Thur - a lazy mixed day

We slept this a.m. until after 9!  (of course that was 4 a.m. in Cambridge).  We had a leisurely breakfast in our studio and then checked out and left our suitcases with the wonderful manager.

We walked the three blocks to Sundhöll Reykjavíkur - a swimming center and thermal pool frequented by locals.   It was heavenly.   I swam a couple of laps in the indoor pool and then entered the adjacent thermal pool but soon discovered there were thermal pools outdoors!  Well that was not to be missed in 40 degree weather.  So we scooted out to the first one and enjoyed the jets massaging us in the warm water.   After the recommended 2o min we moved to the second warmer pool for more of the same.   No wonder these Icelanders are a happy lot.  What a way to "begin" the day.   Actually it was after noon when we left.

Sundhöll Reykjavíkur

Indoor pool

Outdoor thermal baths - aaaah!

 After we walked down one of the main streets.  These are random pictures along the way

Christmas Shop - most things were from London

Whale and Puffin are popular here

The best graffiti artists are paid to decorate buildinngs

How to tie a necktie

Local bus station

You have to be very careful which directio you take the bus as you might be on it a couple of hours before circling back to your destination.

Colorful and comfortable seats on the bus

Children's Hospital

In the afternoon, we met our friend, Carina at the hospital where she works 

This large chair represents an adult sized chair from children's view

These characters were donated by a theater that closed

Young patients love to watch the fish

 

Norbert had to see the radiology dept!

It is a huge complex - buildings interconnected underground

The domestic airport is across the street from the hospital. It is the National Hospital and patients from all over the country where there are no hospitals are brought here.

Dinner!   Carina took us to the fish market and then cooked fish is two very different ways - both delicious.  One a kind of stew and the other kind of an Italian style dish with cheese and red sauce.

Her house is surrounded by windows and has a sauna!   There is heating under the stone floors

Golden Circle Tour - 8 am to 5 pm Wednesday

PS - From plane -I forgot to mention that on our flight here the third person in our row was a very interesting manager of one of the large trip planning agencies here in Reyjkavik!.   He even offered us a ride in from the airport in the company car that was picking him up .   We used his company for our trip today and his name opened doors :)

Golden Circle Map

Leaving Reykjavik 9 am just getting light

The Golden Circle is a full day of driving.  We were in a 15 person van.  The speed limit is low in most of Iceland so drives take longer. 

As we drove out of Reykjavik our driver looked at several of the large banks and quite emotionally made some comments.   Iceland went through a financial meltdown in 2008.  He was clearly triggered by the sight of the massive bank buildings.  He told us that 75 % of families in Iceland went through bankruptcy!   Even worse than US!  We did see signs of recovery as we drove.  Lots of buildings that had been stopped mid construction - a few have people working there now.

Once we were out in the country there are virtually no inhabitants.  75% of Iceland is uninhabitable.

It has some of the longest waterfalls in the world.  The most active volcanoes in the world.  The most geo thermal hot spots from which they can draw a large part of their energy.  There are miles of black beaches due to lava flow.

Rainbow

This geyser erupts about every 4 minutes.

The above geyser erupting

Icelandic horses

Icelandic horses are the size of ponies but because of their strength Icelanders do not wish to call them ponies.  They also say there are no black (blackie) or white (whitie) ponies.   Those that are white we call white are called gray and those we would call black are called brown.

Not only black is associated with evil but so is white as in pale, anemic, and other negative words. 

Ice covered volcano crater

Arrival and a full day!

After a smooth flight on Icelandair - lights dimmed even before take off and I was asleep before the drink cart came down the aisle - we landed in a cloudy Reykjavik.   I had set my watch ahead so i didn't mind that it said 8:30 am in the dark until I turned on my Tablet where I had NOT reset the time and it said 3:30 am Boston time.

Upon delivery to our studio apartment we fell into bed and slept until noon.   At which point we were ready to go.   We made a grocery stop and then took a walk up the main street on our way to meet our new friend with whom we have been emailing for weeks.

Yellow building is where we are staying

View down our street.  Yellow building on right is our

 "Home" 

Water and mountains in the distance

Note the one way street on this main drag With cars limited by posts - no curbs.

Interesting church

Hallgrimskirkja  Church is on a high hill and is seen from all over Reykjavik

A new organ being installed

Simple  pulpit and baptismal font

This Sunday is confirmation Sunday throughout Iceland.  This group is preparing.

Views from the spire of the church

Public bathroom - like a permanent port-o-potty - push a button and you're in!

Meeting our new friend finally!!

Carina is a friend we met through couchsurfing.com  She is a pediatric nurse at the Children's Hospital here.  Her  husband is an engineer.   We will be staying with her for  4 days later this week.  She met us at the church above and spent hours driving us around Reykjavik including, the waterfront with all the fishing boats, oriented us to the locations of many museums, the hospital where she works, different housing areas, old and new, historical landmarks etc..  We had a personal tour and great conversation ending with dinner at a local restaurant.- I had a delicious seafood soupthat was just right for me as my body seemed still confused about the time.

One of the places she took us was Perlan - a striking building which contains a fine restaurant and more.

The building made use of 5 water tanks no longer needed.

Every few minutes this pressure causes this geyser on the main floor of the building to erupt

Janis and Carina on the roof of the Perlan (Norbert is trip photographer!)

Staircase at Perlan to rooftop restaurant and outdoor walk

Janis and Carina helping musicians without instruments outside Perlan

Carina explained that this frame near the sea used to be the way they dried fish

Iceland has no Army or Navy. This is a Coast Guard Ship

Catholic Church

We arrived here just before 6 pm.   and discovered a Mass was scheduled for 6.   there was an order of traditional nuns setting up and leading Rosary.   Corina explained to me that there has been an influx of Poles, and South Americans and others so there are language issues with the Masses.  Catholics are about 5% of the population and growing.   We stayed in the back and listened for a bit.  We heard Latin, Polish,   Icelandic, etc.  It must be difficult as with the Muslims in Boston from so many countries trying to share one Mosque.