Aside from Wikitravel, at
times I would normally just look at Google Maps and see whatever attractions
are in bold letters. If they are prominent on the map, they are probably worth
the visit, right? This place called Hið Íslenzka Reðasafn was quite prominent
on the map and not that far away from Hallgrimskirkja, and so I thought why not
give it a shot? I don’t speak Icelandic, so after seeing the English
translation at the door, I found out that it was the Icelandic Phallological
Museum. In short, a museum for dicks.
Sometimes when friends find out that I am abroad and they ask me to buy souvenirs for them, I usually bring home a key chain or a ref magnet. They are cheap and easily fit in your luggage. However, I don’t ever recall someone asking me, “Hey dude, can you buy me a knitted sweater for my dick?” Two reasons: 1) Why the need to incubate your manhood? 2) What the fuck? But this is the North Atlantic, not the tropics. Perhaps it’s a necessity here up north? Why are we talking about wieners anyway? Blame Iceland.
And yeah, they do sell those
“penis warmer” thingies, the purpose of which is self-explanatory. Now that’s
not something a friend or relative back home would usually receive as a
souvenir. Do I think the people of Iceland are weird? Nah, if you think this is
weird then you haven’t been to Shinjuku at two o’clock in the morning. The
Japanese are strange. Icelanders? They are fine, although I did raise an
eyebrow seeing Mink Whale Steak on a restaurant menu. Why would you want to eat
Free Willy?
They also eat horse meat,
maybe because they have a lot of horses here, like one for every three people. Talking
about food, it’s just so freaking expensive in Iceland. A waffle/hot chocolate
combo in front of Hallgrimskirkja cost me almost ISK1,000 (~PHP500). It was
yummy but I could have bought it for 1/3 of the price back in Manila. Do try Nesti’s
bacon-wrapped cheese dog sandwich while you are here. It is indeed delicious
and relatively cheaper at just around ISK500 (~PHP250). That’s enough food talk
for now.
Reykjavik is a small city but
quite picturesque, perhaps because of its location by the harbor. Hallgrimskirkja
seems to be the most popular landmark thanks to its imposing height and striking architectural style. You can climb all the way to the top of the tower
for a fee, but I opted not to being the cheapskate that I am. Almost every
other attraction is walkable from there. The park facing the city hall, for
example, is but a mere ten-minute walk away. Walk some more and you reach the
port area.
Personally, I liked HARPA
better. This one, if I recall correctly, was where Riley’s dad had his concert.
Sense8, remember? Or am I not getting my facts straight? The façade of the
building will leave you awestruck because of the way the glass panels reflect
the rays of the sun. With some of them sporting a different color than the
rest, the entire thing comes off as a big glass illusion worthy of the photo-op.
Of course, its juxtaposition with the bay makes the picture even more
postcard-ready.
Walk a little bit more and you
will end up at the Solfarid, a piece of modern sculpture bravely facing the sea.
Shaped like a post-modern Viking ship, it serves as a perfect symbol for the country
as well its long history and shipping tradition. The only caveat is that it’s always
cold in Reykjavik, so make sure that you keep yourself warm by layering appropriately.
Overall, I think the city center can be explored in two hours or less if you
don’t stop by to visit museums or the like. Reykjavik is, true enough, very layover
friendly.
Unless you drive, the best way to explore the
surrounding areas is by joining a group tour. I highly recommend Reykjavik
Excursions, which arranged all of my tours for me. The itineraries were
interesting and most of the buses provide WiFi and USB ports for charging, as
well as a knowledgeable tourist guide. Convenience! Just make sure that you
book accommodations at the city center so that you can qualify for free pick-up
and drop-off. Public bus schedules here are rather erratic. I so love
Iceland!!!
[REYKJAVIK] Of Whale Steaks and Wiener Warmers
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