Rekyavik – The heart of Iceland

“Welcome to Iceland, you are about the experience the most exciting days of your life,so sit back , relax and enjoy ”  said the cab driver who received us at the airport in Keflavik.

The drive was smooth but landscape was rough. There were 900 year lava fields both sides of the roads ending in lava mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. A complete contrast to city horizons.

After about 30 minutes we reach our first stop before heading to our final destination Rekyavik. The Blue lagoon; a geothermal spa encircled  by lava fields all around it.The lagoon is a man-made lagoon which is fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power plant Svartsengi and is renewed every two days. It is the largest in the world. Superheated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through a heat exchanger to provide heat for a municipal water heating system. Then the water is fed into the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in.

The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis.The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 37–39 °C (99–102 °F). The Blue Lagoon also operates a research and development facility to help find cures for other skin ailments using the mineral-rich water. They have a mask bar and drink bar in the middle of the water where you can enjoy the various mineral rich masks and quench yourself with power packed juices.

Rajat enjoying his spinach power punch

Me with silica on my face

 

 

 

Some tips which will prepare you for your lagoon visit:

• Bring a water proof case for your phone.
• Keep your swimwear in your hand luggage if you are coming directly from airport.
• luggage rooms are available at rent too.
• Try not to wet your hair in the lagoon as the sulfur rich water tends to dry out the strands making them fizzy.
• use the conditioner placed in the shower area generously on hair before and after entering the lagoon
• Don’t forget to visit the spa store to pick us some products from the lagoon (even if you miss this now , you will find it at the  Keflavik airport when departing Iceland)

After relaxing and wearing off the jet lag we head to Rekyavik the capital city of Iceland It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxa Bay. With a population of around 300000 people only, it is the heart of Iceland’s cultural, economic and governmental activity, and is a popular tourist destination. It is among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world.

Did you know  these 11 facts about Iceland?

• You can drink from the the tap in all of Iceland
• The water smells like rotten eggs and is sulphuric in taste
• The police are not armed in Iceland since there is hardly any crime
• Taste the glaciers are you will find them the cleanest and sweetest source of water
• Iceland converts geothermal energy to power which lights up every home in  Iceland
• Astronauts scheduled  to land on moon came to Iceland first  because Iceland geographic landscape is similar to the landscape on the moon.
• Iceland is the only puffin colony in the world
•  There is no rail network in Iceland
• The Icelandic babies are left outside to nap in freezing temperatures
• Icelanders don’t have surnames,even the telephone directory records them by their first names only.
• Iceland can have four seasons in 4 consecutive minutes making the weather highly unpredictable.

There are 11 museums in Rekyavik including one one penises. Hallgrímskirkja church is Reykjavík’s main landmark and its tower can be seen from almost everywhere in the city.

 

Harpa is a concert hall and conference centre in Reykjavík, Iceland. The opening concert was held on May 4, 2011. The building features a distinctive colored glass facade inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland.

Apart from touristic interests , Rekyavik is famous for its food and ice creams and wool wear. I remember having soup in a large bread bun at Svarta Kaffid  and freshly made gelato at Valdis. A stroll at the harbour side is worth taking and enjoying.

getalo options at Valdis

Soup in a bread bowl

 

 

After a hearty welcome in Iceland we have a good night sleep before we begin our 9 day adventure into Iceland.(coming up soon).

Until then ,keep wandering

Happiness and sunshine

Nidhi