Atlantica - 01.03.2004, Side 40

The valley known as Laugardalur is blessed
with hot springs and served for centuries as
the place where the women of Reykjavík did
their laundry. Since the 1950s it has been
transformed into a beautiful leisure area,
complete with botanical gardens, a swim-
ming pool, a sports stadium and a family zoo
and activity park. With the addition of Laugar,
a 7150 square meter health centre, it’s your
best bet for recreation within the city limits.
When I met with Hafdís Jónsdóttir, otherwise
known as Dísa, Laugar had only been open
for three weeks, already to tremendous suc-
cess. “We’ve always wanted to create an
environment in central Reykjavík for every-
one’s benefit. Tourists always flock to the
countryside and when they come to the city
there simply aren’t enough recreational facil-
ities available. Hopefully with Laugar this is
about to change.”
i-site❍
38 A T L A N T I C A38 A T L A N T I C A THE LAUGAR SPA
COUPLE BJÖRN LEIFSSON AND HAFDÍS JÓNSDÓTTIR HAVE MADE A DREAM COME TRUE:
OPENING THE LARGEST AND MOST EXCLUSIVE HEALTH-AND SWIMMING CENTRE IN ICELAND.
CONFIRMING REYKJAVÍK’S STATUS AS SPA CITY, LAUGAR HAS DEFINITELY BECOME
ONE OF ITS MAIN ATTRACTIONS.
HEAVENLY
BODIES
031 I-site ATL 204 19.2.2004 17:41 Page 38