Atlantica - 01.02.2002, Qupperneq 26

snow as we zoom along the highway leading to the south-
west peninsula of Reykjanes, actually back in the direction
of the airport. This corner of Iceland is very volcanic, made
distinctive by its lunar lava fields and extinct volcanoes
looming in the distance. After a half-hour drive we see the
steam rising from the lagoon and ten minutes later we’re in
our swimsuits, facing the freezing cold for those few steps
leading into the water. Once in, you feel all your stresses
and strains, aches and pains soothe away and into the blue
milky water. If you thought the landscape was lunar before,
now you’ll definitely feel like you’re on another planet. As
one person described the modern building and lagoon set-
up: “It’s like a cross between Total Recall and a shopping
mall.“ Actually, the architecture of the Blue Lagoon building
is stunning and in the interior you’ll find not only space-age
changing rooms, but a snack bar, a restaurant, a gift shop
and conference rooms. And the restaurant is exactly where
we have a hearty lunch, reinvigorated by a long soak in the
magic waters. On the return trip, when the setting sun is
already casting its long, purple shadows on the ground, we
take another route, via the Krýsuvík geothermal area. We
get out of the car and observe the multicoloured ground
and bubbling pits of mud and water, and then drive on
towards the beautiful Kleifarvatn lake, lying still and blue in
the volcanic desert.
Once back in town, we go up to the top of the
Hallgrímskirkja cathedral, a towering, Viking-like structure
which has become Reykjavík’s landmark. From the tower
we have a fabulous view of Reykjavík and the surrounding
mountains and bay in the glowing sunset. I leave you to
wander down Skólavördustígur street, which is full of shops
selling Icelandic handicrafts, jewellery and artwork and
from there you can head back to Laugavegur and check out
the local shopping. You’ll find the city bookstores, Mál og
menning and Eymundsson, a real treat, both for their great
selection of publications on Iceland and for their vast vari-
ety of international literature, art, design and cookery
books. For original Icelandic creations I steer you towards
Spakmannsspjarir and Elm for fantastic women’s clothes
and Spútnik for great second-hand buys. The best bet for
international labels is Gallery Sautján which offers DKNY,
French Connection, Custo, Paul and Joe and Diesel.
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Snow frolics outside the Dómkirkja cathedral.)
You may take one look at those supermarket prices and think Reykjavík may not be the cheap-
est place to shop. However, international labels are sold at highly competitive prices and you’ll
be able to find some pretty fashionable gear. Outside the city centre, you’ll be able to do some
shopping in the warm comfort of a mall. Kringlan, a ten-minute drive from the heart of the city,
is an elegant mall with over 60 shops, including international chains such as Oasis, Morgan,
Karen Millen, Du Pareil au Même and InWear. You’ll also find Icelandic designs: stunning
clothes at GK women and the funky X18 shoes at Ásta G. Kringlan also features a fabulous
outdoor-wear store, Nanoq, where you’ll find everything to do with the great outdoors.
Further afield, in the suburb of Kópavogur, is the country’s largest mall, Smáralind, which
opened last autumn. Home to the nation's first ever hypermarket, Smáralind covers 63,000
square metres, not inclusive of more than ample parking space. Moreover, the new mall gath-
ers together a variety of internationally established quality retailers, including Debenhams,
Zara, Top Shop, Benetton and Miss Selfridge – all helping to keep Iceland in tune with the lat-
est in high-street fashion. Smáralind also sports an all-purpose exhibition and entertainment
centre, a winter garden and a crèche, as well as a five-screen cineplex.
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