• Reykjavik and surrounding area
• Day 2 – Wednesday 14th March 2018

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So today was a day for exploring Reykjavik and surrounding area by daylight.

Did you know that two out of every three Icelanders live in the capital city?

Wandering around the city you find that’s it’s actually strikingly cosmopolitan for its size.

We revisited Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik’s Landmark Church which stands at 73 metres tall and is the largest church in the country. The design of the church is said to be inspired by the basalt lava columns that line many areas along Iceland’s coast and is modelled on their natural rock columns.

We then visited the harbour area which gives a clear view of Mount Esja.

Esja is the landmark mountain of Reykjavik, constantly visible off Reykjavik’s North Shore across Kollafjorour bay. The mountain stands at 914 metres at its tallest peak. Esja is actually not a single mountain, but is a chain of volcanic peaks.

Here we saw the Solfarid (The Sun Voyager), this is an iconic sculpture right by the sea. It resembles a Viking long-ship but it’s a common misunderstanding. It’s built by stainless steel and is the artists interpretation of a dreamboat and ode to the sun. The intention was to give the city something that inspired dreams and imagination and symbolises light and hope.

As we looked out towards the sea just visible and no more, on an Island in the distance, we were able to see the Imagine Peace Tower.

Yoko Ono unveiled this permanent installation in 2007 which is a tower of light projected into the sky from a white stone monument carved with the words “Imagine Peace” in 24 languages. The tower was created in honour of her late husband John Lennon and is lit every year from Lennon’s birthday on 9th October through to December 8th the day he was shot and killed.

We then left the city behind and travelled out towards the country.

We could begin to see the lava fields covered in moss.

Geographically Iceland is a country with a vastly different landscape than anywhere else in the world.

We headed to Seltun where there is a high temperature geothermal area with mud pots and steam vents which can reach temperatures of up to 200 degrees celsius…and it smelt!

Night time saw us chasing the Northern Lights but luck wasn’t on our side tonight…this is something I am truly wishing to see here on my visit to Iceland so fingers crossed.

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet”, Stephen Hawking.