• Ice Magic
    Recognition of the LGBQIT plus community
    Recognition of the LGBQIT plus community1Street art.Doorway displays in the old homes of Reykjavik.Across the lake in ReykjavikTypical Badstadus in the National Museum.Big afternoon storm over the lake.One hundred year's difference between these 2 photos.The storm from the Reykjavik Eye.The famous rock, said to have elves living inside it. It was a very lonely hard life for them them.Lava tube depictions of logs brought over with the first man who came to live in Iceland.Statue of first man in Iceland.Delicious $180 dinner at a fish restaurant. MAR.

    Reykjavik Day 2

    September 6, 2025 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    We only had time for one museum l. The National Museum won the race and what a great choice. It is all about life in Iceland from 800AD, when it was first settled , to current day. It was excellent. We learnt so much and put everything we were seeing and hearing about into context.

    Then it was of to the waterfront. A huge storm was coming so Geoff dared me to go on the Reykjavik Eye ferris wheel. I was up for it so we viewed the huge storm from above. Very dramatic sky with dark dark clouds but not a single drop of rain. Otherwise it was a beautiful sunny day.

    At 1.30pm we joined a large walking tour. Luckily it was split it two. Our guide was great. An Icelander who had studied acting in London. The Iceland Government pays for all tertiary education and even if you go abroad to study, they foot the bill and you pay 2% of the fees each year for the rest of your life. It isn’t much apparently.

    The story is that a man Floki Vilgerdason, in 868, broke the law in Norway, grabbed two huge wooden poles from his house, jumped into his Viking ship and sailed away. Accidentally to to what is now Iceland. When he arrived he threw the poles out of his ship and wherever they landed, he would build his house. Reykjavik ( which means settlement) was on its way. . There a monument to him in the town and all Icelanders are related to him. Current day Icelanders can trace 31 generations to the find Floki as their ancestor.

    Young people have an App now to check how closely they are related to the person they are dating. The government recommends 5th generation as the minimum. No laws enforce that. It’s a big deal that young people need to check how closely they are related Population is only just under 400,000 today. This also means that these people are the only Icelandic speakers in the world. They are doing what they can to preserve their language.

    Legs were really tired by now. Back to the motel for a quick nap and well earned hot bath then off to reception to meet our group and guide. 4 Canadians, 6 Americans and 4 Aussies.

    Dinner at MAR seafood restaurant for us. Delicious seafood meal.    Read more