Iceland 2011

Sunday19June

Two days to enjoy the capital Reykjavik, and not just any capital, as it is the northernmost in the world... We will start this day with a boat trip to see whales... well, that's what they tell tourists... Alas, we will only fleetingly see distant cetacean fins, but nothing compared to our face-to-face encounter with the whale in Argentina in 2009... 

Panoramic view of Reykjavik harbor and the boat that will take us offshore

In the distance, Reykjavik Cathedral

Lundey, "Puffin Island" in Icelandic! Indeed, the red beak of the Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) is clearly visible in the distance.

In the absence of whales, I'll settle for northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis)!

Two Brünnich's guillemots (Uria lomvia).

In the distance, a Sunday fisherman (well, yes, it's Sunday) is very proud to show us his big catch  

The cockpit of the "Andrea"

Back on solid ground for a city tour (not with this red Dodge Viper SRT10 but with our feet!)

Ingólfstorg Square in the old town

An old advertisement for Icelandic butter Smjör.

Landakotskirkja, the only Catholic cathedral in Iceland. Inaugurated on July 23, 1929, it was designed by architect Guðjón Samúelsson.

A statue with a glass cross at the foot of the cathedral

At the foot of the lake, the Fríkirkjan church with its green roof. In the distance, the Lutheran church Hallgrímskirkja.

On the lake, some web-footed birds paddle peacefully.

A tufted duck and its ducklings in full diving training

A statue by the Icelandic sculptor, Einar Jónsson (1874

Another statue on its bench (unknown sculptor).

Ólafur Thors (1892-1964), former Icelandic prime minister

Whooper swans

Ráðhús Reykjavíkur or more simply, Reykjavik City Hall.  

At No. 10 Aðalstræti street, the oldest house in the capital.

The Stofan café.

And why not eat Mexican in Iceland??? Well, here we go, pork ribs at Tabasco's restaurant!

Here we are at the harbor where two bronze sailors look out to sea

A small green train... 

The historical "stacked" plan of the port

Reykjavik has a brand new convention center with Harpa. Inaugurated on August 20, 2011 (it was still under construction during our visit), it was designed by the Icelandic-Danish architect and designer Olafur Eliasson.

This superb glass beehive plays with light and large spaces. In summer, Reykjavik's sun illuminates the interior of the building, and in winter, it's the building that illuminates Reykjavik!

The ceiling is made of mirror cubes

The classy opera bar

Monday20June

Last Icelandic wake-up in our room at the Salvation Army guesthouse.

On Austurvöllur Square, the old Dómkirkjan cathedral dating from 1796.

The statue of Jón Sigurðsson (1811-1879), Icelandic politician

Hallgrímskirkja, the Icelandic Lutheran cathedral of the capital. Completed in 1986, its long concrete tubes symbolize what we have often seen during these last 15 days: basaltic organs.

Lunch break... Does this remind you of anything??? (no, probably not  ). It's the same bread bowl system I tried in Argentina! Here, it's mushroom soup!

And off we go! Back to Hallgrímskirkja.

The great door of the cathedral

In the entrance, glass cups hanging on the white wall.  

The organ with 5200 pipes.

The modern vaults of Hallgrímskirkja

We climb to the top of the bell tower where the whole city unfolds before us.

The square with the statue of Leifur Eiríksson

Last stroll around Tjörnin lake where a seagull comes to say goodbye...

And here we are at Keflavik International Airport. It's almost 11 PM and the sun is barely thinking of setting...

As for us, we will soon return to our usual cycle of days and nights! Ultimately, we had gotten used to these days without night! We'll have to try it in winter to see... Maybe one day...