Reykjavík

This is the largest church in Reykjavík.  Made out of concrete and standing tall at the top of the main street's hill, it's lovelier than I was expecting.  Note that it's 9pm, not 9am!

Coolest map of Iceland located in the town hall in Reykjavík.  It's a 3-D model made out of blocks and is to-scale.  It took 17 "man years," meaning 4 solid years with many people working on it.  It was too big to take just one photo, so I've posted the Westfjörds.  Tilt your head to the left.  

 

This is the lower part of the outside of the town hall, a largely concrete and glass, modern-looking building with a nice touch of organic.

It's Iceland, look!

An archaeological excavation is taking place in downtown Reykjavík, not far from the parliament building.  They're uncovering ancient viking settlers.  Just think what's below our very own feet!

Icelandic parliament, called the Alpingi (Althing), originally founded in 930 AD in Pingveiller (Thingvetler, see Golden Circle post) and is the oldest parliamentary institution still in existence in the world!   For such a humble building, its legacy is quite impressive.  

Chocolate volcanoes, one for each of the famous, troublesome darlings.  Only in Iceland.