Archives, it is now an art gallery. 

The Culture House is one of the country's most beautiful buildings. 

We left Reykjavik the next morning with the hope that on our return from our tour, we could see more of the city. It had delighted us.