Iceland in Pictures

This is Tjörnin (E. The Pond), the pond in downtown Reykjavík. It freezes pretty quickly each year since it is shallow. The building you see in the middle is ráðhúsið, the city hall, half built out into the pond. One of my earliest memories is falling through the ice on the pond with my grandparents and having been attacked by a swan there. Tjörnin is a very popular place to take little kids and feed the ducks and swans. They actually hang out here all winter, as one corner of the lake is heated up with hot water. This is how Tjörnin looked in 1860. Back then there was a stream that connected the pond out into the ocean. This stream is now just a pipe hidden under Lækjargata (E. Stream Street), but there are discussions on whether we should open it up again.

In the winter, snow is cleared from an area of the pond for ice skating. The students from nearby Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík and Kvennaskólinn high schools also use the pond to play soccer on in winter. I used to think it was the most fun when the ice was thin. This added an extra element to the game. If you fell, chances were you’d break the ice. If more than two players battle for the ball, chances are the ice will break in that area.

(Source: chlofun)

I’ve written before about the ducks on the pond in Reykjavík. Feeding the ducks some bread is a favorite of most Reykjavík children. There has however been a growing problem with seagulls taking over the pond. They tend to swoop by and grab the bread from people’s hands. This sign explains how to get your duckaid to the intended recipients.

(Source: everythinginthesky)

The reason we breed young children in Reykjavík is mostly so that they can go down to the pond, Tjörnin, to feed the ducks, geese and swans.

(Source: blog.krisatomic.com, via fuckyeahiceland)

That is the Reykjavík I know. Check out those big waves on the little pond in downtown Reykjavík and the ducks blown around in the water.

You know this one time there was a group of sailors that had rowed out into Faxaflói from Reykjavík. The wind was absolutely crazy and suddenly they saw this huge thing fly above them. Turns out it was the horse rock (a rock to which you tie your horses) from Akranes. The wind had picked it up and was blowing it across the fjord. Not only that, but there were 6 freaked out horses still tied to it.

Based on a true story… This tale can be found in the exaggeration chapter of the Icelandic Folklore book.

Photo by Sverrir Þór.

(via chlofun)

Coolest Reykjavík picture I’ve seen in a while!

(Source: itookhercastle)

Reykjavík in ca. 1860. Some of the buildings are still there. The two similar white buildings are still there, the one on the far left is Stjórnarráðið, the office of the prime minister and the one on the right is Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, Iceland’s oldest school and my former high school. The church in the middle is Dómkirkjan and it still exists as well. Just in front of it is now Alþingi, the Parliament building, built in 1881.  I think the black house in the front with the smoke coming from the chimney is Aðalstræti 10, the oldest standing house in Reykjavík from 1762.

(Source: nosseka)

I know it’s kind of ridiculous but since we have loads of excess hot water in Reykjavík, Tjörnin (The Pond) downtown is partially heated during the winter. This is done so the ducks and swans stay there lazily all winter eating bread from young children instead of flying south.

Photo by Álfheiður Erla.

(Source: Flickr / alfheidurerla, via ohiceland)

Tjörnin (E. The Pond) in Reykjavík with the Fríkirkjan Church and the big Hallgrímskirkja church at the top of the hill.

allthingseurope:

Reykjavik, Iceland

by apriliscancelled