The Capital

 After saying a sad good-bye to our camper van and picking up a rental car, we drove into the capital city of Iceland - Reykjavik.   Population of Iceland is 364,134 and the population of their capital and largest city is 131,136.  The 2nd largest city in Iceland is Akureyri with less than 20,000 people.  Boise has a population of about 240,000.

First order of business was getting our Covid test so that we could reenter the US.  Iceland has a very convenient set up for testing.  Within about 1 hour, we already had our results - both negative!  

The city definitely has the most traffic we have encountered in Iceland but still not as bad as Boise.  It was easy to find our Airbnb, the first one we have ever stayed in.  Normally we would have considered it a small unit but after 10 days in the van, it seemed luxuriously roomy! 

Best of all, the location was perfect for sightseeing.  We could walk to all the tourist sites, starting with the Monument to the Unknown Bureaucrat.   I knew George would like it.

A quick walk by Harpa, the very beautiful concert hall right on the water.

Photo op at Sun Voyager -I think it looks like a viking ship but the sculptor describes it as a 'dreamboat, or an ode to the Sun'.  He wanted it to convey the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom.  I think it lives up to his ideas.

The next day we made it to Hallgrímskirkja, the iconic church.

While I love the ornate Catholic cathedrals of Europe, there is something so refreshing about the clean lines of a Lutheran church. The ceiling encourages you to gaze heavenward.

Hallgrímskirkja is dedicated to the most renowned, sacred poet of Iceland, Hallgrimur Pétursson.  I am glad that there were plaques with parts of some of his poems.

Not wanting to miss anything,  we had to take the elevator to the observation deck.  Funny that after standing in line to enter the small elevator, we saw the sign that said we were to stay 2 meters apart and not ride in the elevator with strangers.  Our solution was to quickly introduce ourselves so that we were no longer strangers!!!

Quite the view from up there!

I think that bright colored roofs and buildings are popular because the winters are so dark.  The pops of color are mood boosters!

I guess the rainbow sidewalks are painted for the same reason!