2008-2009? Church Restoration Project: Until When?
by jumpingnorman
I just got back from Reykjavik (June 2009) and the church is still under renovation (Hallgrimskirkja restoration project) and it is all covered with green net.
I asked my cab driver when it is going to be done and he said it started last summer and was (as has been posted) supposed to be done by fall 2009...but due to the economic recession, it seems to have been delayed more. Hopefully, they will get it done soon...it really is a magnificent building and a great landmark for Reykjavik since you can see it from a lot of points in the city.
But not to worry, even if you do not go up the Church, Iceland has so many more intersting places. They have the PERLAN (the Pearl) which has breathtaking views of the city and even a a cafeteria on the 4th floor and excellent dining...Enjoy Iceland!
Update: VTer sigur_ros wrote on Sun Oct 25, 2009 18:30 MST
Hi. I live close by the church and the scaffolding has been taken away in the last 2 weeks. Tower looks almost white, looks like they did a nice job.
Coffee culture
by acemj
The locals here in Reykjavik are certainly a little coffee obsessed and it shows in the number of coffee shops you'll find around town. I visited quite a few of them and they all have their individual charms, but I'd have to say my favorite was Babalu, which is located on Skolavordustigur. I had a really good piece of chocolate cake there and a latte for a mere $17 US! Kaffi Hljomalind is another decent place, which serves up spelt-based desserts (they taste healthy, which isn't good), but has free refills on their coffee and a funky clientele with music at nights. Kaffitar is the equivalent of Starbucks in Iceland, which is good and bad. They're consistently decent in the coffee that they serve, but originality is not their strongpoint. Kaffibarrin is another good bar/coffeehouse, where I must confess, I only had a beer, but it was enough to experience the very cool atmosphere here. I get the feeling it's the place for young, hipsters who are looking for a little midday java jolt.
Discovering America
by bzh
Leif Ericsson is one of the most famous Icelandic people. He is the navigator who alledgedly discovered America, before Christopher Columbus. A statue is dedicated to him just outside Hllgrímskirkja.
Fermented skate on the mass of St. Þorlákur.
by Regina1965
It is a tradition to eat fermented skate/ray on the 23rd of December in Iceland. We call that day "Þorláksmessa" or the mass of Saint Þorlákur (who died on the 23rd of December 1193). In older days when Iceland was still a Catholic country people were supposed to fast (not to eat meat) until 24th of December, so fish was eaten. And only what was supposed to be bad fish, as it were, this was no feast. Pope John Paul II nominated Saint Þorlákur as the patron saint of Iceland in 1985.
If you are ever in Reykjavík on this day be aware that the whole town, including the suburbs, reaks of the strong smell of skate. While eating it the smell will stick to your clothes and hair ;) And the smell will linger around the house for days so "hangikjöt" smoked-lamb (see my tip) is cooked in the same pot to get rid of the smell.
Fermented skate (kæst skata) originates from the Westfjords of Iceland and as my grandmother on my mother's side was born there, and my grandfather on my father's side was born in West-Iceland we ate skate frequently at home. Now it is almost only eaten on this special day. In my family we have a day we call "Skötudagurinn" or Skate-day and the extended family eats skate together on the last Saturday before Christmas. The younger generation and those family members who are allergic to skate or who cannot stand the smell eat smoked lamb in another room ;)
Skate is traditionally eaten with tallow (sheep fat) and potatoes as that softens the taste, which can be very strong. There are various degrees of strength and only the very brave go for the strongest tasting skate, which will clean out your sinuses and make your eyes water ;) The reason why skate is fermented is that it contains poison while fresh (much the same as shark). The best time to catch skate is in late Autumn and it is then fermented until Christmas time.
You can find skate in various restaurants in Reykjavík on Þorláksmessa.
On Þorláksmessa stores are open until 23h and people flock down to Laugavegur, which is closed for traffic on this evening. There is so much going on and thousands and thousands of Icelanders, family people as well, spend the evening down-town until the stores close.
Laugardalslaug - Pool at Laugardalur
by sarahandgareth
Geothermally heating pools and hot pots are a big part of Icelandic culture, and one of the great things about our Reykjavik tourist cards was the fact that entrance to all these pools was included. So, we headed for Laugardalslaug, the biggest pool complex in town to make sure we knew what all of the fuss was about.
There is an Olympic-sized as well as a small hot pot inside, but most of the action is outdoors. We tested out all of the various features including hot pots with water temperatures ranging from 38C to 44C. (Be warned: 44C is really, really hot and you'll look like a lobster for a while afterwards!) There is also a water slide, a kiddy pool, a pool for swimming laps, and two other hot pots of various sizes. It's a great complex, although very popular: you'll probably have to wait your turn to get a spot in some of the hot pots, and you should get used to sitting very close to your neighbor!
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Corrugated iron houses in Reykjavík.
Is everybody happy?
Icelanders love books!
Arnarhóll hill.
