Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.09.2014, Page 36

36 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 14 — 2014TRAVEL
Apparently the fascinating strangeness
I found in this foreign country surprised
even Icelandic natives. Like most peo-
ple, they called me crazy for doing what
I’ve done, but I don’t blame them.
In order to find yourself, you
must first lose yourself
Forty-eight hours preceding my trip I
purchase a one-way ticket and pack
my life into boxes. Equipped with a
17kg backpack, a handful of money and
a mind for adventure, I set off.
On the Keflavík bound plane, I plug
into the Icelandic in-flight radio. Intrigued
by my first tastes of the foreign culture,
I am told the President’s phone number
is listed in the phonebook and more than
half the nation believes in elves.
Beyond the narrow windowpane
layers of sapphire, emerald and topaz
burst through darkness, while a scarlet
sea merges with mountains of shadowed
clouds. A sense of beauty I’ve never felt
before comes on like a revolution.
A whole new town with
a whole new way

The streets of Reykjavík are sleeping as
I venture through the downtown core.
Finding a cafe I sit armed with a book of
tourist attractions. I should know bet-
ter than to expect my excursion to be
found in a travel guidebook.
After a grassy afternoon behind city
hall and a long night of duty free gin,
the glowing pink sky reads early morn-
ing. But it’s only twelve o’clock. Mes-
merised, I stand in awe of the midnight
sun and city of asymmetrical buildings.
The next morning I’m determined to
see Icelandic landscapes. Considering
How to get there?
Take road number 1 east, until you get there.
Skaftafell1
Words Jess Spoto
Photos Magnús Andersen
Fists clenched, a middle aged bald man sits torn between
frustration and amusement. “But Iceland is so ordinary.
Nothing exciting happens here,” he says before walking off
into the un-setting sun. It’s 6:30 am and I’m on a busy street
corner with a crowd of friendly strangers. Sitting in a circle
of borrowed patio chairs, we finish our post-bar sandwich-
es and exchange tales.
Thieving Santas
And Priest-Driven
Volcanoes
EXPLORING ICELAND,
THE FAROE ISLANDS OR GREENLAND
IT´S EASY WITH AIR ICELAND
ÞÓRSHÖFN
VOPNAFJÖRÐUR
TÓRSHAVN
ILULISSAT
ITTOQQORTOORMIIT
NUUK
KULUSUK
NARSARSUAQ
GRÍMSEY
ÍSAFJÖRÐUR
AKUREYRI
EGILSSTAÐIR
REYKJAVÍK
GREENLAND
ICELAND
FAROE ISLANDS