Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2017, Side 54

The R
eykjavík G
rapevine
B
est of R
eykjavík 20
17
54
“You might see MPs. Or drunks puk-
ing in the trash. Or drunk MPs.”
CITY GUIDE
Dum, Duh-Dum, Duh-
Dum, PARKLIFE
Where to chill in the theoretical summer sun
Words JOHN ROGERS Photos ART BICNICK
Wanna crack open a brewski and
sit in the sun? Us too. Weather
permitting, here are a few green
and leafy places to do just that.
Austurvöllur
Posthússtræti
Austurvöllur isn’t so much
a rolling, lush park as a flat
square of grass in the city cen-
tre. Nevertheless it’s still a pop-
ular spot on summer days, when
there’s sometimes live music to
see. It’s right opposite Parlia-
ment, and also lined with bars,
so you might see famous MPs
walking past, or drunks puking
into a trash can. Or even puking
drunk MPs. Maybe.
Hljómskálagarður
Sóleyjargata
Located on the banks of
Tjörnin—the city pond—Hl-
jómskálagarður is quite seclud-
ed considering its downtown
location. There are pathways,
picnic tables, playing areas,
sculptures galore, benches by
the water, and plenty of tucked-
away spots to get a bit of privacy.
Öskjuhlíð
Bústaðavegur
This large wooded area is on the
same hill as Perlan, the glass-
domed visitor centre visible
from downtown. There are loads
of trails, and you might find
yourself wandering through a
large rabbit-infested graveyard,
a geothermal area, WWII-era
bunkers, or the remains of one
of the larping society’s most re-
cent elves vs. aliens adventures.
Nauthólsvík, the man-made
beach and sea swimming area,
is nearby.
Einar Jónsson Museum
Eiríksgata
This small walled garden is a bit
of a forgotten park. It’s on the
grounds of the Einar Jónsson Mu-
seum, and filled with his large
stone sculptures, inspired by his-
tory and mythology. If you want a
bit of shade, you can go in the mu-
seum and see Einar’s work, and his
perfectly preserved apartment.
Arnarhóll
Lækjargata
You might have seen this small
city-centre hill on TV last year
when Icelanders greeted their
England-conquering foot-
balling heroes as they returned
from Euro 2016. In the winter,
it’s crisscrossed with sled trails
in the snow, but in summer, it’s
full of sunbathers looking out
across Harpa and the old har-
bour area.
Laugardalur
Engjavegur
A ten-minute walk from eastern
edge of 101 lies Laugardalur. This
sprawling park is home to the
Laugardalslaug swimming pool,
the national sports stadium, a
petting zoo and playing area, a
botanical garden, and the lovely
Café Flóra, where you can sip tea
in a verdant greenhouse.
Heiðmörk
Elliðavatn
Right on the far edge of the city
is Heiðmörk, a wilderness area
on the Elliðavatn lake. You’ll
need a car, but the trip will re-
veal public barbecues, pine
forests with hiking trails, and
the crumbling and beautiful
Rauðhólar volcano craters.
Klambratún
Miklabraut
This large park is just on the edge
of downtown, so it might be a bit
less busy. It can be quite glorious
in the summer, with people play-
ing football, throwing around
frisbies, and barbecuing. The
Kjavalstaðir art museum is near-
by if you want a drink, or to hide
from the huge fireball in the sky
amongst some old paintings.

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