REYKJAVIK, ICELAND
My first few hours in Iceland felt like a dream. Not just because it was my first trip outside of American soil, something I’ve tried to envision since I was a kid, finally come to life... But also because I got no sleep the night before, making me slightly delirious. The 6 hour plane ride over was a tough snooze but not for the reason I’d thought: it was cold as hell. We were flying over Greenland, after all. So it’d been almost a full day since I’d gotten some rest, and once on the ground I didn’t have any choice but to stick it out - our hotel wasn’t available until the afternoon. So we checked our bags, and headed out explore the streets of Reykjavik, coffees in hand and slightly insane.
Three things immediately jumped out to me: the architecture, the art, and the flowers.
The perfectly manicured flowerbeds were consistent throughout town, blending beautifully with the colorful housing and vast park space. They also went hand in hand with the street art, which was wild, vibrant and imaginative. All of that provided a start contrast to the physical art around town - the statues from mid-twentieth century and prior - which were cold, brutal and strange. Some of the stuff flat out gave me chills.
I can't find any info on this statue but it gave me some very cold feelings. Also I was kinda nuts from lack of sleep.
Hallgrimskirkja - easy for you to say - the most famous church in Iceland, taken right before we ascended to the top.
My first run outside of America was around that pond! I got a 6 miler in on day two - I think. That first day and a half is all a blur.
Click the shot above for a full panorama.
Reykjavek easily tops Charleston as the most colorful city I’ve ever visited, as you can see from the top of the church. The style of houses, the walkability, the sense of history and culture - all reminded me of the Holy City, which believe it or not, is actually older than Reykjavik.
OPID! I know that one! That place is open!!
The east end of Reykjavik, taken from a very small passenger plane.
Rainbow Street! (although I think Road has a better ring to it)
Some uniquely European shots here; the children’s swing sets are built inward to encourage teamwork and togetherness, a man naps in the afternoon sun without anyone wondering if he’s homeless. That’s an issue that is nearly non-existent in Reykjavik - I only saw one man that resembled the unhoused here in America; he had t-shirts wrapped around his feet for shoes, it could have been a style choice though.
The only police officer I saw in 11 days was at the airport in the first fifteen minutes. That was it.
“I never seen a cop when I was out there, they never came out there”
Just some stuff that caught my eye.
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