Hello from Iceland!

So we landed safely in Iceland this afternoon and have settled in quite nicely. So now I'm not only closer to home location-wise, but also time wise - I'm now only 4hrs ahead of East Coast US time. Thankfully, I think that will make my transition back to the states a little easier on Saturday. Wow...Saturday. I can't believe I come home so soon! It feels like I've been gone forever and barely at all, all at the same time.

After landing in Reykjavik's city airport (possibly the smallest airport of all time), we grabbed a taxi and headed to the hostel. Since Iceland is crazy expensive (think $20 for a beer) we're in a 4-person dorm style room. There are two guys staying with us a the moment - one from CT and one from England - but both of them leave tomorrow. So we'll see what kind of roommates tomorrow brings. (Fingers crossed for non-snorers!).

After settling into the hostel, we bought a 48-hour Tourist card at the front desk which gives us free admission to museums, pools and buses. This works out really well because it turns out that Reykjavik is a pretty big city. This way can explore at will without worrying about having exact change on buses or entrance fees for museums. Plus it saves us some money, which is always nice. We jumped on the bus that stops right outside the hostel and headed into town to visit the Cultural House which right now has a great exhibit on original saga manuscripts (James was quite excited). Then we saw the large cathedral church, which was breath taking inside. Especially since there was an impromptu concert being played on the giant organ. The other great thing about this church is that you can ride up the elevator 8 stories to the top of the bell tower to get a great view of the whole city.

Reykjavik from above

Halgrimskirkja

We grabbed dinner at a delicious vegetarian restaurant (there are a ton here surprisingly!) before heading back to the hostel to grab our swimsuits. One of the seven huge public swimming pools is right next door and since our tourist card gives us free admission we decided to check it out. We definitely weren't disappointed. There is one giant outdoor pool that is heated by geothermic energy (complete with water slide) and then several "hot pots", which are basically jacuzzis of varying temperature - including one that's sea water. It was such a relaxing experience. The perfect way to wrap up our first day in Iceland.

Now it's off to bed so we can head out to explore this city properly tomorrow. Hope all is well with everyone!

Here's James' recap of our time in Reykjavik:

It is rare that I have to warm to a place - usually I know very quickly whether or not I like a city when I arrive. If I don´t have an immediate, positive response, I am unlikely to develop one. But Reykjavik was a surprise, slowly seducing me rather than making a fast move. I have to admit that I was, at first, a little surprised by how drab much of the the city is architecturally, at least much of the earlier homes and housing blocks which are often dark gray stucco. Then there was the gritty feel of the graffiti on many walls. Even now, after having a chance to see the more cutting edge parts of the city, or the prettier leafy environs of the lake Tjörnin, I would not classify Reykjavik as one of the lovelier European cities I have seen (dramatic, gorgeous setting, yes; as a city, no). But Reykjavik is a city of often hidden charms, where behind that gray stucco exterior one will find a bright, cheerful interior. It is a city where hip Icelanders drink in cozy cafes or chic bars. Where some of the best modern art I have seen of late is displayed in abundance. Where the museums are as high tech as I have experienced. Where people hang out in "hot pots" and geothermal pools on a regular basis. There is a vibe to this city unlike any other. And I am thoroughly hooked.  

We spent our first couple of days getting acquainted with all that Reykjavik has to offer (after the Faroes, Reykjavik at 115,000 seemed a veritable metropolis - and it does have more restaurants and cultural institutions per capita than almost any city of comparable size). Of course, since my trip is Viking themed, the very first thing I did after we settled in to our hostel was to visit the Þjóðmenningarhúsið (Culture House) to see the dimly lit saga manuscripts that are, without a doubt, the "crown jewels" of Iceland. I have been reading many of the sagas as I have traveled, providing both a literary and historical texture to the landscapes I see. I was strangely humbled to see these products of the early Christian era of Iceland, books written by monks, often about the often brutal days of the settlement - and writing them in Old Norse, not in Latin. They were the first major corpus of vernacular prose literature produced in "Europe". We also saw the excellent Reykjavik 871+/-2 Settlement Exhibition, an innovative, interactive museum built around a Viking long house discovered beneath the city.  

Outside of our more high-brow endeavors, both Meghan and I became hooked on the geothermal baths dotted around the city. We actually had one of the biggest right next door to our hostel. Since arriving in Iceland, we have not missed a day soaking and relaxing at least once in a "hot pot".

 

Lots of love from Iceland!
Meg