Iceland, First Day!

Reykjavik near hotel

It's such a surprise to realize the flight to Iceland is not so far in distance...though certainly in terrain!  Our connection had us on a non-stop from Denver to Reykjavik, slightly more than 7 hours in the air (5 hours from Boston).

Reykjavik sport center area

I did not have a window seat, sadly, to take a photo of our first encounter with Iceland from the air. The sea was full of whitecaps and waves whipped up by winds, very blue on a cloudless day. The land was dark black and rocky and desolate around the airport, which is 30 miles or so outside the city.









Reykjavik handball facility

After a biting wind to get to our bus...oops, jackets still in the luggage...we are on our way. Again, sadly, the bus is moving and I cannot take a photo of our drive into Reykjavik. It was all surreal volcanic landscape without plants, no trees, tundra with mossy covering. But I'm pretty sure we'll see more of this in the next 10 days!



Iceland is hugging the arctic circle, rather close to Greenland and west of Norway.  The entire country has a population of 320,000, compared to the US population of 320 million. Of those mere 320,000...200,000 of them live in Reykjavik!  And would you believe, that when we arrived with several other flights at 6:30am on a Monday, we encountered TRAFFIC from the airport into downtown!  Well, it is first day back for university, as well as typical rush hour. This is probably the last traffic we will encounter.





Indoor ice skating rink (closed)

Reykjavik botanical garden

Our hotel, Hilton Nordica, is in a business district, the buildings are modern, as we walk just around the hotel to get some super fresh air.  We looked around the Sports Center. Iceland is known for handball, and there is the big handball courts facility. Also, this facility hosted a chess tournament for Bobby Fischer in 1972, rather a world event in the cold war.  Bobby Fischer eventually defected from Russia and became an Icelandic citizen, we may see his grave further in the trip.


Iceland's true national sport, though, is swimming. The Sports Center includes a pool building, also track stadium for soccer and running. We also see an indoor skating rink (closed for summer). Surprisingly, we learn that ice skating cannot be done outdoors in Iceland, as the temperatures are generally moderate in the winter at 32 degrees. Who'd have thought?

Reykjavik Lutheran Church

We see a very striking church building. Lutheran is the national religion, and now 80% of the population belong. Taxes do support the church, but there is freedom of religion in practice.













Reykjavik original wash house area

Washer Woman



Asmundur Sveinssen, Reykjavik

Asmundur Sveinssen

Next we walk a botanical garden in a historical place. In earlier centuries the washing was done by washer women, using the naturally warm thermal waters. The laundry would be dried on metal bars or the ground. It was hard work, though the men did try to assist by offering horse carriage transportation, then buses, to reach the location just outside the old town center. Iceland's famous sculpture Asmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982) placed the Washer Woman piece at the original wash house location.

Jim & Marcea, Reykjavik

We see a sculpture garden for more of Asmundur's work. Some rather bold we think. And then one that is just perfectly Jim and Marcea!


We did not have the energy to go into the old city center...we will go there at the end of the trip. Now it's time to nap and have our first dinner in Iceland.  Tomorrow, we get on our bus with 13 other US adventure travelers, our guide Snorri, and head up the western coast!


IF YOU WANT TO SEE ENLARGED PHOTOS, CLICK ON ANY ONE, AND IT WILL GO INTO A SLIDE PRESENTATION.

Reykjavik, bay view from hotel

Our planned route in red, those gray areas are
mountainous, the white areas are glaciers. So you can
see how little is inhabitable.