Iceland Part 8 - Reykjavik

Most famous landmark - Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik is the most northern capital in the world. It has a round 200 000 inhabitants and the trip to Iceland is not complete without a stay in this place. While thinking “capital” do not think London, Paris and so forth. Reykjavik is really dinky, quaint even, so do not go into houses with graffiti on them thinking you are going to be using the underground.

Artwork inside

The place I could not wait to see was Hallgrímskirkja. The best recognised Reykjavik's landmark and for me, the most beautiful church. Iceland's ratio church: inhabitants is impressive 1:1000 It's also one of the youngest churches in the world and it could be because of this, it doesn't have an altar. It took 38 years to build 1945-1986.

Inside - huh, no altar

 If you are lucky with the weather the view of the capital from the top of the church is amazing. Well worth paying the money to go up. However - beware of it's bells when you are up there.

Very nice organ though

 You might be so taken by the views, you will forget the time and then suddenly, the bells will strike. You have been warned. The church is made out of concrete, which is frowned upon by many church experts. Personally, I'm not bothered. It looks unique and 11 months in the year it is not surrounded by scaffolding, because they are changing the sandstone. Every year. Like many cathedrals do.

Views of the capital, Mount Esja in the clouds on the left. Reykjavik is quite a colourful city

Mount Esja in the background

Tjörnin on the left, Catholic church

Harbour in the background, main shopping area

Rain is never far away in Iceland. Perlan (The Pearl) in the middle

Another famous icon of Reykjavik. With some tourists posing for scale :-)

Reykjavik is full of fancy (and less fancy) restaurants. Whatever you food preference, choice or allergy, you are bound to find something here. Also it boasts many art galleries, museums and shops. They are also famous for their night life. It is advisable you stay here over the weekend if you want to give them run (dance) for their night life money, as during a week the night life is not so busy.

The seedy side of Reykjavik? No. If you are after strip clubs, or massage parlours, Iceland is not for you. This type of activities are illegal here. However you can get your girlfriend to dress up.

Iceland Part 4 - Museums

                              Phallological Museum, Husavik - check the artwork around

Holiday is not a holiday without a trip to a museum. I know, some of you might think this is not the most exciting thing in the world (if you are not a culture vulture) but with a bit of research and planing it might just be one of the highlights. I have found that that Husavik, has got one of the weirdest museums in the world - Icelandic Phallological musem. English meaning of the word Phallus is Penis!! Yes, just when you thought Amsterdam couldn't shock you any more, you learn about this museum. This museum has the largest collection of penises in the world! 276 of them (at the time this blog went into press). I know you're thinking that many places have more dicks working in them than that, but lets stay on the biology route please. So this place contains penises from all kinds of animals ranging from earthworm, through human, to whale. Of course, I didn't go there to see it because it is phalluses. I wanted to see it because it is the biggest collection in the world. I would have gone there, if it was let's say, the biggest whale museum in the world.

                                                     Closed :-( All that travelling for nothing

The museum used to be in Reykjavik, but for some ungoogleable reasons, they have moved to one of the Gods' forgoten ends of Iceland - Húsavík. Which in my modest opinion was not the best bet.

                                                                    Husavik Port

Despite being the biggest, it is only a small house, with as you already observed, strange looking artwork. Unfortunatelly, these are all the phalluses I got to see and lay my hands on, as the place was CLOSED! It didn't elaborate why, but I presume it was either end of season that in Iceland lasts three months, or people just can't be bothered to travel to the other side of Iceland for the Biggest Penis collection. Let's be honest here; how many times have we've been lied about the size of something, eh?

Church in Husavik

I did try to find out when will it re open, so stopped a passer by. They didn't know, and after seeing my deflated expression they suggested alternative - Biggest whale museum just couple of hundred yards from there, and pointed a finger in the direction. Honestly, do they think I have just travelled 150 miles, on various quality roads (mostly bad), in all weather conditions (mostly bad) to see a WHALE!? I've seen many nature programs and seen “Free Willie” too. And let's face it, once you've seen couple of whales, you've seen them all. So my hope of getting engrosed in serious biology for an hour has vanished. I wonder what the souvenirs are like in here.

Husavik is not just famous for the Penis museum. Oh no. They are very sought after due to the best whale watching tours on Iceland (just as well, as you wouldn't really have a reason to come here).

As I have travelled so far, I have decided to make the most of being here. Walked around the town (which luckily isn't big), took a photo of a church, seen and photographed their port, stocked up on some rations and 20 minutes later I was on my way out of there.

Another great museum in Iceland is Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft in Hólmavík. Which also happened to be closed. Again, it did not elaborate why. Probably end of tourist season, which in Iceland lasts just 3 months (June, July and August)

Traditional Icelandic dwellings in National Museum of Iceland, Reykjavik

Last museum that I have visited (and first one that was not closed) was National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik. The museum is on two floors and it features history of Iceland from settlement in 9. century, to present day. I must say I have enjoyed this museum and not just because I was trying to avoid treacherous conditions outside. My favourite part was using their Video display units that will guide you through the history, if you prefer to save your legs. However, they do need improving, because as soon as you get into each chapter and start to ask some questions, the chapter is over and next one is about something else.

I forgot what this is, but I'm sure it's not what I think it is now

A quirky part of this museum, was a small corner that covered cigarettes and smoking. It was great to see the difference from years ago when smoking was in fashion. People frowned upon you and you got labelled social outcast just because you didn’t smoke, and now we are going in the opposite direction. People roll their eyes if you need to/want to go for a ciggie.

Latest Lady Gaga outfit? Probably too revealing. But this can be also seen in National Museum :-)

So there you have it. Museums are not just boring places. And if you are lucky (or pre plan better) they will be opened.