Reykjavík – Centre and Hallgrimskirkja Church
Walking on down the Lækjargata there are many typically Icelandic or Scandinavian style buildings of note. This one is a School. The Tjarnarskóli ehf School on the corner by the Tjörnin lake. The tower is very ‘Addams Family’.
On the other side of Lækjargata is the Gimli Building that was obviously dated at 1905 by an engineer Knud Zimsen whom would go on to become Major of Reykjavík. Today it houses the Icelandic Tourist Board. Other buildings of interest aline the street and provide a typically nordic feel. Very colourful. At Bankastæti we turn up the hill towards the Hallgrimskirkja. Passing by the Il Ristorante Antico, dated 1892. Not quite ancient but still, one of the older buildings.
Moving on and into Skólavörðustígur we get to see the Hallgrimskirkja and its imposing tower high above us. These streets were relatively quiet and peaceful with everyone chilled out in the early summer sunshine.
The Hallgrimskirkja is one of Icelands most iconic landmarks that is visible for miles around. As such it’s very useful to get your bearings wherever you are in the Reykjavik area. Standing some 244ft or 74.5 meters, as well as being on a gentle hill top, it’s one of the tallest buildings in Iceland. Commissioned in 1937 and designed by architect Guðjón Samúelsson, it was completed in 1986. Designed to resemble some of Icelands natural geological features, it reminds me of The Giants Causeway in Ireland, and many similar places. If has a bit of Seal or Sea lion about its stance, also.
In front of Hallgrimskirkja, a statue of Leif Erikson a famous explorer thought to have set foot in North America over 1000 years ago, 500 years before Christopher Columbus. As the inscription states, gifted by the United States of America in 1930 to mark the 1000th year anniversary of the Althing, Icelandic Parliament.
On reaching Hallgrimskirkja you can walk around it to view it from all angles and you can take the internal tour that gives a fine panorama of Reykjavik. As interesting as it is, we chose lunch.
Turning our backs on the church, we headed back down Skólavörðustígur. Immediately right is the Hotel Leifur Eiriksson. Lots of tourist shops with an Icelandic theme of Trolls, pelts and Icelandic arts. I admired a lot of the local arts and crafts, but prices were for me, too high.
A funny thing happened in one shop. I was musing around and looking at this table covered in grey shaggy furs. Then suddenly, one ‘fur’, got up and walked off the table. It was in fact a domestic cat that had the same colouring as the fur it was lying on. A bit of a surprise to say the least. Shame I didn’t have the time to get a pic.
Just down the street to the left we came across KOL restaurant. Busy, and that’s usually a good sign, looking like the locals frequented it. We got a table and enjoyed a fine lunch. Selecting the Birch Smoked Salmon that was full of flavour and different textures. Others around us had much more substantial meaty meals, but this was just fine for a light lunch.
Suitably nourished we head down towards the harbour. Walking through Klapparstigur and onto Hverfisgata where we come across the Embassy of Denmark. Iceland once being ruled by Denmark until gaining independence after World War 1 and finally becoming a republic after the Second World War. The history is something the tour guides go into in depth, the pros and cons and how the natives view their past, present and future.
A little further down Hverfisgata we come to The House of Collections or Safnahúsið. This fine building, dating from 1908, is part of The National Gallery of Iceland. Sometimes referred to as The Culture House, today it is an exhibition space highlighting various aspects of Icelandic culture.
As we rejoin Lækjargata, to our right is a grassy knoll that has the sculpture of the man that is said to have founded Reykjavik, Ingólfur Arnarson. The hill is known as Arnarhóll or Eagle’s Hill. The story of how he came to choose this place is part big of Icelandic folklore, or Icelandic sagas. Look forward to hearing the story should you come to visit Iceland or Reykjavik, and I hope you do get that opportunity.
That was our short tour of downtown Reykjavik. Tomorrow is a big day with the Golden Circle Coach Tour. We could have spent the evening in Reykjavik as we are in port overnight, but now we are a short walk to the shuttle bus and back to the Borealis for a rest and getting ready for the evening meal.
