Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.05.2019, Qupperneq 23

Karítas M. Bjarkardóttir
Karítas M. Bjarkardóttir, or Karja as
she is called, is one of Iceland's
most intriguing young poets. At only
18-years-old, she just released her
fourth poetry book, and last year
she made headlines in Iceland when
she read her poems on Women’s Day
Off in Reykjavík in front of thousands
of women demanding fair pay. We
sat down with the poet to hear
about her perfect day in Reykjavík.
First thing in the morning
My favourite and ideal mornings
are those where I have a lot of time
to get ready. I maybe set the alarm
clock fairly early to be able to lay
in bed and watch the sun shine
through my curtains for a while,
before I finally get up and go to
the kitchen. I love those mornings
where I have time to make coffee
and breakfast and take a long show-
er, put on some non-hurried makeup
and choose my outfit without being
in a rush.
Around midday
On the perfect day I wouldn’t have
any classes, but I probably have
some homework that I can go to
Þjóðarbókhlaðan to work on, or
maybe a writing project or fun
book so that I can enjoy the silence
and peace at Þjóbó. Maybe I’d even
meet a friend there. I find it very
relaxing to isolate myself for one or
two hours during the day to focus
on homework or other projects. It
makes me so much more ready to
socialize throughout the rest of the
day. As an introvert, I need it.
Around lunchtime
After charging my social batteries
and getting some work done, the
perfect day would continue by go-
ing to lunch with a friend, perhaps
a girlfriend I haven’t been able to
meet for a while. We’d do some
catching up over a thali at Hraðles-
tin, for example. A long lunch with a
good friend always makes my day.
In the afternoon
On the perfect day, it would of
course be sunny and warm enough
for a cute dress and an afternoon
walk. I love having time to walk and,
as someone who takes the bus, it’s
so vital to slow down your days ev-
ery now and then. An afternoon walk
around downtown Reykjavík with
some feel-good music in my head-
phones often helps me get ideas for
poems or writing music. I would end
up at Kaffibrennslan with some good
coffee and my notebook to try and
get my ideas on paper.
Around dinnertime
If my day isn’t too packed—and the
perfect day wouldn’t be—I love to
go home and eat dinner with my
parents and younger sister. Some
quality family time, asking them
about their day and telling them
about mine. Cosying up with my
sister while she gushes about some
musical she loves at the moment
always makes the night a bit better.
In the heat of the night
After dinner I love going out and
meeting friends. The perfect day
would probably end with me going
to a concert and watching any one
of my talented friends play their
music, I'd dance with good friends,
before taking the bus home—and
not being cold walking home.
Perfect Day
A face of the downtown scene tells us how to spend a perfect day in Reykjavík
Vital Info
Reykjavík Map Best Of ReykjavíkPlaces We Like
May 10th—May 23rd
In Your
Pocket
Venues
The numbers on the right (i.e. E4) tell you
position on the map on the next page
Austur
Austurstræti 7 D3
American Bar
Austurstræti 8 D3
Andrými
Bergþórugata 20 G6
B5
Bankastræti 5 E4
Bar Ananas
Klapparstígur 28 E5
Bíó Paradís
Hverfisgata 54 E5
Bjarni Fel
Austurstræti 20 E4
Bravó
Laugavegur 22 E5
Boston
Laugavegur 28b E5
Dillon
Laugavegur 30 E5
Dubliner
Naustin 1-3 D3
English Pub
Austurstræti 12 D3
Gaukurinn
Tryggvagata 22 D3
Hard Rock Café
Lækjargata 2a D3
Hressó
Austurstræti 20 D3
Húrra
Naustin D3
Iðnó
Vonarstræti 3 E3
Kex Hostel
Skúlagata 28 E7
Kaffibarinn
Bergstaðastræti 1 E4
Kaffi Vínyl
Hverfisgatur 76 E6
Kiki Queer Bar
Laugavegur 22 E5
Loft
Bankastræti 7 E4
Mengi
Óðinsgata 2 F5
Nordic House
Sturlagata 5 H2
Paloma
Naustin D3
Prikið
Bankastræti 12 E4
R6013
Ingólfsstræti 20 E4
Reykjavík Roasters
Kárastígur 1 F5
Stofan Café
Vesturgata 3 D3
Ölsmiðjan
Lækjargata 10 E3
Tivoli bar
Hafnarstræti 4 D3
Tjarnarbíó
Tjarnargata 12 E3
Museums & Galleries
ART67
Laugavegur 67 F7
Open daily 9-21
ASÍ Art Gallery
Freyjugata 41 G6
Open Tue-Sun 13-17
Aurora Reykjavík
Grandagarður 2 B1
Open 09-21
Ásgrimur Jónsson
Museum
Bergstaðastr. 74 G4
July 8-Sep 1, Mon-Fri
Berg Contemporary
Klapparstígur 16 E5
Tu-F 11-17, Sat 13-17
The Culture House
Hverfisgata 15 E5
Open daily 10–17
The Einar Jónsson
Museum
Eiriksgata G5
Open Tue–Sun 10–17
Ekkisens
Bergstaðast. 25b F4
Gallerí List
Skipholt 50A H10
M-F 11-18, Sat 11-16
Hafnarborg
Strandgata 34, 220
Open Wed-Mon 12-17
Hitt Húsið
Pósthússtræti 3-5 D4
Hverfisgallerí
Hverfisgata 4 D4
Tu-Fri 13-17, Sat 14-17
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16 D3
Tu-Fri 11-18, Sat
13-17
The Penis Museum
Laugavegur 116 F8
Open daily 10-18
Kirsuberjatréð
Vesturgata 4 D3
M-F 10-18, Sat-Sun
10-17
Kling & Bang
Grandagarður 20 A4
W-Sun 14-18, Th 12-21
Listastofan
Hringbraut 119
Open Wed-Sat 13-17
Living Art Museum
Granadarður 20 A4
T-Sun 12-18, Th 12-21
Mokka Kaffi
Skólavörðustíg. 3A E5
Open daily 9-18:30
Museum of Design and
Applied Art
Garðatorg 1
Open Tu-Sun 12-17
The National
Gallery of Iceland
Fríkirkjuvegur 7 F3
Open daily 10–17
The National Museum
Suðurgata 41 G2
Open daily 10–17
The Nordic House
Sturlugata 5 H2
Thu-Tu 11-17, W 11-20
Hafnarhús
Tryggvagata 17 D3
Open 10-17, Thu 10-22
Kjarvalsstaðir
Flókagata 24 H8
Open daily 10-17
Ásmundarsafn
Sigtún
Open daily 10-17
Reykjavík City Library
Tryggvagata 15 D3
Mon-Thu 10-19, Fri
11-18, Sat-Sun 13-17
Árbæjarsafn
Kistuhylur 4
Open daily 13-17
The Settlement
Exhibition
Aðalstræti 16 D3
Open daily 9-18
Reykjavík Museum
of Photography
Tryggvagata 15 D3
Mon-Thu 10-18, Fri
11-18, Sat-Sun 13-18
Saga Museum
Grandagarður 2 B2
Open daily 10-18
Sigurjón Ólafsson
Museum
Laugarnestangi 70
Open Tu-Sun 14-17
SÍM
Hafnarstræti 16 D3
Open Mon-Fri 10-16
Tveir Hrafnar
Baldursgata 12 G4
Open Fri-Sat 13-16
Wind & Weather
Window Gallery
Hverfisgata 37 E5
Venue Finder
Useful Numbers
Emergency: 112
On-call doctors: 1770
Dental emergency: 575 0505
Taxi: Hreyfill: 588 5522 - BSR: 561 0000
Post Offices
The downtown post office has moved to
Hagatorgi 1, open Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00.
Pharmacies
Lyf og heilsa, Egilsgata 3, tel: 563 1020
Lyfja, Laugavegur 16, tel: 552 4045
and Lágmúli 5, tel: 533 2300
Opening Hours - Bars & Clubs
Bars can stay open until 01:00 on
weekdays and 04:30 on weekends.
Opening Hours - Shops & Banks
Most shops: Mon–Fri 10–18, Sat 10–16,
Sun closed. Banks: Mon-Fri 09-16
Swimming Pools
Sundhöllin, the downtown pool at
Barónsstígur, is an indoor swimming
pool with hot tubs and a diving board.
More pools: gpv.is/swim
Open: Mon-Thu from 06:30–22. Fri from
06:30–20. Sat from 08–16. Sun from 10–18.
Public Toilets
Public toilets in the centre can be found
inside the green-poster covered tow-
ers located at Hlemmur, Ingólfstorg,
by Hallgrímskirkja, by Reykjavík Art
Museum, Lækjargata and by Eymunds-
son on Skólavörðustígur. Toilets can
also be found inside the Reykjavík City
Hall and the Reykjavík Library. Public
Transport
Most buses run every 20–30 min
Fare: 460 ISK adults, 220 ISK children.
Buses run from 07–24:00, and 10–04:30
on weekends. More info: www.bus.is.
t
Words:
Karítas M.
Bjarkadóttir
Photo:
Art Bicnick
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