TRAVEL Iceland is fantastic and I could easily spend weeks in this land of elves and trolls but if you have only a day or so in the capital, don’t fret, Reykjavik is small enough for you to be able to catch the friendly, creative Nordic vibe in a short space of time. But I warn you, you’ll want to go back and do it all again. By Tess de Klerk
A DAY IN REYKJAVIK BREAKFAST – WHAT’S YOUR MOOD?
The Laundromat Cafe is a lovely, cosy little gem, perfect for brunch or lunch, with local specialities such as Skyr cake – and yes, there’s a laundromat downstairs. Looking for fantastic crepes, including gluten-free? I suggest heading to Eldur og Ís at the bottom of t h e r a i n b ow - p a i n te d r o a d , Skólavörðustígur. In the mood for something more deathmetally first thing in the morning? Turn left at the bottom of that rainbow-hued road to find an unassuming cafe/bar in what must have been a house at some point. Order your breakfast beer and poke bowl amongst the politest leather clad rockers you’re ever likely to find.
72
MIDMORNING MEANDERING
Head up the slope of the rainbow coloured road. (Yes, clearly I used it to get my bearings!) Icelanders are a creative bunch as seen by the street art and all the quaint makers and artists’ shops. (Did you know that around 10% of Iceland’s population will publish at least one book in their lifetime?) Window shop and browse your way up the hill to find yourself looking up at the magnificent Hallgrímskirkja church, overlooking the whole of Reykjavik. This stunning expressionist style building’s design was inspired by the beautiful basalt columns at Svartifoss waterfall on the south coast of Iceland, and the
building work took 38 years to complete! At the top of this 74.5-metre tall Lutheran church you’ll find a viewing platform boasting 360-degree views of the entire city - well worth the €7 fee for the lift.
LUNCH
I suggest heading to a cafe, of which the city has plenty. We enjoyed Café Babalú, with its suntrap rooftop terrace. Visiting this little yellow/orange cafe felt like a trip unto itself - or just plain trippy - with its eccentric and ebullient decor, colourful everything, with something of everything, it seemed to me. If you’re not quite up for the slightly bizarre then rather pop over the road to Salka Valka for a more classy menu. There really are plenty of eateries to choose from, and all are easily reached by foot in this tiny capital city.
