Our final day in Iceland before heading back on the evening flight to New York was spent exploring Reykjavik. I wish I had more time to explore this capital city, but we managed to do a lot in just one day. There are many different street art murals and touristy gift shops lining the streets.
The Sun Voyager statue is a striking monument on the waterfront. Although it does look like a Viking ship, it is actually a visual ode to dreams and the sun.
Another must-see locale of Reykjavik is the Icelandic Phallological Museum. The Icelanders are known for their unusual sense of humor. From whale phallus to tiny mice, this museum is jam packed with specimens.
Here is a variety of what the museum has to offer. I am next to a whale penis for scale. I highly recommend the audio tour if you have the time.
For lunch, we had an Icelandic staple…the hot dog! These are hot dogs that are made from Icelandic lamb as well as pork and beef. Of course, you have to try it with the traditional toppings: served in a warm, steamed bun, raw white onions, crispy fried onions, ketchup, sweet brown mustard, and a remoulade sauce. So delicious I had two!
Afterwards, we stopped for a quick drink at the Icelandic Craft bar. I tried the Brother’s Brewery Gölli IPA. Named after a folk song character, this local craft beer was quite nice: light, grapefruity hops.
These cartoon vikings, created by Ninna Thorarinsdottir, can be found everywhere! The viking eating an ice cream cone in winter is emblematic of the Icelandic sense of humor. Souvenirs with her designs on them were a great buy to take home to friends and family (I even got a few post cards to frame and put up in my apartment).
Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church in Iceland, is a Lutheran church and a symbol of the city. In front of the magnificent towering church is the statue of Leif Erickson, the Norse explorer.
Here I am with Leif! Even in the sunny early October morning, it was pretty chilly out!
Our final Reykjavik stop before heading to the airport was actually a British import, the Brewdog Brewery (there is also a location in Ohio…but we are unlikely to visit there). It’s a little bit like going to a Hard Rock Cafe of beer, but it was nice place to grab some pub food and sample their brews. It’s a pretty IPA forward sampler…among the ones I tried were the Dead Pony Club (IPA) and the Elvis Juice (a grapefruit infused IPA).
And that’s the end of our week long road trip through Iceland! It is a beautiful country filled with so many natural wonders.
