After last night's aurora fun, I did manage to get a few winks of shut-eye. Not enough in my opinion, but enough to power me through having to go a day without a nap.
I got a rental car, and it was not fun learning how to drive this car and navigate in darkness and in rainy weather. Seriously, it didn't lighten up till around 9 ish. I got to my hostel a little before 11 am which, according to an e-mail I got was check-in time. Spoilers, it wasn't. I couldn't check in till 2 pm. So I did what any reasonable person would do....I dropped off my bag and drove around Reykjavik a bit. I ended up going to Hallgrimskirkja, a white concrete church built from the 1940s-1980s that has a tower that's 75.4 m high! But you know, maybe instead of me yammering on about it, here's a picture!
And another one!
And finally, the last thing I saw...
...before I entered the building.
So, surprisingly inside isn't that much to look at. And, as odd as this may sound, it kind of feels like the point. Sometimes when I go to churches, I get swept up in the look of it, that it becomes more about, "Wow, that's beautiful! Pretty stain glass!" Or whatever. In those instances I feel the beauty is supposed to remind you of God's beauty but double spoiler I'm not religious so it's usually just an appreciation of the workmanship.
But here I felt....well I definitely felt like more of an outsider than I do in some churches.
Calm down I didn't burst into flames.
I mean that-I still struggle with taking pictures in public spaces. I worry too much about what others think. In this particular instance I felt a bit sacrilegious taking photos inside the space. I didn't have flash on and I certainly wasn't the only one, but the way this church was built, it really takes away the fog and incense and makes you think about your beliefs.
Unique experience 10/10, would recommend.
So, inside, asides from all the feelings and whatnot, there was also this 5,275 pipe organ that was being played as I entered, by an organist.
It was a little surreal.
And here's the front of the church.
And since I didn't have too much of an excuse to sit around in a pew all day, I respectfully made my way out of there and went up the tower.
MAN.
I was so glad I had just entered a church because the elevator up could only hold 6 people, and it was protesting and groaning the entire way. I should have snapped a pic, but my fear of dying kind of kicked in and I wanted to move as little as possible.
Once I made it to the top, I was inside the the clock, and by the bells.
That clock face, WAYY up there. I have some inside shots but they're probably going into my gallery. Then from the clock, I climbed another flight of stairs and into the room behind the dark windows above the clock.
Except those aren't protected from the wind, or rain, or cold. It was a little bitter up there.
They had some fun facts like the religious population, the guy who designed it, the inspiration behind it, and how they had initially made plans to turn the bell-tower into a radio tower to broadcast 50 Hymns of Praise.
If those plans ever came to fruition, it certainly isn't a radio tower now.
When I was done there, I went to the National Gallery of Iceland.
It's like any other art museum except it dealt exclusively with Icelandic artists, or artists who influenced art because of their visit to Iceland.
That's the building!
It had some interesting pieces, but it might be better appreciated by art students.
They did have this exhibit though.
It's a multi-media art piece called "Le mer" and it took up this entire room! It's a projection of several pieces, displayed 6 at a time, like shown, and it cycles through several images.
Frankly, I didn't get it, but it made me stop, didn't it?
After that, I decided to chill at the hostel til I could check in. Got checked in, and I almost took a nap.
Guys, I was so tired.
But 3 ish rolled around and I got myself up, got another girl staying at the hostel, and we wandered around Reykjavik for a bit. Saw Harpa, saw some historical buildings, had dinner, and made our way back to the hostel. I had been tempted to go out after chilling for a bit, but I decided (/my body decided for me) to get in a small nap. Which meant that maybe I could save the nightlife for another night.
When I realized I had dozed off, that's when I started typing this out.
So, this is Jessica. A Canadian who's staying at the same hostel as me.
She's got an INSANE travel itinerary planned that goes way beyond Iceland.
Building
Crazy cool sky as we meandered around
A building I thought was cool and could totally see in an apocalypse movie
Some mountains past the bay
And last but not least, Harpa! Their music hall by the shore.
I know it wrapped up quickly but I'm tired, and I'm going to bed.
Trying to hit up the Golden Circle tomorrow!!
Sleep well all! I know I will.