Saturday, January 28, 2017

Today was a day of rest. We decided to spend some time at one of the thermal pools here in Reykjavik, Laugardalslaug. The pool was a chilly mile and a half from the hotel.  Normally this would be an easy walk, but there was a strong wind. We were more than ready for the hot tubs by the time we got there.

This complex has two olympic size lap pools, one indoor and one outdoor. There is also a recreational pool, a steam bath, three water slides, eight hot tubs of different temperatures ranging from about 98 – 110 degrees, and one saline tub.

We tried several of the hot tubs, and the favorite was a jetted tub set at about 98 degrees. We tried the steam room (too hot for me) and the saline tub as well (very nice.) I was so relaxed that I wished I could crawl into bed right then and there.

Reykjavik has seven public pools, of which this is the largest. The pools are all heated with geothermal water and are part of the city’s policy of promoting a healthy lifestyle.

After leaving Laugardalslaug, we decided to visit The Icelandic Phallological Museum. We’d seen it advertised and thought it might be amusing. There are over two hundred specimens from seals, whales, walruses and mammals, including humans. Although I did learn a little, it was mostly boring. Save your money.

We then stopped for a glass of wine along Laugavegur Street at the Barber Bar. While there, we saw people marching down the street. Thousands of Icelanders joined this march to honor a young woman, Birna Brjansdottir who had been murdered here two weeks ago. She had been abducted while walking home from a bar by two Greenlandic sailors who were working on a trawler that was docked in Iceland. Murder is extremely rare in Iceland, which has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

Marchers left candles, flowers and other mementos at the site where Birna was last seen alive.

Sunday, January 29

We did a little shopping, a little napping, and a little eating.

Dinner tonight was at a new restaurant, Mat Restaurant, next door to our hotel. Mat opened on Friday, so this was their third day of business. There was a lively crowd, which bodes well for their success.

The food was creatively prepared and presented, and it was simply delicious.