Rainy Reykjavik

After waking up to a sumptuous breakfast buffet, we caught the hotel’s free shuttle to the centre of town because the hotel is about 2-3 kms away. The weather was drizzly and very overcast but at least the wind had gone. The courtesy bus dropped us at a spot that looked like a suburban street, even though it was in the shopping district. There are no high rise buildings except for a few hotels, with an 8 x 10 storey limit. The original buildings look like they belong in a Nordic fishing village except in bright colours. There are a lot of cranes, so the town is getting bigger because of the tourism with some stunning examples of architecture. The first place we saw was the Harpa Music Hall complete with two icebergs out the front - they must replace them each day but it was cold enough for them not to melt.

On the outside of the building coloured neon lights flashed on and off creating a pattern of colour.

Real icebergs and the interior of the Harpa Music Hall

On the waterfront next to the music hall is a stone beach but someone had come along and arranged them in little stacks. The same unusual stacking of basalt rocks were seen next to the road on the way in from the airport.

As we walked along the waterfront and Old Harbour district, there were more naval ships moored, obviously taking part in the same NATO exercises in Iceland.

Danish warship

We visited the Saga Museum that explained the history of the Vikings and how Iceland was discovered and settled. They used life sized wax figures of notable Vikings and told their stories through our personal handsets. At the end you could dress up in Viking gear.

Life-like and detailed wax figures

Downtown Reykjavik, more like a coastal town than a city.

After wandering up the main street of shops - much like a small country town - we arrived at the tourist focal point of the city - Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral - unusual architecture that is minimalist and unadorned both inside and out - but at least the snow would slide of it!

Walking back down to the waterfront we stopped at the Sun Voyager Sculpture, a metal sculpture that was reminiscent of Viking ships.

Across the bay, the snow capped mountains start to merge out of the low lying rain clouds.