Getting to Reykjavik from Seattle is a bit of an unnatural act. We first flew to Boston, and then to Keflavik (Reykjavik's international airport and NATO Airbase). We knew we were off the beaten path when Alaska Airlines check-in agent didn't know the airport identifier. Was it REY or KEF? Luckily, they correctly guessed KEF and our bags ended up in the same airport we did. There is an REY but it's the domestic airport in Reykjavik itself.

The flight from Seattle to Boston was uneventful. The flight from Boston to Keflavik was also uneventful, except that it arrives at 6:00 AM. We took the airport bus to the city arriving at our hotel before 9:00 AM. Room wasn't ready so we left our bags and went exploring. Tired and hungry, in a strange city ... well, we weren't at our best, and we certainly weren't as resilient as we would like to believe we can be. I have pictures from our morning walk-about, but few memories. We ended up going back to the hotel after lunch and sleeping in the lobby until they told us our rooms were ready.

We spent the next day, and a day at the end of our trip in Reykjavik. I think of it as a "cheerful city" of about 200,000 folks. Pretty in its own colorful way, with a relaxed pace and plenty to keep us busy for a couple of days ... but not much more. Here are the photos.

These photos were taken in August 2007 mostly with a Nikon D200.
Gallery pages:  1  2  3  >  
< 1 of 22 >
DigitalQuixote > Suncraft: Along the waterfront, there is a very cool sculpture called (in English) The Suncraft. It is obviously a highly stylized Viking boat with highly stylized Vikings cheering because they didn't die getting here. For me, this is the symbol I'll take away in my head to represent the city. It combines the notions of adventure, exploration, self-reliance, and the joy of accomplishment. A cool sculpture representing a powerful combination of ideas.
DigitalQuixote > Streets: The weather in Reykjavik was troubled (from my perspective) but arguably normal for this time of year. Cool, with wind, thunder showers, followed by rainbows. Lather, rinse, repeat ... as they say. To be honest, I was jet-lagged, hungry, and a bit grumpy and the city didn't make a very good first impression on me. But as I got to know it better, I liked it better and better. By the time we left, I was sorry to say goodbye.
DigitalQuixote > Streets: The weather in Reykjavik was troubled (from my perspective) but arguably normal for this time of year. Cool, with wind, thunder showers, followed by rainbows. Lather, rinse, repeat ... as they say. To be honest, I was jet-lagged, hungry, and a bit grumpy and the city didn't make a very good first impression on me. But as I got to know it better, I liked it better and better. By the time we left, I was sorry to say goodbye.
DigitalQuixote > Streets: The weather in Reykjavik was troubled (from my perspective) but arguably normal for this time of year. Cool, with wind, thunder showers, followed by rainbows. Lather, rinse, repeat ... as they say. To be honest, I was jet-lagged, hungry, and a bit grumpy and the city didn't make a very good first impression on me. But as I got to know it better, I liked it better and better. By the time we left, I was sorry to say goodbye.
DigitalQuixote > My Inner Viking: My explanation of why I wanted to come here (on the opening page) doesn't wash with some of my friends. They say there must be some better reason. In the end, if they simply won't give up, I admit there is a deeper reason for coming. "It's to get in touch with my Inner Viking!" These little guys were all over. If there's a second symbol of Reykjavik for me ... it's the statues of my inner Viking.
DigitalQuixote > Hallgrimskirkja: One of the signature landmarks of Reykjavik is the Hallgrimskirkja church (above). The tower is constructed of vertical columns that remind me of basalt columns we saw along the coastline. Beautiful in its own way but foreboding, and not very approachable from outside. Inside, the church is a soaring monument with one of the most beautiful church organs I have ever seen.
DigitalQuixote > Hallgrimskirkja: One of the signature landmarks of Reykjavik is the Hallgrimskirkja church (above). The tower is constructed of vertical columns that remind me of basalt columns we saw along the coastline. Beautiful in its own way but foreboding, and not very approachable from outside. Inside, the church is a soaring monument with one of the most beautiful church organs I have ever seen.
DigitalQuixote > Hallgrimskirkja: One of the signature landmarks of Reykjavik is the Hallgrimskirkja church (above). The tower is constructed of vertical columns that remind me of basalt columns we saw along the coastline. Beautiful in its own way but foreboding, and not very approachable from outside. Inside, the church is a soaring monument with one of the most beautiful church organs I have ever seen.
DigitalQuixote > Hallgrimskirkja: One of the signature landmarks of Reykjavik is the Hallgrimskirkja church (above). The tower is constructed of vertical columns that remind me of basalt columns we saw along the coastline. Beautiful in its own way but foreboding, and not very approachable from outside. Inside, the church is a soaring monument with one of the most beautiful church organs I have ever seen.
Suncraft: Along the waterfront, there is a very cool sculpture called (in English) The Suncraft. It is obviously a highly stylized Viking boat with highly stylized Vikings cheering because they didn't die getting here. For me, this is the symbol I'll take away in my head to represent the city. It combines the notions of adventure, exploration, self-reliance, and the joy of accomplishment. A cool sculpture representing a powerful combination of ideas.
> Suncraft: Along the waterfront, there is a very cool sculpture called (in English) The Suncraft. It is obviously a highly stylized Viking boat with highly stylized Vikings cheering because they didn't die getting here. For me, this is the symbol I'll take away in my head to represent the city. It combines the notions of adventure, exploration, self-reliance, and the joy of accomplishment. A cool sculpture representing a powerful combination of ideas.
Suncraft: Along the waterfront, there is a very cool sculpture called (in English) The Suncraft. It is obviously a highly stylized Viking boat with highly stylized Vikings cheering because they didn't die getting here. For me, this is the symbol I'll take away in my head to represent the city. It combines the notions of adventure, exploration, self-reliance, and the joy of accomplishment. A cool sculpture representing a powerful combination of ideas.
Gallery pages:  1  2  3  >  
< 1 of 22 >

Comments

|

New comment:

Name: Email: Link:


To foil spammers, enter this code: copy this text in this box: Code unreadable?