Reykjavik, Iceland, RebeccaWanderlusting

Last Day in Reykjavik, Iceland

On October 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International Travel3 Comments

My last day in Reykjavik, Iceland was bittersweet. I was so sad to leave the country that I had fallen head over heels for, but was also very excited to move on to my next stop, Copenhagen. I planned the day’s activities around a last minute Reykjanes Peninsula Tour, which ran from 1pm to 4pm. The one thing that I really wanted to do before I left the country was go to The Laundromat Café for breakfast.

I had read great reviews about this quirky restaurant and wanted to try it for myself. I started the day early and walked over to the café from Hotel Holt. Every time I had passed this restaurant it was full of people, luckily I was able to catch it at a slower time. I sat down at a table by the windows and ordered coffee right off the bat. The menu here is simple, and it was easy to choose the blueberry and banana pancakes.

This meal was my absolute favorite in Iceland. The pancakes were topped with fresh blueberries, caramelized bananas, maple syrup and had Greek yogurt and blueberry compote on the side. It was heavenly. And the restaurant is so cute! They have a rainbow of books lining the outside of the coffee bar and framed photos of laundromats on the walls.

After breakfast, I walked over to the National Museum of Iceland, which was about a ten minute walk from the restaurant. There was a $13 fee to enter the museum, which features two floors of exhibits on Iceland’s history from its discovery through modern times. I found the museum to be very interesting, especially the exhibits featuring information and artifacts of the Vikings and the feminist movement in Iceland.

I took an hour and a half to go through the museum in its entirety, but I could have spent more time going back through to take a longer look at my favorite exhibits. However, I had to run back to my hotel to catch my tour bus to The Reykjanes Peninsula (read all about that here).

After the tour was over, our bus driver drove us wherever we wanted to be dropped off, so I got out at the Old Harbor to attempt to eat an early dinner at the Sea Baron. Every time I had attempted to eat at this seaside restaurant in the past few days it had been packed. Thankfully, since I was ahead of the game, it was easy to snag a seat at one of the community style tables.

The famous lobster soup was served up with a personal basket of fresh baked bread with butter. The soup hit the spot; it was so delicious. There were chunks of fresh lobster and the broth was perfectly seasoned. After being out in the cold all day, the soup was a perfect treat. After dinner, I stopped back at Hotel Holt to change out of my hiking clothes, then headed out to catch the rest of happy hour. I walked over to the Lebowski Bar on Laugavegur Street, where they boasted a two-for-one special.

Because I arrived towards the end of happy hour, at 6:30pm, I had to have both my drinks at once to take an advantage of the good deal. So I found an empty table and sat down to enjoy my two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc and Blues Brothers, which was being projected on the wall. This bar was so fun, with its themed decor in line with the 90’s cult classic, and even had a White Russian menu.

After happy hour, I was planning on wandering around a bit and maybe finding another bar to have a drink, however, I fortunately ran right into a Haunted Reykjavik walking tour. The tour was cash only – 2500isk, which I didn’t have. But! Lucky for me, he was accepting other currencies as well, and I had a 20 pound note in my wallet that I’ve had in there for years, since a guest at work tipped me with it.

The tour started at an Elf Rock, which is where elves live, of course. Elves are serious business in Iceland, which is fascinating to me. The tour circled through downtown Reykjavik, along old churches and the parliament building. Our tour guide, Oli, had us all engaged and laughing the whole way.

The way he told each story was great; he had all the facts but still made jokes the whole time. The last stop of the tour was the Reykjavik Cemetery. The lights hadn’t kicked on yet, and it was very dark and pretty scary. Oli guided us through using the flashlight on his phone and explained the different historic graves and Icelandic traditions. As we moved through the cemetery, we passed a gentleman lounging against a statue next to his scooter. We kept moving, and stopped for Oli’s next talking point.

Soon into this next story, the aforementioned gentleman started yelling from the direction that we came. I think it’s safe to say that everyone in the group jumped when it started, and we all tried to laugh it off. We moved on to the last grave, Jon Sigurdsson’s, where Oli was telling us all about this significant Icelander’s life. This was when the fight broke out. Mr. Scooter was grappling with another guy, and they both were yelling in a mash up of English and Icelandic. Very calmly, Oli suggested we move the tour somewhere else. The group quickly moved back to the downtown area, everyone whispering about the two amateur wrestlers in the cemetery. Oli finished up the tour with the same charisma he started with and just as he said his closing line, we spotted the scooter guy and his friend cruising by together, on the same scooter, both looking battered and unhappy.

It was actually a great end to the tour, plus it was hilarious. I finished up the night getting some ice cream at a charming little creperie on the way back to the hotel. It was a perfect ending to the wonderful whirlwind of adventures of Iceland.

Have you visited Reykjavik, Iceland? Which museums did you visit? Did you take a walking tour of the city?

Reykjavik Street Art, Iceland, RebeccaWanderlusting

Reykjavik Street Art + An Announcement

On October 16, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International TravelLeave a comment

One of my favorite things about the city of Reykjavik was how every available space was decorated with street art. As I wandered around, I marveled at the murals on the sides of buildings, paintings in alleyways and doodles scrawled across scaffolding and walls. Each day that I walked around this colorful city, I noticed a new (to me, at least) piece of art.

It became almost like an easy treasure hunt through the city to find the best pieces of street art, which could be uncovered around almost every corner. Each piece was so thoughtfully done and perfectly placed, unlike other cities, where the artwork can be scribbled and overlapped.

One of the best things about Reykjavik, is that it’s small and easy to explore. That being said, there are also so many nooks and crannies that could almost go unnoticed but house such beautiful paintings. I walked up and down the main streets of Reykjavik just to see what kind of art I could find in the hidden corners of the city.

I have no doubt that this constant search for more and more street art contributed to the ten miles of walking I each day while in Iceland. It made scouring the city for affordable places for dinner or for the best happy hour deals all the more fun.

I loved how vibrant, whimsical and unique each painting was. The one above was my absolute favorite, and I got to pass by it each time I walked to and from my hotel, Hotel Holt.

Scouring the city for great street art was definitely one of my favorite ways to pass the time in Reykjavik. To read more about all of my favorite things to do in this beautiful city, check out my post “How to Spend the Perfect Day In Reykjavik” on The Pin the Map Project, where I will now be posting from time to time (in addition to Rebecca Wanderlusting, of course).

Have you been to Reykjavik, Iceland? Which piece of Reykjavik street art was your favorite?

Elding Whale Watching Tour, Reykjavik, RebeccaWanderlusting

Elding Whale Watching in Reykjavik

On October 1, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International TravelLeave a comment

Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by the ocean and everything in it. I think watching the movie Jaws at an impressionable age had something to do with it. For this reason, the whale watching tour in Reykjavik was the first thing I booked for my Iceland trip. I had read plenty of reviews on tour companies there, and Elding Whale Watching Tours was the one that stuck out the most to me, so that is who I booked.

I took the tour on my third evening in Reykjavik, choosing to board the boat that left at 5:00pm. The tours depart from the Old Harbor, and all of the different companies have offices along the pier. I went to pick up my ticket from the Elding Whale Watching storefront and the woman who worked there offered me a sea sickness tablet due to the choppy water conditions and high wind, which I gladly accepted. To enter the actual boat, I walked through a boat that stayed docked which housed a gift shop and bar. When the Elding staff ushered us onto the boat we’d head out on, they offered us more sea sickness tablets and red jump suits to keep warm.

The boat had a lounge with a bar below deck, but everyone on the boat stayed up top. The guide was a marine biologist and was wonderfully informative. For the duration of the tour, she kept up a running commentary on whale facts in between shouting out things like “MINKE WHALE TEN O’CLOCK, HEADED EAST!” Every time she yelled such directives, everyone on the boat, myself included, ran to try and catch a glimpse of the whale. I’m sure this was hilarious to watch, considering the fact that the boat was rocking back and forth and we all staggered from side to side like drunkards.

The view from the boat was fantastic; Reykjavik was behind us and the mountains and never-ending ocean stood in front of us. We saw quite a few minke whales jumping out of the water, and a pod of harbor porpoises jumping alongside the boat. The tour lasted about two and a half hours and once we headed back to the harbor, most of the guests on the boat moved into the lower deck to warm up.

The excitement of being out on the sea and searching for whales made you forget about the cold, but it was quite chilly and windy out there. Once the boat was docked, the crew announced that their restaurant, Mar, would give a 15% discount for Elding tour guests, so that’s where I headed next. There are quite a few restaurants along the pier there, and Mar is at the far end.

I walked in and asked for a table for one, and seeing since the huge restaurant was mostly empty, I figured I would be seated right away. This was not the case. The host, a good-looking young man, informed me that they had a large party coming in and they wouldn’t have availability for another two hours. Thinking he was joking, I said “oh sure, I’ll just wait here then”. He was not joking. So I left and looked around outside for a party of 50-60 people that were going to take up this whole restaurant. There was none, and I won’t lie, I felt a little defeated after that. But! It turned for the best because I went across the street to Reykjavik Fish Restaurant and wound up sitting next to two American girls (one from Chicago!) who I had a great conversation with.

These ladies, coupled with the amazing fish and chips at the restaurant made up for the not so great experience at Mar. The fried cod was so light and delicious; I was very glad I ended up there for dinner. After dinner and saying goodbye to my fellow travelers, I wander around Reykjavik a bit, wondering if perhaps it was even prettier after dark. Either way, I was very happy to be there, taking it all in.

Have you ever taken a whale watching tour? Did you see any marine life?

Solo Trip Snapshots, Iceland, RebeccaWanderlusting

Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach and Perlan

On September 28, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International TravelLeave a comment

On my third day in Iceland, I checked out of my AirBnB and into Hotel Holt in downtown Reykjavik. Because I was early, my room wasn’t ready so I dropped off my bags and headed towards Perlan, a futuristic-looking building with a observation deck and rotating restaurant at the top. The front desk agent at the hotel assured me that it was a walk-able distance away, and it was, but it wasn’t a very pretty walk. I looped over, under, and along the highway, and then up a set of stairs onto a path through a forest (a generous term for groves of trees in Iceland). Through the forest and a clearing filled with yellowed grass, the top of the Perlan building emerged in all its blue glass glory.

Inside, there’s a fine dining restaurant that spins, completing one full circle every hour, and a cafeteria, which is a cheaper option if you’re looking to eat here, but not by much. Around the cafeteria is the observation deck, which provides a stunning 360 degree view of the city and the mountains and ocean beyond it.

I did end up eating in the cafeteria, and paid more than I’d like to admit for a bowl of soup. But at least the complimentary view was nice! The observation deck is free to enjoy and the view is absolutely worth the hike over from downtown.

There wasn’t much else around Perlan, but according to my map it was walking distance to the Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach which was where I headed next. This actually would have been a really beautiful walk down a tree-lined trail and along the coast, however, I ran into some roadwork that cut a deep divot out of the road I was to be walking down.

There were two workers in the truck next to the construction site, and because I had no desire to turn around, I asked if I could climb through it to keep going onward. Luckily they said yes so I hopped in and climbed out the other side, waved back to the two in the truck and headed to Nautholsvik.

The Geothermal Beach was a crescent of golden sand among the grass and sidewalks. It had a locker room, a geothermal hot tub, and a portion of the Atlantic Ocean roped off for swimming. A pier flanked one side of the beach, and I walked to the end of it where there was an observation deck of sorts.

I watched locals and tourists alike enjoying the hot tub, then running into the ocean to cool off, before getting back into the naturally heated water. The experience looked very relaxing and the beach was beautiful; I was kicking myself for leaving my swimsuit back in my luggage back at the hotel. I did take of my shoes and wade into the ocean a bit, as a consolation prize.

The walk back to the hotel was equally as ugly as the walk to Perlan; this time I walked past the domestic airport and a lot of road construction. Don’t let this deter you from going though, there is a bus from downtown that goes out to Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach (Bus #5) and it really is worth a visit.

Have you ever been to either of these attractions? What’s on your must see list for Iceland?

Budget-Friendly Ways to Indulge Your Wanderlust, RebeccaWanderlusting

Exploring Reykjavik

On September 18, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Iceland, International Travel8 Comments

I landed in Iceland at 7:00am after a restless flight, so I was tired and a little bit crabby when I found the Grayline Bus that would take me into Reykjavik. But, by the time it arrived into the main station (just outside the city) the surrounding scenery had roused me out of my half-conscious; my first impression of the impressively beautiful country did not disappoint.

The main station was very close to where I was staying, in an AirBnB. I had to walk along a highway to get there and cross into a neighborhood that housed the apartment where I would be staying, Mount Esja looming behind me the whole walk. My hosts very graciously allowed me to drop off my bags well before check in time, and then, going above and beyond their hosting duties, drove me downtown so that I could start exploring.

My host, Hulda, pointed out where I would catch the bus back to their apartment and dropped me off at one end of the pedestrian walkway, where I started walking with no real direction in mind. The streets in Reykjavik are pretty easy to navigate once you get the hang of it, and most of the shops and restaurants are on two main strips. Because it was so early when I arrived, not many places were open quite yet, so I strolled and window shopped.

Café Paris was one of the few places that were open, so I jumped at the chance for some breakfast and went in. It was a seat yourself kind of place so I sat and ordered a latte and a croissant with ham and cheese and jam when prompted. The café, turned bar in the evening, was cute and relaxed in the way that all European cafes seem to be. The food was good, and they served Illy espresso, which is my favorite so I was a happy camper.

From Café Paris, I walked over to the harbor to see the Harpa music hall and the Sun Voyager. This walk along the coast was so peaceful and gorgeous. I think it was at this moment, being next to the sea, walking in the sunshine that I felt like I had made it, and I was so happy to be in Iceland. The Sun Voyager, which was swamped with tourist hopping of buses to take a picture with the famous statue, had a beautiful view behind it, with the ocean in the forefront and the mountains beyond.

Back towards the downtown area was the Kolaportid Flea Market, which is only open on the weekends. The market was certainly interesting to walk through, though I didn’t buy anything. It’s funny how the kitschy gifts and antiques differ from country to country. This market has a little bit of everything, from the itchy wool lopapeysa sweaters to books and records to antiques to classic Icelandic cuisine. It was a lively place to be, with locals and tourists alike browsing through the stalls.

I decided to walk over to the famous church in Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja, to see the view from the top. The church is at the top of the pedestrian walkway. Outside, the church is architecturally beautiful, and inside it is stunning, especially the huge, gilded organ on the wall above the entry.

The ticket to go up to the top of the church is $8, and well worth it for the views. After taking a small (6 person max) elevator to the 8^th floor, you have a 360 degree view of the city, which can be seen from the church windows, while standing on a step stool for a better vantage point.

Once I left the church, it started raining, which it did on and off for the rest of the day, so I dodged in and out of shops and restaurants along the pedestrian street. Many of the stores along this popular street are adorable, but very expensive so I didn’t end up purchasing anything. I did love the beautiful clothing at Geysir, the cute designs at Aurum and the charming home goods and accessories at Hrím Hönnunarhús. I popped into Svarta Kaffid, a restaurant that serves only soup in bread bowls and drinks to go with it.

This hearty meal was exactly what I needed after being out in the cold, wet weather. It was a small, cozy restaurant with Icelandic beer on tap, and I was happy to settle in for a bit to try and wait out the rain. It eventually cleared up and I headed over to the Iceland Culture House Museum which was free to enter and offered a unique look into Icelandic art and history.

It wasn’t very crowded, so I was free to take in the exhibits at a leisurely pace. The general theme was how Icelandic Artists interpret their country’s history in various mediums. I really enjoyed visiting this museum! At this point, jet lag set in hard, so I found a convenience store, where I purchased a ten ride pass for the bus (a decision I later regretted – such an unnecessary expense).

I took the bus back to my Airbnb, a 15 minute ride outside of downtown, and took it easy for the rest of the day. Reykjavik is such an easy city to fall in love with; it’s walkable, easy to navigate, and cute and colorful. After one day of exploring, I was already smitten.

Have you ever been to Reykjavik? Which city attraction was your favorite?

Trip Planning: Iceland

On July 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning3 Comments

In 5-ish weeks, I’ll be boarding a night plane bound for Reykjavik, Iceland. I’ll arrive in the early morning, as most direct flights do, and stay for six days before moving on to Copenhagen. I am so beyond excited for this trip that every time I talk about it, my voice takes on a high-pitched squeaking quality. I have never been to this enchanting island country, but, with everything I’ve read and seen of it, I think my only problem will be trying to see it all in one go. I’ve been doing a ton of research on tours and activities in Iceland in the past few weeks. It would be very easy for me to book my whole trip full of tours because they all look so amazing. But, I also want to make sure I leave plenty of time to enjoy the city of Reykjavik. I’m entranced by this colorful city and I can’t wait to explore it.

Here are some of my trip details:

Accommodations:

AirBnB for (2) nights – this is my first time trying AirBnB and I’m excited to see what all the fuss is about. The location is a little bit outside of downtown, so I will definitely be utilizing public transit.
A Boutique Hotel for (3) nights – for the second half of my trip, I’ll be staying at an artsy boutique hotel that is more centrally located.

Activities:

Whale Watching – I’ve booked a whale watching tour with Elding Tours which involves three hours on a boat in the arctic. I am ecstatic about the possibility of spotting some whales.
South Shore Excursion – A minibus will be transporting me to the magical southern coast of Iceland to see glaciers, waterfalls, black sand beaches and hopefully puffins!
Kolaportid Flea Market – I’m lucky enough to be in Reykjavik over a weekend so I can visit this unique flea market. I will have my eye out for some local specialties.
Heading out to the Grotta Lighthouse to try and spot the Northern Lights
Hiking on Mt. Esja
Swimming at Nautholsvik Beach
Walking along the old harbor

The two things I can’t decide if I want to splurge on or not are the Golden Circle Tour and the Blue Lagoon. I know that these are both very popular Iceland activities, but I am still on the fence. They are both pretty pricey and I’m not sure I’m as interested in them as I am other things.

Resources:

I’ve been reading a few blogs on Iceland to get some ideas of what I want to do while I’m there, including: Unlocking Kiki, Young Adventuress, and Hand Luggage Only. I also acquired an Iceland Lonely Planet book from a friend which has become a great factual resource!

I can’t express how much I am looking forward to this adventure. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to go and explore a new country. If you have any Icelandic travel tips, please share them in the comments and stay tuned for more details on my Reykjavik travels!