Reykjavík Grapevine - 09.09.2011, Blaðsíða 43

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The OldHarbour
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FÁLKAGATA
STURLUAGATA
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LYNGHAGI
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BSÍ
Coach
Terminal
Nordic House
Culture Center
University
of Iceland
National
museum
National
library
Austur-
völlur
Icelandic
Parliament
Reykjavík
Domestic
Airport
Hlemmur
Bus Terminal
Sundhöllin
Swimming
Pool
Laugardals
Swimming
Pool
Sigurjón
Art
Museum
Viðey
ferry
Cruise
harbour
Zoo and
family park
Camping
site
Kringlan
Shopping
Mall
Laugardalshöll
Sports hall
The
Tower
City
Hall
The Einar
Jónsson
Museum
Hallgríms
kirkja
Church
National
Theatre
Culture
House
Central
Bank
Main
Tourist
Info
Reykjavík
Art
Museum
Maritime
Museum
Old
Harbour
Area
Harpa
Concert
Hall
Tjörnin
Klambratún
Park
Öskjuhlíð
Laugardalur
Nauthólsvík
Perlan
University of Reykjavík
Kjarvalsstaðir
National
Museum
Hótel Loftleiðir
Hljómskáli
Park
Vesturbæjar
Swimming
Pool
National
Gallery
of Iceland
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
6 7 8 9 10
3
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Haukur Már Helgason
Hi and thanks for the offer.
This escaped me completely the first
time.
The only problem is, my days are
really uninteresting. Less interesting
than anyone would imagine and than
anyone would benefit from reading
about. I hardly even eat, let alone
attend concerts. On the rare occasion
that I leave the periphery of my house
and workspace at all I tend to go to the
same café, every single time, not even a
really good one, just because they allow
smoking there. So … you know. At
first glance it doesn't seem very smart
marketing to brag about this.
I'm finishing a film, yes. The
details of post-production … yesterday
we realised the whole soundtrack
was two frames off sync, and had to
reposition and export the film once
more, just when we thought we were
all done. Or as all done as it gets. This
should interest most people even
less than the choice of typefaces
for the film's credit list, or the route
through which we process subtitles,
which involves an outrageous number
of stand-alone applications, each
contributing its tiny bit to the final
outcome.
I did buy a ten-trip card to the
swimming pools this summer. And went
twice. I would love to claim this as a
habit, but that would be stretching it
… in both cases, though, I went early
in the morning, eight-ish, which is
definitely swimming pool prime time.
But telling tales about the boyish games
that half-naked senior gentlemen play
in the locker room wouldn't be very
gentlemanly at all.
Last weekend, though, my
girlfriend and I went on a trip, aiming
for one of those natural hot tubs, or
domesticated hot springs, the natural
hot spots that people bathe in, and
are featured in every tourist guide
ever published. I'd never been to one
before, so this was definitely occasion
for some excitement. After three or
four hours driving we did find the place
we had been told about, and it looked
most awesome: if there's anything that
beats nature, it's gentrified nature. The
water is kept in place by stonewalls
erected long enough ago to be moss-
grown and covered in flora that looks
tropical in comparison with the barren
surroundings. The heat of our hot
springs, however, seems somewhat
exaggerated. As does their liquidity:
the little water there in this particular
container was neither warm, nor was
it in motion, but static, chilly and, as
we realised once we decided that we
had stayed in there long enough to say
we did our best and stepped out, quite
muddy. And we forgot to bring towels.
Of course this, however, is no
fault of the country or its tourist guides,
but rather bears witness to my lack of
insight and know-how when it comes
to living around here. Or anywhere else
for that matter. Which is precisely why
it seems both wise and polite to kindly
refuse your offer.
Still, thanks a lot.
HMH
Ask for a Tax free form and
save up to 15%
Handprjónasambandið
The Hand-knitting Association of Iceland’s
official store, Handprjónasambandið, sells
wool products of uncompromising quality.
The store features pullover sweaters,
cardigans and other woollen accessories.
Skólavörðustígur 19
10 Sruli Recht –The Armoury
For the fashionably adventurous, The
Armoury is a sort of showroom/store for the
designs of Sruli Recht and Megan Herbert,
which are on display and for sale. This
is the place to find useful products with
personality, like brass knuckle umbrellas,
whale penis wallets, whale penis shoes,
typefaces, and scarves.
Hólmaslóð 4
12
Public phones
There aren’t many public payphones in the
city centre. The tourist information centre
at Aðalstræti 2, City Hall, Kolaportið, en-
trance at Landsbankinn and in Lækjargata.
Prepaid international phone cards are
recommended for int’l callers.
Internet Access
Most cafés offer free wireless internet ac-
cess. Computers with internet connections
are available to use at:
Ráðhúskaffi City Hall, Tjarnargata 11
Ground Zero, Frakkastígur 8, near
Laugavegur 45
The Reykjavík City Library, Tryggvagata 15
The National and University Library, Arn-
grímsgata 3
Tourist Information Centre, Aðalstræti 2
Icelandic Travel Market, Bankastræti 2
Reykjavík Backpackers, Laugavegur 28
Swimming Pools
There are several swimming pools in Reyk-
javík. The one in 101 Reykjavík, Sundhöll
Reykjavíkur, is an indoor one, located at
Barónsstígur. That pool features a nice
sunbathing area and some outdoor hot
tubs. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday
from 06:30–22:00, Friday from 06:30–20:00,
Saturday from 08:00–16:00, and Sunday
from 10:00–18:00.
Public Toilets
Public toilets in the centre can be found
inside the green poster covered towers
located, for example, at Hlemmur, Ingólfs-
tortorg, by Hallgrímskirkja, by Reykjavík Art
Museum, Lækjargata and by Eymundsson
on Skólavörðustígur. Toilets can also be
found inside the Reykjavík City Hall and the
Reykjavík Library.
St. Paul's, Tryggvagata 16
Their slogan says, “since 1971” but this gourmet
sandwich and soup bar is newly opened in
downtown Reykjavík! And guess what! They serve
bagels! Yes! Bagels! Not frozen bagels from Bó-
nus! But freshly baked bagels! This may not sound
like very exciting news to those of you privileged
to live in a neighbourhood with a bagel shop
around every other corner, but for those of us in
Iceland where the bagel shop is non-existent,
this is some very exciting news. Yes! Exciting! In
addition to bagels, they also have a nice selection
of sandwiches, wraps and soup, and everything
is moderately priced too. So if you’re looking for a
quick take away bite to eat (seating is limited), you
might want to check out St. Paul’s, which is open
for business weekdays from 10:00 to 16:00.
NEW IN TOWN
For a map of outside downtown Reykjavík
visit www.grapevine.is or the Icelandic
phonebook website www.ja.is
#
EATING
#
DRINKING
#
SHOPPING
LEGEND
LAUGAVEGUR 56
101 REYKJAVÍK
WWW.NIKITACLOTHING.COM
13
Blue Lagoon Store
Geothermal seawater spa The Blue Lagoon
is a world famous healing spot as the water
is rich with silica and sulphur that are
extremely good for the skin. The natural skin
care products produced from the healing
minerals are sold at the downtown Blue
Lagoon shop.
Laugavegur 15
11