Ship of Fools: Going to Iceland

Thread: Going to Iceland Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :

I am spending 2 days in Reykjavík this summer. What should I do, eat, buy or see? I have already been advised to take the circle tour (I gather this makes the circuit of the island, which is not big.)

Posted by Augustine the Aleut (# 1472) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Brenda Clough:
I am spending 2 days in Reykjavík this summer. What should I do, eat, buy or see? I have already been advised to take the circle tour (I gather this makes the circuit of the island, which is not big.)

It's been a long time since I was there, but the Golden Circle tour does not cover the circuit of the whole island, but is only 300km. The Blue Lagoon or some other hot spring is always fun.

The fish was uniformly spectacular and you must have some at every meal. I liked the smoked lamb, which is lovely as a cold meat (sadly, I do not think that you can take it into the US). Brennivin, the local schnapps, is an acquired taste. The woolly icelandic sweaters are very practical-- mine is 25 years old and, underneath a shell, keeps me comfortable up to -30°C. Yarn is a great present for your knitting buddies.

I must admit that I quite like hanging out a coffee houses for hours and R'vik is good for that. However, there is a lot of interesting artsie stuff going on there so do some googling based on your own interests and try to catch some evening event.

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :

The Blue Lagoon geothermal lakes are a legendary place for a relaxing swim after your flight. A shuttle bus runs direct from Keflavik airport (which is miles out of Rekjavik) and they will look after your luggage for you. Be warned though that Icelandic geothermal bath showers are mandatorily naked and collective, albeit unisex.

[ 30. April 2014, 05:08: Message edited by: Eutychus ]

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Augustine the Aleut:
The woolly icelandic sweaters are very practical-- mine is 25 years old and, underneath a shell, keeps me comfortable up to -30°C.

Yes, but don't wash one or else it'll only fit a doll.

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :

Blue Lagoon is great, and it's possible to find geothermal baths that don't require you to strip right down. Try to go to Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir and one of the museum of buildings too. If you can find a trip to an icecap and glacier then they are fascinating to experience.

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Brenda Clough:
... I have already been advised to take the circle tour (I gather this makes the circuit of the island, which is not big.)

Not if you're only there for a couple of days, it doesn't.

The Golden Circle is usually a day-trip to the Great Geyser (which spouts about once a week*) and Strokkur (which goes off about every five minutes), the Gullfoss waterfalls and þingvellir, the site of the ancient Icelandic parliament. It may also include the geo-thermally-heated greenhouses at Hveragerði, where they have the only banana trees in Europe ...

Take your bathing costume with you: no trip to Iceland is complete without a swim in the Blue Lagoon. It's located about half-way between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik, and some tours include a trip either on your way in or on your way back. It's the out-fall from a geo-thermal power station, and is a bit like getting into a bath the size of a lake; it makes you feel absolutely fantastic. As my Better Half put it, "I reckon if you did that every day, you'd probably live for ever". [Big Grin]

We were there in 1995 and 2002, to celebrate our respective 40th birthdays (both of which fall in the winter - the Blue Lagoon is even better when hailstones start falling on your head [Cool]

), and we absolutely fell in love with the place.

Where's that "envy" icon when I really need it? [Devil]

* and obligingly did when we were there on my 40th.

[ 30. April 2014, 14:39: Message edited by: piglet ]

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

Don't pass up Sunday services at the Hallgrímskirkja.

Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :

Alas, I will only be there on Wednesday and Thursday, but I do want to see all these things! The idea of a jaunt to the Blue Lagoon is irresistible.

Posted by M. (# 3291) on :

Do go and have a look at the Hallgrimskirkja, though, it is really a quite wonderful building.

M.

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :

The first time we were there our hotel was right across the road from the Hallgrimskirkja, but we were only there for a long weekend, and the Golden Circle tour was on the Sunday, so attending a service wasn't an option.

Posted by frin (# 9) on :

If you are only there for 48 hours and you are spending most of a day on the golden circle tour, then you won't need to find many other things to occupy your time. Try to fit the blue lagoon in on your way to or from the airport - don't travel out of reykjavik especially for that, given its location and your schedule.

The National Museum in Reykjavik has a really good collection of objects to get a sense of viking history, and modern history. But if you are pushed for time, and I think you might be, then the Settlement Museum 871+/-2 is a lovely little history museum. The gift shops at both museums are cute and full of craft items.

Buy some chocolate coated liquorice candy bars - that's particularly icelandic. And try out the skyr when you are at a breakfast table.

As a contrast to the Blue Lagoon, and as a more local experience, you can go to any of the local swimming pools in central Reykjavik - there's a lovely one 5 minutes walk from Hallgrimskirkja - the oldest in the city. It has two rooftop hot tubs, where people gather and chat.

Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :

Thanks! I have heard about the licorice...

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