May 22, 2025

Chongae and I spent overnight in Reykjavik, Iceland. Today was the type of day we both like, a relaxing wander, looking for nothing, seeing lots.

Someone asked if I had a photo of the Iceland Thermal Power Plant. We did drive by it yesterday, but the photos are taken from a bus window.

Of note is the Eurasian Plate, the Earth’s largest tectonic plate, containing some of the oldest rock formations in the earth’s crust is not far from the Thermal Power Plant. The North American plate is drifting to the west away from the Eurasian plate, widening the Atlantic Ocean in the process.

Reykjavik is a very friendly pedestrian city easily walkable with wide thoroughfares. Hallgrimskirkja Church is not only Reykjavik’s tallest building but also one of its most significant landmarks. Designed by Guojon Samuelsson it was commissioned in 1937 but was not completed until 1986. The church’s design was inspired by the natural forms of Iceland’s landscape, particularly the basalt lava flows, making it a symbolic representation of the country’s volcanic nature. Along the waterway was the Harpa Concert Hall, known for its unique design and outstanding acoustics. On the pier I saw a set of binaculars and I wasn’t sure who was looking at who?

Along the waterway was the Fisherman’s Memorial dedicated to all those who have lost their lives on the Northern Sea. A poignant note was left by a daughter remembering her Dad.

As we walked, we passed many of the colorful homes that Reykjavik is known for.

As we headed to the main square of town I was amazed to see a shop owner out painting the pole in front of his store. This was a utility pole and when I stopped and asked him if he worked for the municipality he said “No, just trying to keep the neighborhood nice.” As we turned the corner, we saw a large group of people waiting in line. Situated smack dab in downtown Reykjavik, you’ll find this small street stand that would be unassuming if it weren’t for the near-constant line of locals and tourists waiting for this Reykjavik specialty.

This most famous stand in Iceland is called Baejarins Beztu Pylsur, which translates to “the best in town” known for their unique blend of lamb, beef, and pork, served with a variety of delicious toppings and they’ve been serving up one dish, and one dish only, since 1937! What is it? Pysla-the famous Iceland hot dog!

I found out I wasn’t the only one who tried the Pysla. When Bill Clinton visited Iceland back in 2004, he made a total of 3 visits to the hot dog stand!

Although we did not have time to see it, Reykjavik is the home of The Elf School of Iceland. You can attend the school which offers seminars on elfs, maps as to where you can find them and pancakes! The headmaster, Magnus Scottson, has been collecting elf stories for more than 30 years. More than 900 stories! And these are not from people who have had too much to drink and thought that their neighbor’s cat was an elf. Reports have come in from law enforcement officials and even a member of the Iceland Parliament.

As I’ve spent time in Iceland it seems that people have to deal with a lot of unexpected events, land shifts, the weather, roads disappearing, phones and Wi-Fi not working for no apparent reason. They don’t try and explain it they give it a name, a story, a personality. Not because they believe it changes the facts, but it changes how you feel about the facts. You can’t argue with a landslide, but you can decide it was an elf having a bad day. It surely seems odd to me, but it seems to work for Icelanders.

Because sometimes you just need a bit of imagination to have the world make sense. Not as decoration, but as emotional protection. It is how Icelanders deal with darkness, silence, unpredictability.

In Iceland imagination is not a distraction from reality, it is how you survive it.

As we left the city of Reykjavik one of the last photos I took were of two distinctive rocks off the coastline. It is only fitting that Iceland would use rocks as symbolic steppingstones to invite you back to visit. I may just take them up on that invitation.

Off to Greenland!

Thanks for traveling with us.