Travel Tuesday - Iceland

Eggs in Happy Bay, Djupivogur, Iceland

On Tuesdays I allow myself a field trip and dip into old travel albums. How about them eggs! The outdoor sculpture of 34 stone eggs known as "Eggin i Gleoivik" (Eggs in Happy Bay) are by the celebrated artist Sigurour Guomundsson, They represent the thirty-four local birds found in Iceland. They are all the same size except for the single larger one. What a happy artistic surprise in a small village. 

One the Road - Reykjavik Murals

Reykjavik, Iceland - Murals

I'll get us back to Charleston shortly but I have a few more Iceland pictures to share. You know I had to track down some of the murals while I was there. Oddly, I asked a few people and they looked blank but luckily I found these ones easily on my own.

Overheard in Iceland

"There are no ugly women in Iceland"
The Vikings picked up slave women in Scotland and Ireland as they sailed to settle in Iceland. The theory is that they only took the most attractive women.

"Soaking is part of our culture" 
With all the hot springs around, soaking in hot pools is a favored pastime. The Blue Lagoon is between the airport and the city which makes it convenient for people to stop by on the way home for a hot soak.

"It's ALL about the fish"
I ate fish everyday. From pickled herring and tuna at breakfast, to cod, salmon, Arctic char and haddock for dinner.

"We don't drink the geothermal water, Joan"
Bathrooms and showers are interesting to figure out in different countries. In Iceland there was often a strong sulphur rotten egg smell when the hot water ran. The hot water was geothermal and the cold water was spring water. I soon learned to run the cold water for a few minutes before I took a gulp or brushed my teeth. Yuck!

"Your last name tells who you came from. Your first name tells us who you are"
The phone book lists everyone by their first name. Last names simply describe you as your father's son or daughter.

I can't resist sharing a few more photos. The trip I took was coordinated through Nordic Visitor. I was completely pleased. They have a Facebook page as well. More of my trip photos here.

Our last hotel on the road

Nice idea but not Johns Island tomatoes

Skyramasu! Skyr is Iceland's yogurt

I soaked in this one

Icelandic gas station. Yep.

On the Road - Reykjavik, Iceland

Hotel room view. Not too very bad.

City Center Square, Reykjavik, Iceland

Things were looking good when I was met at the airport with a gentleman holding up my name. That is such a treat when you arrive in a new and unfamiliar city at 6 a.m. My taxi driver gave me a good overview of Reykjavik on our drive into town and when he learned what I did for a living he added on a detour through the hospital area and named all of the buildings. A former fisherman, he was incredibly proud of his hometown and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. I asked what he did during the long, cold winters and he said he liked to head to the beaches of Spain.

The entire population of Iceland is 320,000 and 200,000 of them live in or around Reykjavik. Happily my hotel room was ready for me at that early hour and I was able to freshen up, check out the buffet and head out into the crisp, fresh air to explore. The Fosshotel Baron was conveniently close to the harbor, downtown and main shopping district and I was determined to make the most of my only day in town even if I hadn't slept.

Reykjavik Harbor

 

Yep. I tracked down the murals

There are hardly any tree, but oddly the largest trees grew from the center of each tomb

Corrugated tin sided buildings. Why don't we do that?

Colorful bike gates swing out to close traffic for street events

The artist was putting the finishing touches on his mural

I have never been in such a clean, safe, efficient and yet creative and cultured place. I never changed money since they use bank cards for everything. Everyone seemed to speak English as well as Icelandic and most menus were printed with both languages. Natural geothermal water provides hot water and heat for almost all the buildings in the country and natural hot springs for soaking in and fresh water springs provide the drinking water. We were told we'd be silly to buy any water in Iceland. 

It was impossible to get lost since Hallgrim's Church is the landmark overlooking the city and can be seen from every direction. I headed back to my all white room with it's white fluffy duvet to freshen up before I met the rest of my group at 6 p.m. to check out my traveling companions. There were sixteen of us altogether and it seemed a mix of Australian, English, Swedish, Israeli, Canadian, two couples from New York and myself. Hardly anyone lived in their country of birth. The Canadian lived in Switzerland, the Isreali gentleman lived in Russia, the English lady came from Norway etc. We were a mixed up lot! 

I need to get to bed, kids. I start back to reality tomorrow with all day meetings. To learn more about Reykjavik visit my friend's Pat & Kathie's description of their trip.

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