Nothing like some sleep to make us all feel better. After 12 hours of rest, we all woke up really refreshed and ready to explore this amazing place. Even the rain outside didn't stop us from having a great breakfast and do our weekend morning family dance together before we headed out.
Adidas Day!
This was a tradition in my family: my parents used to dress us up in Adidas suits for our family trips. I am not quite sure why, but I guess they were easy to wear, comfortable and they don't get as dirty. So, as a joke, or as nostalgia, Mike and I always bring Adidas outfits on our trips. And the girls help us to keep the tradition alive. (PS. Adidas doesn't pay us for this)
10 bucks for those who can pronounce this correctly.
(for non-Icelanders only!)
One of the beautiful buildings at the tourist area, close to the harbour.
"Flea markets are the same everywhere," said Mike as soon as we walked into the Kolaportid Market, at Tryggvagata 19. And he was right... but still we spent a good couple of hours looking at vintage clothing, used books, dvd's, antiques, as well as toys and woolen goods.
The market is opened every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm in this old industrial building.
It was a great option for a rainy day like today.
http://www.kolaportid.is/Index.aspx?lang=en
Look who Julia found here. The one and only Elsa. And her day was complete.
Basically across the street from the flea market is the Hafnarhus, one of the three buildings of the Listasafn Reykjavíkur. The Reykjavik Art Museum is the largest visual art institution in Iceland. We scored big time going in!
Part of this museum was closed while setting up a new installation but we were super happy about what we got to see. The building itself is already an art statement.
Coffee and Icelandic news. A perfect combination for Sunday morning.
Enjoying some story telling on a funky chair made of tape.
This was my favourite installation. It is called God, by Ragnar Kjartansson. Basically is a room that reminds us of a theatre set up, with a video being projected on a wall of an orchestra ready to play. The main singer repeats in a very soft voice: "sorrow conquers happiness," over and over again. You keep waiting for the others instruments to kick in, but nothing happens.
You can see part of the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em7z-mEv3Rw
This installation plays with our minds, mixing solid boxes and projected images of boxes. Fun.
A tent dress.
On the main floor of the museum there is a little library where Julia and daddy played chess.
One of the streets of the old city, close to the harbour.
Street art.
The introverted and the extroverted. Just like my girls.
This is what most of the residential streets look like, outside of the tourist areas.
Before the day was done we decided to do a very Icelandic thing: to swim in one of the thermal pool publicly available in the city for $2 a person. We chose one closest to us on Barónsstígur. Sundhollin is the oldest swimming pool in the capital.
http://www.trip-to-iceland.com/what-to-do-and-see/reykjavik-area/sundhollin-oldest-swimming-pool-reykjavik/
My little fish swimming all by herself!
UNDERWATER SELFIES:
Back outside... The sidewalks here are headed with geothermal energy. No need to shovel the snow or use salt to melt the ice in the winter.
This is a cable free city. All the electrical wires are underground. More beautiful visually.
After all that walking and swimming we needed some hot chocolate and food for energy. We searched online for Reykjavik's best hot chocolate and found Tiu Dropar, this quiet and charming bistro.
We had a fantastic sandwich, a delicious French meat soup, sweet waffles and probably one of Iceland's best hot chocolate.
From TripAdvisor: "One of the oldest cafes in Reykjavik, hidden away in a basement locale on Laugavegur 27. 'Grandma-style' interior and traditional-style cakes and other delicacies. // Each night after 6pm Tiu Dropar turns into Le Chateau des Dix Gouttes serving wine, cheese and other gourmet."
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