Reykjavík Grapevine - 18.05.2012, Qupperneq 47

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The OldHarbour
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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
9
7
Now offering
catering service!
Laugavegur 2 101 Reykjavík tel: 552 4444
ÁTVR (Liquor store)
In Iceland, alcohol isn’t sold in the grocery
shops (that stuff in the shops that looks
like beer—it isn’t beer. Trust us). You can
buy alcohol in the state-owned liquor
stores named ÁTVR, usually referred to as
Ríkið (“The State”). One store is located
in the city centre. Opening hours for the
downtown one are: Mon.–Thu. 11:00–18:00,
Fri. 11:00–19:00, Sat. 11:00–18:00.
Austurstræti 10a
11 Kolaportið
Reykjavík’s massive indoor flea market is a
wonderful place to get lost for a few hours,
rummaging through stall upon stall of
potential treasures. There are heaps of used
clothing, knitwear and other yard-sale type
goods from decades of yore, and a large
food section with fish, meats and baked
goods.
Tryggvagata 19
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.
Þýski barinn (The German Bar)
Tryggvagata 22
We have a German bar in town! This is good
because the English, Danish, and Icelandic Bars
were getting lonely. Þýski barinn has snatched up
the prime space at Tryggvagata 22 where Bak-
kus used to be. If you have a hankering for that
German biergarten feeling, well this is the closest
thing you’ll find in Reykjavík. The bar boasts a
large selection of beer on tap and has a great
wheat beer brewed especially for them. If you’re a
large group of rowdy football fans, this may be the
place for you.
NEW IN TOWN
For a map of outside downtown Reykjavík
visit www.grapevine.is or the Icelandic
phonebook website www.ja.is
#
EATING
#
ADS
F
C
#
DRINKING
#
SHOPPING
LEGEND 13
Cintamani
Cintamani stocks Icelandic quality outdoor-
gear and travel equipment, guaranteed to
keep the whole family nice and warm in
any type of weather. Here you’ll find almost
everything needed for your trip across the
country and beyond and you can book an
adventure excursion on the spot.
Bankastræti 7
10
listings.grapevine.is
check out t listings.grapevine.is
What’s up, Alda?
Hi! Well, I’ve got a book coming out
very soon. It’s called The Little Book
of the Icelanders, and is all about the
quirks and foibles of the Icelandic
people and what it’s like to live in
their midst. I originally published it
independently as an eBook, but the
concrete version is being published by
Forlagið. I’m also putting the finishing
touches on an eBook of Icelandic
folk legends translated into English,
which includes a chapter on the
historical and cultural basis of those
legends and Icelandic storytelling
in general. That should be available
for Kindle and through Smashwords
sometime in the next few weeks. I’m
completely fascinated by the shifting
paradigm in publishing these days
and the opportunities opening up to
authors via indie publishing – so much
that I’ve just launched a new blog
on the subject on my website, www.
aldasigmunds.com.
I get up, have breakfast, then flip
open my laptop and check my Iceland
Weather Report Facebook page and
my Twitter account. I quickly surf
the main news sites in Iceland and
decide which fascinating tid-bits I
can put into English to share with my
non-Icelandic-speaking social media
followers that day. I then generally
plant myself on the sofa to start
working. I have a cushy job. Literally.
If I meet someone for lunch, I normally
suggest meeting for sushi. I like
Osushi in Pósthússtræti because the
conveyor belt sushi idea just never
gets old. I’m also a big fan of Jómfrúin
for lunch. Their open-face plaice
sandwich is a perennial favourite.
By this time I’ve usually been working
for a few hours so my brain is a little
fried. The best way to reboot is to get
some fresh air and/or exercise. That’s
why I’m either at the gym (followed by
a soak in a hot tub at the Seltjarnarnes
pool) or out for a walk or bike ride
around Grótta, on Seltjarnarnes.
Back at work on the sofa. Or I may
meet a friend for coffee. I love
Kaffismiðjan – makes me feel like I’m
a cool bohemian hanging out at a
café in Berlin. I also love the patio at
Kex in the summer. In fact, Kex is an
awesome place for just about every
occasion.
Heat of the Night – I don’t drink very
often and the Reykjavík nightlife
scene usually leaves me feeling
depressed, so I tend to avoid it.
Usually I just hang out at home with
my favourite guy (my husband),
engrossed in our latest TV obsession
(currently the Danish show Borgen).
Failing that, it’s a movie and dinner
(in that order) – ideally some flick
that’s showing at Bíó Paradís,
Reykjavík’s most excellent art house
cinema. Dinner would be pizza at
Saffran, if we’re going casual, or
Grillmarkaðurinn, if we want a bit
more swank.
LuNCH>
EARLY MORNING>
AFTERNOON >
MID-DAY >
HEAT OF THE NIGHT >
A Day In The Life
Alda Sigmundsdóttir
D