Has Anyone Been To Reykjavik?

First topic message reminder :

Rowley wrote:The very fact that you know the name of it should ensure you are below me for ever more.

I agree.

1) Fists
2) michaels
3) Womble
4) me
5) superfly
6) Jeff
7) Wingrove

@Scottrf

I went with my wife and in-laws last May for about 4-5 days, so happy to give a few pointers and ideas. First off, though, since you're going in December you're going to have very short days (and much shorter than what we had) so that's worth keeping in mind with visiting the sights, etc. Oh, and it'll be cold, and probably snow (heck it snowed when we went).

If you drive (or someone you're going with does) you should hire a car. Iceland's sights are not really possible to get to by public transport, so if you don't have a car you are relying on the pre-organised tours. This is what we had to do as none of us drive. It's perfectly fine, but having your own car makes you much freer, and allows you to get off the beaten track a little.

Another general piece of advice is to expect it to be expensive! You probably already know this if you've booked accommodation (a basic one-room self-catering apartment was nearly £100 per night), but food and drink (especially beer) is very expensive also. It's not completely prohibitive, but should be kept in mind if on a bit of a budget.

Reykjavik itself is a nice city, small enough and easy to get around. There are two places I would particularly recommend looking at. The first is the cathedral Hallgrímskirkja, designed to replicate (to a degree) some of Iceland's landscapes. The second is the concert hall Harpa, which I think is very beautiful. Other than that, it's worth taking a day or so to just stroll around the streets, along the sea front (see the famous sculpture 'The Sun Voyager), etc.

Obviously the main attraction of Iceland is the landscapes, and these are stunning. You actually get a first feel for them on the drive from the airport. Too many things to mention, but the two tours we did were:
https://grayline.is/tours/reykjavik/golden-circle-classic-tour-8706_9/
https://grayline.is/tours/reykjavik/south-coast-and-waterfalls-8706_146/
and every sight was well worth it. I particularly enjoyed the National Park, the black beach, and the glacier. The waterfalls were beautiful too. We also did the Blue Lagoon, which was fun.

Like I said, at the time of year you're going you'll be able to (hopefully) see the Northern Lights too. Of course, it depends on what exactly you like doing, and (as I said) if you have a car or not, but I would split my time at least 2/3 sights visiting and at most 1/3 in Reykjavik itself. Keep in mind once again that you'll have long evenings once the sun sets, and some of the Reykjavik visiting can be done then.

If you have some more specific questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks. Booked an apartment (https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/171911) so would have somewhere to cook if need be and planning to hire a car.

Golden Circle I was planning on doing, and the south coast one looks interesting! You did via the tour rather than solo?

I think you're right, try to do something each afternoon, and spend mornings/evenings in the city.

I'm aware of the prices, I think I'm used to it after New York and Tel Aviv this year...but that was part of the reason to try and cook at least a couple of times.

Any restaurants you went to or decent bars in the city?

Yeah we did the tours. As we didn't have a car we didn't really have the choice. Since you're hiring a car you could do things solo, which would allow for more choice.

The apartment you booked is not far from where we stayed actually, we were at the corner of Amtmannstigur and Pingholtsstraeti. A good spot IMO, nice and central.

I'm afraid I can't remember the names of the restaurants/bars we went to. I do remember one nice restaurant whose prices were reasonable enough, and if ever I remember the name (or, more likely, my wife does), I'll pass it on. It wasn't far from where we stayed, so will be close to your apartment also.

No.

Thanks for resurrecting this excellent thread. I miss you more with each passing year.

Hmm, feels like he's been hacked.

Yeah, the dead can't post!

Nope, no hacks. And still not dead.

Just wanted to make sure Glated/Galted/Gayted was up to date on whether I had been to Reykjavik. I think you'll find it was a comprehensive update. You're welcome.

How are we all? Who is still around from the old crew? Is my old pal Rowley dead or alive? Seany? What about Dave the killer? Banged up I expect for chopping the legs off a midget.

That's a relief.

Rowley has become a Twitter celebrity and no longer contributes here as we are all beneath him. He is worth a follow.

Sean makes the odd appearance, including one round about the time you rose from the dead last week.

Dave has disappeared, possibly banged up or changed identity.

How are things with you and your own lesser local celebrities?

I refer you to the Morning Tea Society thread for all the latest culture.

JuliusHMarx wrote:I refer you to the Morning Tea Society thread for all the latest culture.

To clarify, your old culture cup threads are still going strong.  They've been renamed, as mentioned by Julius, as a nod to Trussman.

Wotcha Tino my brother from another county mother, Galts has summarized well

Galted wrote:That's a relief.

Rowley has become a Twitter celebrity and no longer contributes here as we are all beneath him.  He is worth a follow.

Sean makes the odd appearance, including one round about the time you rose from the dead last week.

Dave has disappeared, possibly banged up or changed identity.

How are things with you and your own lesser local celebrities?

I do hope you're not suggesting I am Sean? I am a pervert and an (occasional) drunk but I am nowhere near Sean's class of tramp.

I'm not on Muppet so I'll have to just remember Rowley as the miserable, thrifty yet unusually interesting Yorkshireman that he was.

I didn't think it was possible but the Morning Tea Society thread sounds even gayer than the Culture Cup.

What about Cane? Is he still around? And more importantly, is Wingrove still alive? I teach the kids about stranger danger all the time. We call it the Wingrove effect.

I see my old Cheshire chum Dagless is still here. And Superfly. Those two are (literally) the only lawyers I have ever had any contact with that I didn't want to get all DAVE667 on.

And Julius. Dear old Julius is still here. I was worried about you with basically every 70 plus human on the verge of death at the moment.

rick_dagless wrote:Wotcha Tino my brother from another county mother, Galts has summarized well

Sup, Rick.

Have you been to the motherland recently?

Wen on a pilgrimage to pay my annual respects to the Flotel, as is tradition.

You?

rick_dagless wrote:Wen on a pilgrimage to pay my annual respects to the Flotel, as is tradition.

You?

Been up there a few times. Runcorn is still a sh*thole. Not sure why I keep expecting it to change.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

Galted wrote:That's a relief.

Rowley has become a Twitter celebrity and no longer contributes here as we are all beneath him.  He is worth a follow.

Sean makes the odd appearance, including one round about the time you rose from the dead last week.

Dave has disappeared, possibly banged up or changed identity.

How are things with you and your own lesser local celebrities?

I do hope you're not suggesting I am Sean? I am a pervert and an (occasional) drunk but I am nowhere near Sean's class of tramp.

I'm not on Muppet so I'll have to just remember Rowley as the miserable, thrifty yet unusually interesting Yorkshireman that he was.

I didn't think it was possible but the Morning Tea Society thread sounds even gayer than the Culture Cup.

What about Cane? Is he still around? And more importantly, is Wingrove still alive? I teach the kids about stranger danger all the time. We call it the Wingrove effect.

I see my old Cheshire chum Dagless is still here. And Superfly. Those two are (literally) the only lawyers I have ever had any contact with that I didn't want to get all DAVE667 on.

And Julius. Dear old Julius is still here. I was worried about you with basically every 70 plus human on the verge of death at the moment.

Not suggesting you're sean, but it was a joyous week for the Culture Cup with the cameo appearances.

Cane is long gone, Wingrove is probably still alive.

Flipper has become the new you with regards to quizzes. They take even longer than yours with less work going into them.

I was thinking of Union just the other day. Clearly autistic, but very funny with it at times. The Reverse Lineal Heavyweight Champ thread was the work of a troubled genius.

Speaking of funny dudes, not seen spring for a while.

superflyweight wrote:I was thinking of Union just the other day.  Clearly autistic, but very funny with it at times.  The Reverse Lineal Heavyweight Champ thread was the work of a troubled genius.  

Yeah, that was utter genius. He was the Alan Turing of 606v2.

I think he probably got goaded one too many times at his local pub quiz and glassed the barmaid in the face.

rick_dagless wrote:Speaking of funny dudes, not seen spring for a while.

Those were gentler times, when WUM's could be genuinely funny and eccentric. Not like the c*nts that are on here nowadays.

I guess that's why the word WUM has fazed out, to be replaced with the more apt "Troll"

It is my big deram to go to Island! I have never been here, and now I am waiting when quaruntine stops.

On my brief visit I managed to break the British tourist stereotype.  When it turned out that the coach driver didn't understand English, isntead of repeating my question more loudly and slowly, I repeated it at the same pace and volume.  C*nt still didn't understand though.

Still no.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Still no.

Have you been to Runcorn, Flipper? There is a wonderful thread just under this one that has been cruelly overlooked.