The Finale: Reykjavík & Blue Lagoon

We ended our spectacular Iceland trip in Reykjavík, which is (by far, with about two-thirds of the population) the country's largest city, and the world's northernmost capital.  We actually felt claustrophobic walking and driving among so many people after being in such remote parts of the country!  While the downtown area is quite small in area and very walkable, it's very dense, packed with restaurants, bars, and shops, and the old quarter is very picturesque. 

Tjornin (city lake)

We were not sure what to make of this structure (the bird is a live one).

Modernist City Hall

Downtown

The white houses had pretty, colored roofs

Sun Voyager scultupre

Viking trolls!

Hallgrímskirkja, the "Concrete Church," which is a bit odd-appearing, is still picturesque and functions as an ELCA church.

Outside is a monument to Leif Erikson (Leifur Eiríksson), who was the first European to land in North America (Newfoundland).

The inside of the church had a stunning organ! 

We took a Puffin-viewing tour on our last morning, and learned a lot about these seabirds (of which 60% of the world's population lives in Iceland!), including that they have a hard time taking off for flight, and mate for life, breeding in the May-September summer months on islands like Akurey, in Reykjavík harbor. 

Old Harbor

The performing arts building was beautiful!

 

  

Akurey, "Puffin Isle"

Puffin taking off!

 (with a mouthful of fish)

 There were also jellyfish in the water.

Since we visited Iceland during the summer, non-prime-northern lights-viewing month, we visited the Aurora Reykjavík exhibition to get a taste of what we may have seen....

 

 

We had great food in Reykjavík!  We found an Asian market and Vietnamese restaurant in the eastern part of the city, near our lovely AirBnB apartment. 
 

Enjoying some phở and noodles.

Icelanders LOVE their hotdogs (pylsa)! These had lamb.

At Café Loki, we had Icelandic plates with assorted smoked fish and lamb pâté, and even a couple of bites of fermented shark (chewy and smelly).

Iceland had some fantastic signs!

Ad for a Nordic clothing company

On the downtown "shopping" street

 

On a restaurant door: "PUSH, if that doesn't work, PULL, if that doesn't work, we must be closed."

Innovative faucet/hand dryer

Iceland, having elected both a female president in 1980 and an openly gay prime minister within the last 10 years, with universal health care and with a high quality of life for all citizens, is far ahead of the US on many measures, and considered "the world's most feminist country." I love Iceland (and happy breastfeeding week). 

We did NOT go to the Phallological Museum, which apparently has casted parts from the championship National Handball team!

We finished our trip at the Blue Lagoon, which was certainly touristy, but I don't think you can leave Iceland without experiencing it!

Silica mud mask

Festive blue slushy drinks were tasty

I had such an amazing, exciting, and relaxing last eight days. I will return to the US rejuvenated, ready to go back to mothering and being a contributing member of society, while still yearning to "escape" from reality that is my day-to-day grind and the sobering reality that is our country right now. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken. So thankful.