The flight to Iceland was awesome. Iceland Air gives their clients all the little touches that put them miles ahead of other competing airlines: free wifi, movies, music, travel documentaries, several complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, blankets and pillows, footrests, extra legroom, and aurora borealis led panels gently lighting the plane’s interior. Their airport is equally well thought out. The car rental process was relatively painless. All good. Now what to do at 6AM?
Even though most of the passengers, including myself, hadn’t slept much during the flight, I thought it would be great to soak away the pains of too long a time in one position. Off to the Blue Lagoon it was! Driving in a unfamiliar country can be a little intimidating at first, especially as you learn what the different traffic signs mean and acclimate to kilometers per hour versus miles per hour. Even with studded tires, four wheel drive, and cautious driving, I nearly slid off the road at one point. Black ice—definitely not fun stuff.
But the Blue Lagoon was a treat. Suffice it to say, while the entry is expensive, do it. It’s worth the expense. And the tech they use to facilitate the process is awesome!
After finishing up and eating a good meal in the restaurant Lava, it was time for a nap. (Falling asleep continually at the dining table was not good etiquette, but my body was telling me what it needed.) A few winks later and my energy levels were marginally better. Off to the capital!
When I first arrived in Reykjavik, my first reaction was neutral. The more modern areas have typical city layouts and the historic sections definitely have charm, with closely built homes and narrow, angled streets (driving an SUV through them was nerve-racking.). Brightly painted homes add a cheeriness to an otherwise steel-gray environment.
Icelandic pride is evident everywhere and all of their products receive the most attention and emphasis, a testament to their marketing tactics, especially post national bankruptcy. The technology is the best I’ve experienced so far, with amazing service on their airline, excellent wi-fi once on the island, and conveniences like being able to charge your CCD at the table instead of the waiter having to go away to a machine and then come back again. They have embraced the future.
But I think there is also a certain level of discomfort as well to participating in what one Icelandian identified as “capitalization,” a wariness that the process may alter Iceland and its willing people in less positive ways. It’s something that I’ve picked up in many of my interactions with locals; they are kind and polite, but there is a level of reservation always present.
The Airbnb room I had rented for the night was still not available, so it was time to explore. Because of residual foot pain left over from New York, wandering around was rather restricted. The Hallgrimskirkja was lovely, though I’ll have to go back again tomorrow to see the inside, and the Solfar Sculpture was beautiful, even without a stunning sunset to highlight its elegance. But there didn’t seem to be much more to do than that, other than shopping.
That evening after resting in my attic room (super cute, very artiste feeling), I figured that I’d put my groceries in the rental car, where they’d stay properly cooled by the ambient temperatures. And thought it was a good time to go for another short walk.
It was a great idea. The streets were filled with locals and tourists alike, white string lights decorated the trees lining the walkways, music of different kinds blared from restaurants, and the brightly colored historic buildings displayed the sanctioned graffiti dotting their walls, a juxtaposition of old and modern (though there was also graffiti in Roman times…). There was a sense of community and vibrancy and youth that I had not witnessed in the afternoon. Here was the capital city I had initially expected.
Now satisfied, it’s off to bed for me. I know I mentioned wanting to visit the phallic museum of Reykjavik to compare with other city’s museums, but when presented with the option of seeing the interior of Hallgrimskirkja and the southern coast or visiting the exhibition, guess which one I’m prioritizing.
It’s snowing, so let’s hope I get to see anything tomorrow!
