a weekend in Reykjavik - classic or dud

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AKA run my life for me # 437

should I go to Reykjavik for the Easter weekend? would I spend my time there thinking "Christ, this place is a hellhole" or "blimey, I am at the end of the world, BRILLIANT!"?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Are you effing drunk? GO YOU MENTALIST.

I'm strongly considering moving there.

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:33 (twenty-three years ago)

I've wanted to visit for years since I took a wonderful class in Icelandic sagas back at UCLA. One day I shall. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:33 (twenty-three years ago)

but isn't it incredibly expensive? and doesn't everything smell of fish?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Go! Go! Go!

It's meant to be amazing and seeing new things is always good, even if you don't particularly like them. You could visit my penpal (since I was 11) Bjarney.

― Lara (Lara), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:37 (twenty-three years ago)

AKA run my life for me # 437

but isn't it incredibly expensive? and doesn't everything smell of fish?

Listen here, how much creative control do we have here?

― Lara (Lara), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:38 (twenty-three years ago)

DV - rent the film "101 Rekyavik". I strongly suspect that going there for a weekend would be a GOOD thing to do. Not sure what the weather is like at Easter though... If you have scope to get outside the "city" and see some contryside and geysers etc. it would be doublegood...

― Minky Starshine (Minky Starshine), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:39 (twenty-three years ago)

It's brilliant. I went a couple of years ago and am going back this summer.

― j0e (j0e), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Black Death! Drink it.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:43 (twenty-three years ago)

''rent the film "101 Rekyavik".''

That is v fine movie.

the women are apparently really grebt looking so GO NOW!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:48 (twenty-three years ago)

I will be going with a very fine looking woman, so the lovely ladies of Iceland are not quite such a draw for me.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:51 (twenty-three years ago)

you must go so you can tell me if it is worth going, i quite fancy it this summer for a weekend

― gareth (gareth), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:55 (twenty-three years ago)

would you like to pay for me to go, so that I can check it out for you?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:59 (twenty-three years ago)

ok, no problem!

― gareth (gareth), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:05 (twenty-three years ago)

winner!

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:18 (twenty-three years ago)

my friend went she had a lovely time but was not impressed with the architecture

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:29 (twenty-three years ago)

if Iceland is good enough for jaz coleman to escape to, then it's good enough for ET !

a tip for ET, cover Icelandic rock band Mínus in CTCL when they release their new album later in the year. that K-e-r-r-a-n-g rocker Stevie Chick should know about them !

Mínus
http://www.dordingull.com/minus/

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:32 (twenty-three years ago)

what has ET got to do with this?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:39 (twenty-three years ago)

ET = Everett True ! AKA DV

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:46 (twenty-three years ago)

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:47 (twenty-three years ago)

eh, no. I am not Everett True.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:52 (twenty-three years ago)

I am.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:53 (twenty-three years ago)

It is expensive. Grindavik (an explicable stop on the Blue Lagoon trip) smells of fish. Everything else is quite wonderful.

― Tag (Tag), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:55 (twenty-three years ago)

The film "Cold fever" seems a pretty good intro to Iceland, even if some natives dismiss it as a tourist brochure flick.

― Tag (Tag), Thursday, 27 February 2003 17:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Your mission:

Take bus trips to The Blue Lagoon and Selfoss. Rock the entire Laugavegur club scene. Check the view from the top of Hallgrímskirkja. Get a hot dog from Bæjarins Betzu. Visit Hljomalind (record store) before it closes for good. Try Brennivin, but not Hákarl. Avoid whiplash incurred from looking at the women. Don't sleep. Take lots of pictures.

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 27 February 2003 18:07 (twenty-three years ago)

(Aww. It's a year to the day since I went and I'm getting a little misty.)

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 27 February 2003 18:07 (twenty-three years ago)

Also!

Bring only as much money as you're comfortable spending; replace any impulse to ask yourself 'how much is this actually?' with simply 'do I have enough?'

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 27 February 2003 18:11 (twenty-three years ago)

ICELANDIC LADIES!!!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 27 February 2003 18:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Make sure to punch Jonsi in the nuts for me.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 27 February 2003 18:21 (twenty-three years ago)

you do like punching ppl whose music you hate no?

you are one tough bitch chris.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 27 February 2003 18:26 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah. but i don't really hate their music, i just don't like his whiney voice. So I suppose punching him in the nuts would make it whinier? Forget it then.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 27 February 2003 18:28 (twenty-three years ago)

glad to know i've made you see where you were going wrong.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 27 February 2003 18:34 (twenty-three years ago)

oh man i'm so jealous.

― di smith (lucylurex), Thursday, 27 February 2003 22:56 (twenty-three years ago)

iceladic boys! like that singer from sigur ros. hellooooo nurse.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 28 February 2003 02:50 (twenty-three years ago)

the pizza in reyk sucks but there's a KFC there also that's ok

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 28 February 2003 02:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Goddamn man, go! go! go!

Google on "Icelandic blogs" and dig through what comes up. Sounds pretty idyllic to me...

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Friday, 28 February 2003 02:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Avoid the "Golden Circle tour" at all costs--instead, take a BSI bus to Thingvellir and wander around for a few hours. And if you're going to get yourself a sweater, go to the hand-knitters' association store instead of one of the tourist shops--you'll get a better piece of clothing for less.

― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 28 February 2003 03:11 (twenty-three years ago)

go to glasgow instead?

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 28 February 2003 03:20 (twenty-three years ago)

they eat whale in reykjavik. it's supposed to dissolve hangovers and it tastes just like cow meat. it's cheaper there than in japan.

― Clare (not entirely unhappy), Friday, 28 February 2003 03:40 (twenty-three years ago)

apparently there is a penis museum in reykjavik.

― rener (rener), Friday, 28 February 2003 10:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Totally agree on the handknitters' association as sweater source.

Totally mundane conversation I had in Reykjavik at hot dog stand:

Me: Einer med allem.
Icelandic hotdog stand worker: nlürth flörch thryngfüllier björkbjörkbjörk?
Me: Takk.
IHSW: Takk.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Friday, 28 February 2003 10:25 (twenty-three years ago)

All you give to me is takk takk.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 28 February 2003 13:32 (twenty-three years ago)

I've been to the penis museum! I even have pictures!

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 28 February 2003 13:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Can I ask what is actually IN a penis museum? Not real penises, I assume...

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 28 February 2003 13:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes, real ones.

― Tag (Tag), Friday, 28 February 2003 14:07 (twenty-three years ago)

Of many animals. I'm not sure they have a human one yet though.

― Tag (Tag), Friday, 28 February 2003 14:12 (twenty-three years ago)

So, do they have entire stores devoted to bjork merchandise there?

I would want to visit just b/c of the beautiful scenary in that Bjork video.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Friday, 28 February 2003 14:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Avoid the "Golden Circle tour" at all costs--instead, take a BSI bus to Thingvellir and wander around for a few hours.

what is the Golden Circle tour?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 28 February 2003 20:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Golden Circle tour = Gullfoss, Geysir, Thingvellir--but all for about seven minutes apiece, as opposed to the hours you end up spending in food courts and malls. Ick. Thingvellir is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE I HAVE EVER SEEN and worth spending a few hours at on its own.

― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 28 February 2003 20:02 (twenty-three years ago)

so, Thingvellir is near Reykjavik then?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 28 February 2003 20:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Go horse riding. Honestly, even if you've never been (I certainly never had). Icelandic horses have an extra form of movement which is quick but you stay on. And they're eminently lovable. And you can see beautiful places you can't see from the road.

The Westmann Islands are worth a visit, you can climb volcanoes and the view is something else. But it's a flight away from Reykjavik.

And if you don't take a dip in the Blue Lagoon while you're there, you are criminally insane.

― Tag (Tag), Friday, 28 February 2003 22:11 (twenty-three years ago)

where is this Blue Lagoon people keep talking about?

my research suggests that outside the summer there is no bus to Thingvellir, so it's golden circle or nothing if I want to see the place. sigh.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Saturday, 1 March 2003 21:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I so want to go to Iceland for my 30th in July.

― Nathan Webb (Nathan Webb), Saturday, 1 March 2003 22:01 (twenty-three years ago)

This is it:

http://www.planetpoint.com/seanhennessy/ hennessy_toxicbath.jpg

It's a large pool attached to a geothermal power plant. The water comes straight out of the ground, full of minerals which are good for rheumatism and skin complaints. The first time I went it was zero degrees outside and it was like getting under a warm blanket on a winter's day. And I felt fantastic afterwards.

― Tag (Tag), Saturday, 1 March 2003 22:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Shit, that didn't work.

http://www.planetpoint.com/seanhennessy/ hennessy_toxicbath.jpg

― Tag (Tag), Saturday, 1 March 2003 22:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Fuck it.

http://www.planetpoint.com/seanhennessy/hennessy7.html

― Tag (Tag), Saturday, 1 March 2003 22:33 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

going to Reykjavik for the weekend turned out to be CLASSIC.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 20:23 (twenty-three years ago)

going on a whale watching trip without taking anti-seasickness medication = DUD

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 20:23 (twenty-three years ago)

three years pass...

In re: Reykjavik:

Anyone been to --
Astro
NASA
Kaffibarin
Gaukur A Stong

Also, does anyone on this board live in Iceland? I've always wondered.

I was in at least one of those (Kaffibarin) the weekend before last. I may have been in more, who's to tell?

Reykjavik is amazing but it almost broke me completely.

Bar Mid (or was it the Mid Bar?) was my boozer of choice, but that's just me.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 20 July 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

What's Kaffibarrin like? Also, where did you stay?

I always wanted to do this. No money this summer, unfortunately.

― i'll mitya halfway (mitya), Thursday, 20 July 2006 15:17 (nineteen years ago)

I stayed in a very standard little guesthouse on the harbour side of town. The place is so small that anywhere vaguely central will be fine and walkable I think. A couple in our party had managed to snare a lovely 1 bedroom apartment for a sliver more per person than I was paying for an OK-but-really-not-so-special guesthouse. Apartments seem to be where the value is to be had, especially if there's more than one of you.

Kaffibarin: 2 rooms downstairs, one up, none especially big (big boozers don't seem to be the local speciality, despite the fact that the locals are big boozers). Get there early evening: kind of quiet, Hoxtony pubbish (slightly scruffy, unmatching furniture, not uncomfortable, vaguely trendy-feeling but not oppressively so, you get the idea). Past midnight the downstairs turns into boshy dancey fun, and a queue seems to develop outside. Upstairs seems to remain reasonably relaxed and chatty throughout. People said it was smoky, but that might have just been because they were sitting near me.

I ate a whale kebab from the Sea Baron and it was aces.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 20 July 2006 15:30 (nineteen years ago)

When I say it broke me, I mean physically rather than financially. Though it wasn't cheap, their currency isn't as strong as it was, so the weekend was less excruciating than it is reputed to be, cost wise.

I ate baby horse and it was yummy.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 20 July 2006 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

You scored a foal?

― laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Thursday, 20 July 2006 15:41 (nineteen years ago)

It was on the menu as "foile". I didn't know what that was, but it was the only thing on there which I didn't feel I could easily get at home. So I ordered it, scoffed it, liked it and then asked what it was.

"It was foile"
"Yes, but I'm sorry, I don't understand the word"
"Ah, foile is... a young... horse."

Num.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 20 July 2006 15:48 (nineteen years ago)

I'm hoping that Icelandic Air will run another $99 fare special over the winter again.

― Fsck Washing Ong's Hat (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 20 July 2006 17:17 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

http://static.flickr.com/92/242228466_79580799ee.jpg?v=0
Can't wait to go back.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 07:50 (nineteen years ago)

Lego space shuttle?

― S- (sgh), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 11:47 (nineteen years ago)

I had a horrid time in Iceland years back.

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 13:33 (nineteen years ago)

how so?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

bjorkitude

― the dow nut industrial average dead joe mama besser (donut), Wednesday, 13 September 2006 18:20 (nineteen years ago)

five years pass...

going on thursday. pro tips?

― art dealin' thru the west coast (tpp), Tuesday, 27 March 2012 09:50 (fourteen years ago)

two years pass...

pretty sure this weekend is gonna be classic

― anky, Tuesday, 9 December 2014 06:39 (eleven years ago)

a weekend in Reykjavik is really all u need. it's the rest of iceland that u need a month for

― Bringing the mosh (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Tuesday, 9 December 2014 15:05 (eleven years ago)

There's a John Grant's Guide to Iceland feature on the Guardian website that contains some good tips.

Doing the "Golden Circle" tour seems reasonable if there for a weekend.

― djh, Tuesday, 9 December 2014 17:14 (eleven years ago)

Blue Lagoon obvs. Also the hot dog stand.

― the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Tuesday, 9 December 2014 17:24 (eleven years ago)

hot dog good but not earth shattering imo. sandwich shop hlolla batar served delicious "lamb boat" sandwich

― adam, Tuesday, 9 December 2014 17:26 (eleven years ago)

The hot dog stand is like going to Katz's

I think the BL is a waste of time (bc there is so much NATURAL stuff to see) but I am not a sit around in mud bath kind of person

― Bringing the mosh (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Tuesday, 9 December 2014 19:26 (eleven years ago)

eight years pass...

a weekend in Reykjavik is really all u need. it's the rest of iceland that u need a month for

i'm going to Iceland later this year and trying to figure out how long to stay and what to do. curious if anyone has any input? this comment caught my eye, though it's eight years old.

― alpine static, Monday, 16 January 2023 10:03 (three years ago)

I did a long weekend in Reykjavik just before the 1st lockdown and that's right. It has its array of museums, coffee shops and my favourite thing was those swimming pools/baths in the city. I would go back just for another weekend of those with coffee and buns after.

But yes going back would be more about the rest of the country itself.

― xyzzzz__, Monday, 16 January 2023 10:21 (three years ago)

That’s true in my experience. I did a 2-day layover and it was sufficient to see the city, visit museums and shops, etc even with the crepuscular november half-days. It’s pretty small and fairly expensive, so it may be worth keeping your stay short and economical.

― ed.b, Monday, 16 January 2023 11:09 (three years ago)

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