Well, I made the best I could of a very short day here in Reykjavik! We arrived at Keflavik International Airport around 7 am local time. It is a 50 min bus ride into the city, and the bus driver dropped me in front of the Radisson Blu hotel in downtown. NO TIPPING in Iceland, said my quick look-up on my phone : everything is expensive and includes gratuities. So after breakfast I set off with my Cossack-styled head cover, scarf and gloves. I needed it! The was a chilly breeze driving the freezing temperatures down. I think I did well, getting a really good impression of the city, eating a meal at Cafe Loki, and buying a Tintin book in Icelandic for my collection. Mission accomplished, right?
The local currency is Icelandic kronas : 116 of them to the US dollar right now.
We’re just coming in for our landing at Keflavik airport.Check out the Icelandic words on the signage .. on the way to passport control.The inside of the arrivals hall.I wash my hands in a LOT of airports. And this one gets my blue ribbon award for design. There is no touching. Squirt soap from the dispenser on your hands, and hold them under the middle of this faucet-in-disguise. The water comes out. Wash your grubby hands. Then just move them both to the outside and a violent blast of air comes out and downward and dries them. Voila ! Clean hands.I assume the 1919 means the hotel was built at that time. This is the Radisson Blue 1919 that was my overnight spot.Cute wall art describing what’s available inside in the cafe.This Timberland store looks just like a gingerbread house. Can I eat it?This is a church on a high point in the city : Hallgrímskirkja by Daniel Williams. That is Leif Ericson in the statue : a Norse explorer regarded as the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus did.The inside of the church.A great view from the top of the church, 8 stories up. It looks serene but it is in fact is very cold and blustery where I stood for this picture.This is Harpa. [From Wikipedia] Harpa is a concert hall and conference centre in Reykjavík, Iceland. The opening concert was held on May 4, 2011. Harpa was designed by the Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects in co-operation with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.The side views of the Harpa building are pretty spectacular.Looking from the inside out towards the harbor.I love this ‘Koko mjolk’ milk carton packaging. The ‘supercat hero’ says ‘chocolate milk is best ice cold’.Beautiful display with cutouts of the iconic buildings in the city. And 5 days to go before Christmas, it says.Signage on a building that says to look at the mountains .. I couldn’t get to a spot to catch all of it, though.A red roof to brighten up the whites and grays of winter.This is the Danish embassy (fort?).Sign to the Danish embassy. I like the lions.More rainbow colors in the city.Better hurry with mail for Santa !Yes, you can get a burger, fries and a small coke. Will cost you US$8, somewhat more expensive than in the USA.This little lake in the city is simply called Tjörnin (the Pond). It has a fountain in summertimeA gaggle of geese and ducks are crowding in for some FOOD. One sits on the wall and pesters the girl that feeds them.
