We had so much fun on our adventures last summer in Iceland, we decided to go back!
But first... I had to take Natalie to the airport super early in the morning so she could board her flight to Fort Lauderdale where she would meet up with my mom (Nana) and go on an 8 day cruise through the Caribbean! Thankfully, we got their early and got her checked in - because this security line got LONG soon after she got through it. I stood there and watched her, waiting for the TSA agent to take her passport when another TSA agent was like, "Ma'am, you can't stand here. You have to go." I explained that my teenager was traveling alone but he didn't care so I said, "Well, I guess she HAS been to 42 countries. It's not like she hasn't done this before!"
If I write it down, maybe I can manifest it... she said she wanted to do a blog about her adventures with Nana, so hopefully she will write one (everyone text her, quick! Bug her til she writes one!) She sent me this selfie of herself in first class (because Nana spares no expense for her favorite people!)
Once I got back home, I actually had to work so that was fun. Note to self: It's hard to take pictures into bright sunshine ha ha. Late in the afternoon, the three of us took our own trek to Logan and had a little dinner before our trip to Iceland!
Reykjavik this way...
Although I love this picture of the three of us on the jetway boarding the airplane, I can't help but think something is missing!
LET'S GOOOOOO! Grant was very excited about this trip and at one point declared himself the king of Iceland. (They are "his people," he said.)
Meanwhile, Natalie was just having the worst time, hanging out at the pool at the Marriott with Nana, taking naps and drinking Shirley Temples!
Peace out Boston! See ya in a few days! I always love flying over Nahant!
This Play! Airlines aircraft actually had the MOST legroom I think I have ever experienced in coach. It was clearly an older aircraft and was probably something from Tap because the signs and the flight information on the drop down screens were all in Portuguese. We only know that because we were in Portugal a hot minute ago. Todd can NEVER sleep on planes like this because he is a giant. We did all agree that the seats themselves were not very comfortable though.
Shooky and I didn't mind though. This is one of my finer moments.
Eventually, Grant and I switched seats, so he could see Iceland when we landed. We kept checking the sky for Northern Lights, since we saw them last year but that was definitely NOT possible this year. First of all, we visited about 2 weeks earlier in the calendar year than we did last year - and in Iceland, that makes a HUGE difference in the amount of daylight you get. Because of this, we actually never saw full darkness on this flight! This was about as dark as it got.
Once we landed, we went through passport control VERY quickly. Our rental car place wasn't open until 6, so we had to waste some time by having a little breakfast. Todd chose a cappuccino and some Skyr!
I have learned that if you go to Iceland from Boston, the flight is VERY short. In fact, if you're anywhere on the east coast and you're kind of old like us, you will not regret booking a hotel or apartment for the night BEFORE you land. We arrived at our apartment at 7 am. The city was SUPER empty - it was actually really eerie, particularly on a Saturday morning. Nothing is open, there is nothing to do and you will be totally exhausted. Most places don't have check in until 3 or 4 pm, but if you book a place for the night before, you can go immediately there and CRASH. As we did. For almost 4 hours.
But when we woke up at 11 am, we were ready to go explore the city once again! This year, our apartment was in the heart of the city (note: if you don't like loud music and yelling at all hours of the night, maybe book something slightly outside of the downtown area.) We walked down toward Arnarhóll where the flowers were blooming in front of the Prime Minister's Office.
Here is the Prime Minister's office without so many flowers in the way!
We were hungry and it was time for some lunch, so naturally we stopped at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for some Icelandic hot dogs!
My boys! A lot of people asked me - what makes an Icelandic hot dog so different from other hot dogs? Well, firstly, it's made mostly of lamb (because that is an animal that is plentiful in Iceland). There's some pig and cow in there, but it's all natural, totally free range and they have natural casings. You have to get them with "everything" as Todd did here. That means adding raw onions, fried onions, remoulade sauce, a sweet brown mustard and ketchup. Grant just gets his with ketchup. I had mine with ketchup and the sweet brown mustard. Maybe next year I'll get everything, ha!
After lunch, we walked down the Sculpture and Shore walk on our way to our next destination - Fly Over Iceland. These two stopped to check out this monument called "Looking Seawards" by Ingl R. Gislason. It was built to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the port of Reykjavik (which they are ALL looking at) back in 1997.
He is a loathsome, offensive brute... yet I can't look away.
Natalie kept telling us how there was REAL GRASS on her Celebrity cruise ship, so we kept teasing her and asking her if she was going to touch the grass! We stumbled upon this lovely patch of grass in Reykjavik so Grant and Todd wanted to tease her again! Hey look! We're touching real grass!
You can't take pictures in the Fly Over Iceland experience so I snapped one of Grant before we went in. It was super awesome! The whole thing is about 30 minutes. You go in and initially watch two videos showing you a bit of the history of Iceland. The first is about the history, mythology and nature of Iceland and the second is about the legends of the trolls, and how Icelandic people were able to survive with the crazy elements. Next, you grab a seat in front of a 20 meter (about 60 feet) screen, slap your seatbelt on and hang on - because it crazy! Not only do you move with the movie (like you are the one flying over Iceland!) but as you go through the clouds, you also get spritzed with mist and wind!
You can check out the ride here! Fly Over Iceland - YouTube
Afterward, we were wondering about how they got all the footage (we suspected a drone) but it was actually filmed from a helicopter!
You know we have to be goofy.
This is their resident troll, Sú Vitra which means "The Wise One" in Icelandic. She is about 730 years old. But of course she is.
And naturally, we bought the stupid photo.
It was a good deal though. Because you got two backgrounds AND it was digital.
After our super fun Fly Over Iceland experience (highly recommended, by the way - although if you get motion sickness, maybe sit this one out!) we walked back into the downtown area along the waterfront. This former trawler, built in 1946 is sitting up out of the water at the Reykjavik Maritime Museum.
Todd and I saw a lot of funny signs in Iceland, most of which are completely inappropriate and not fit for a family blog (but oh boy, we took pictures!) This one was one of the more tame photos - perhaps a side of the morning-after pill with your Smassburger?
Me and my buddy who is about to pass me in height, down by the waterfront.
Here we are checking out some boats in dry dock. I also like the spots that you can lock up your bicycle behind us (shaped like a bicycle, of course!)
Eventually, we made our way to the Harpa Concert Hall - which we saw from a distance last year, but didn't get a chance to visit up close.
The glass hexagons were inspired by the basalt columns that sometimes form after a volcanic eruption, of which many exist in Iceland.
Todd taking a picture of me taking a picture of some boats from inside of the Harpa Concert Hall.
The Harpa also sits along the Sculpture and Shore walk. Grant dipped his finger in the water and was stunned to find that it was actually warm!
After visiting the Harpa, we walked up Arnarhóll toward our old pal Ingólfur Arnarson, the first permanent Norse settler in Iceland!
And then we made our way down Rainbow Road (also known as Skólavörðustígur - I'll give you $1 if you can pronounce that and your last name doesn't end in -son or -dottir!)
But of course, we had to stop for happy hour. We were pretty tired and kind of chilly at this point.
But soon it was time to walk back up the Rainbow Road!
We went into the same souvenir shop that we went into last year, trying to find my favorite shot glass EVER, but they did not have it. So we stopped at another place, and while they did not have it either, they did have a cute live cat sleeping on the merch!
Grant is now LAYING on the grass. Not just touching it. Since this is FAKE grass, it's even better!
Grant was telling us how he had been watching walking tours of Reykjavik on YouTube, and that he knew that there was a Belgian waffle cart near the Hallgrimskirkja, so we went looking for it - and lo and behold, we found it!
I felt like since he did all of the research, he should AT LEAST be able to sample the waffles and some warm hot cocoa.
There are picnic tables over by the waffle cart and you can enjoy a really nice view of the big church.
Or you can watch your kid scarf down a waffle.
Grant and I taking a silly picture in front of the Hallgrimskirkja. At 244 feet high, it's the tallest building in Reykjavik. Interestingly, it's actually only the SIXTH tallest structure in Iceland! There is actually a longwave radio tower on the Snæfellsnes peninsula that is about 1,350 feet tall and THAT is the tallest structure. Anyway, as you can see, this church ALSO has architectural features that are reminiscent of the basalt column formations that you can find all over Iceland.
Inside, a man was playing the organ! It was crazy because I am just not hand-foot coordinated AT ALL. And to watch him move his hands and feet at the same time was really impressive to me.
Last year, we didn't feel comfortable going up the elevator to the top of the Hallgrimskirkja, but this year, we decided to go! And it was definitely worth it!
Hello down there Leif Erikson and the Rainbow Road! See the Harpa Concert Hall in the upper right?
This is the view to the south, looking out over the Reykjavik City airport. The University of Iceland is just to the right in the middle of the picture.
My favorite view was the view to the northeast though!
I love all of the colorful buildings and roofs in Reykjavik!
We really got some nice weather, didn't we? I spy the Sky Lagoon just past the end of the runway in the distance! More on that in another post!
There was a little art display in front of the Hallgrimskirkja, and Grant decided he wanted to smack one of their butts and then run away! (He was successful.)
We walked back down Frakkastígur and past the cool building that houses Brauð & Co, which sells the most amazing cinnamon rolls! We didn't get any at this point (they were closed) but we did eventually!
For dinner, we went back down to Bastard Brew and Food. It wasn't our favorite meal, although the staff was nice and the beer was good.
The man loves a good flight of beer!
Grant is either working on a map of the world or he's sound asleep. We can never tell.
Finally... FINALLY we went back to the apartment where I think I was asleep before 9. Not only were we running on fumes, I had over 18,000 steps on the day! My boys look exhausted ha ha.
And we're on to Húsafell!
