And back to Reykjavik

From my mossy lava-bed campsite, it is really not far to the outskirts of Reykjavik. Which is good news as my legs are weary.
Reykjavik feels very quiet for a city. The centre is gently nice, the suburbs full of appartment blocks. Bits of lava are to be found everywhere. The setting by the sea with views across to mountains helps.

I wander the streets and decide to visit the national museum of iceland to try to understand a bit more of the history. Iceland was first settled from around 700AD, it appears by Norse men bringing british (celtic) slave women. Iceland is considered to have had one of the earliest parliments which started in 930 AD (the Alþingi that I visited a few days ago). The governance involved 39 areas of land over which chieftans ruled. These were all around the edge of iceland- the centre being too harsh to be habitable (this has not changed much).

Its time to head back after my memorabl trip to this amazingly wild and beautiful and quiet country. Maisie is boxed up, the buses booked. It turns out I am leaving on the annual independence day after 81 years of modern iceland.Read more