Reykjavik


There is 4 hrs. difference in Iceland and EST. We arrived in Reykjavik at 5:00 am, 1 am EST.  We found our transfer to the Natura Hotel, but couldn't check in until 2 PM.  We decided on a "Hop On, Hop Off" bus and began to explore Reykjavik.

First view of Island was overcast. We had some sprinkles during the day. The weather is quite mild-55 degrees F.  Iceland was first settled in 874 by Vikings fleeing Norway. It is known as "Fire and Ice"


We walked up to Perlan where we would first catch the Hop On bus.  Doesn't Allen fit in well with the sculptures.

Perlan is a magnificent structure with a glass dome built on top of six huge hot water tanks.  Iceland is entirely energy-self-sustained on thermal and hydro-energy, almost 50% each. As you will see in pictures tomorrow, there is 25 km of pipe that moves thermal-heated water to the tanks at Perlan. The heated water is then distributed through Reykjavik.


There is also an impressive planetarium at Perlan that provides a visual explanation of the "Northern Lights" or Aurora Borealis.  Also an Ice Cave that is made from all natural materials and transported to the Perlan.




There are 30 active volcanos in Iceland. Thus "Fire and Ice"


From the observation deck at the top of Perlan, we were able to have a 360 degree view of Reykjavik.


We then hopped on the Bus and traveled to the "Old Harbor," which is active particularly with tourist boats for whale watching and fishing along with nice restaurants.  There was a Maritime Museum that was packed with Iceland's fishery history, history of the ships used, equipment, types of fish caught, how they were and are processed, etc...There are about 30 types of fish that they process and ship all over the world.


Hofdi House (Islander language has several letters and uses the umlat. I can't figure out how to find them so please understand)  Built in 1909, it is best known for its use October 11-12, 1986 in a meeting between US President Ronald Regan and Secretary General of Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Gorbachev that was considered the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Also when the Baltic Nations declared their Independence, Iceland was the first country to declare its recognition of their independence formally in the Hofdi House in 1991.


Our first dinner in Iceland at Hinfinn restaurant at the Old Harbor--local beer, fish stew for me and shell fish soup for Allen.  (Yes, I will remain primarily vegetarian, but will add some fish because of it will all be local).



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