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Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland, its largest city, and the world's most northern national capital (its latitude being 64°08' N, not far from the Arctic Circle). It receives only four hours of daylight per day in the depth of winter, and during the summer the nights are almost as bright as the days. The city is the heart of the Greater Reykjavík Area.
During the Ice Age (until 10 000 years ago), a large glacier covered parts of the city area, reaching as far out as Álftanes. Other parts of the city area were covered by sea water. In the warm periods and at the end of the Ice Age, some hills like Öskjuhlíð were islands. The former sea-level is characterised by sediments (with clams) reaching f.ex. at Öskjuhlíð as far up as 43 m above current sea-level. The hills Öskjuhlíð and Skólavörðuholt seem to be the remains of former shield volcanoes which were active during the warm periods of the Ice Age.
Reykjavík, Iceland (est. 1786, pop. 200,000), 1st settlement c. AD 870 • Architecture of Iceland
• dormers, Laugavegur 46-42
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state.[a] With a population of around 128,793 (and 228,231 in the Capital Region), it is the center of Iceland's cultural, economic and governmental activity, and is a popular tourist destination.
Reykjavík is believed to be the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland, which, according to Landnámabók, was established by Ingólfr Arnarson in AD 874. Until the 19th century, there was no urban development in the city location. The city was founded in 1785 as an official trading town and grew steadily over the following decades, as it transformed into a regional and later national centre of commerce, population, and governmental activities. It is among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world.
The first permanent settlement in Iceland by Norsemen is believed to have been established in Reykjavík by Ingólfur Arnarson from Norway around AD 870; this is described in Landnámabók, or the Book of Settlement. Ingólfur Arnarson is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Viking method; he cast his high seat pillars (Öndvegissúlur) into the ocean when he saw the coastline, then settled where the pillars came to shore.
The first permanent settlement in Iceland by Norsemen is believed to have been established in Reykjavík by Ingólfur Arnarson from Norway around AD 870; this is described in Landnámabók, or the Book of Settlement. Ingólfur Arnarson is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Viking method; he cast his high seat pillars (Öndvegissúlur) into the ocean when he saw the coastline, then settled where the pillars came to shore.
Reykjavík, Iceland (est. 1786, pop. 200,000), 1st settlement c. AD 870 • Architecture of Iceland
• grafitti, Barónsstigur (Street)
It will not come as a surprise to find that it is cold this time of the year here.
Cold when the wind blows, and colder when the sun shines. At least in winter.
We lay in bed until half seven, then too our time to have showers, get dressed and go down for breakfast, where there was chaos as folks lined up for a free table.
Once we go one, we filled with the usual from a cold buffet, and washed down with plenty of coffee.
I put on my new walking shoes, fitted the cleats/crampons, picked up the camera and we went out, walking down the main street towards what I thought was the centre.
All the while walking into the teeth of a fresh cold wind that was going to get only stronger through the day.
My knee is still not happy, but that joins my back and right shoulder making complaints, so I make the best of it, and we walk on.
To the harbour where we find lots of work repairing the quayside, so lots of fencing, so we turn back towards the opera house and some shelter from the wind.
There was little shelter.
I took shots of the modern building, then we turned back, knowing that we had a tail wind at least some of the way, even if the buildings and the way they funnelled the wind made this not always true.
Back on the main shopping street, I saw to the right Rainbow Street, and the cathedral at the top, so I set off while Jools went to check on the car.
Bright sunshine gave way to heavy snow showers and squally winds, so strong that it ripped the glasses from my face, so after chasing after them, I took shelter inside the building.
After taking shots, we braved it back outside, and on the way back to the hotel, kind of mocking us, the sun came out briefly.
But the wind was increasing, so instead of going to a café to have lunch, we went back to our room and had fresh brews and the pack of biscuits we brought from England.
And then the 100mph rush of the trip meant we were all snoozy, so we went to bed for an hour. Or three.
Snow had come down quite hard, but not settled much, so for dinner, we took a slither down to a bar themed on the film, The Big Lebowski for beers n burgers.
We got a table with fine views of projection screens, one showing Dazed and Confused, and then The Big Lebowski while the other had the France v Ireland six nations game.
The burgers were gooey and greasy, but good, and the beer cold. I also had one of over 20 different white Russians, another homage to the film.
Before finally heading back to the room to watch the second half of the game while sipping Irish whiskey and eating peanut butter M&Ms.
Reykjavík does have its own “Rainbow Row” along Njarðargata near the Hallgrímskirkja and Lustasafn Einars Jónssonar. Consisting of several buildings that are attached to one another, the row was likely constructed during the early 20th Century as Reykjavík grew outwards onto Skólavörðuhæð Hill, and is a great example of vernacular Nordic architecture from the time period in an urban context. Several of the buildings are painted bright colors and give off a really charming appearance, though there are others with a more weathered look or neutral paint colors that do detract from the otherwise quite attractive row, but it still remains a small, less-well-known gem that sits near several major tourist sites in the city center.