Iceland – Day 4

Getaway Day. We packed up the luggage and stored it until the airport shuttle began the long trip home. We had our last complimentary breakfast. I do like the way European hotels include a decent morning meal. Then, we hit the streets for one last walkabout…looking for images and places to spend the last of our Icelandic krónur. By the way, the coins are pretty neat as they all have sea creatures on them.

Sun Voyager, Reykjavik (14 March 2016)

On the waterfront, you will find this striking, stainless steel sculpture. Although it resembles a Viking longboat, the Sun Voyager is about discovery and chasing the sun toward progress and freedom. After our four days there, I could understand the ‘chasing the sun’ part.

Reykjavik Marina from Inside the Harpa Center (14 March 2016)

The Harpa Center is the city’s primary convention and concert venue. The modern building sits on the waterfront. From inside, one can see the harbor through these irregular cells of glass.

Mural House, Reykjavik (14 March 2016)

While a few high-rise buildings are going up along the waterfront, many of the structures in downtown Reykjavik remain modest in size. A few of them have been turned into artists’ canvases.

There was one last visual treat for me that occurred well into the flight home. With Iceland as far north as it is, a direct flight back to the east coast of the U.S. took us over Greenland. Of course, I had never seen this most remote part of the world and felt fortunate to have looked up from my book…at the right time…on a clear day…sitting by a clean window.

Coastal Greenland from 35,000 Feet (14 March 2016)

While we didn’t see the northern lights and the weather for this visit mostly sucked, Iceland is still a fascinating place to spend some time. The people are friendly and English is essentially tied with Icelandic as the first language here. Given we can get there non-stop from Baltimore, I suspect there will be a return visit one day…but next time, we’ll try summer.