Iceland review - 2004, Síða 59

REYKJAVÍK – PURE ENERGY / 57
101 REASONS TO LIVE
DOWNTOWN
Reykjavík’s famous post code
The downtown of Reykjavík stretches from the west end, where you’ll find the
Tourist Information Centre, to the east end, a neighbourhood that has been
reborn in recent years. All of this comprises the much talked about 101
Reykjavík, an energetic place in which to lead a healthy and creative lifestyle.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with life in downtown Reykjavík, let’s take
a walk from one end to the other and take a look at what the city has to offer.
RELAXING IN THE SPAS
Many people start the day off with a refreshing dip in the thermal spas
that are spread all over the city. The pools in Reykjavík are an excellent
example of how things work here. The geothermally heated water is a nat-
ural resource and very little has to be done to the water before it goes to
the pools – other than cooling, that is. Remember to check out the
Reykjavík Tourist Cards, which can be bought for 24, 48 or 72 hours and
allow you access to all of the pools in the downtown area and beyond. It’s
also useful for getting into all of those cool avant-garde art exhibitions
you’ll want to see while in town.
TAKE A WALK IN A PAINTING
A tour on foot through downtown Reykjavík is like taking a walk in a
painting. This could be because of the feeling you get from passing the
mosaic of brightly coloured houses lining the streets of the downtown
area. On the other hand, it could be that the museums, galleries and
libraries almost outnumber the houses in certain neighbourhoods.
Whatever the reason, many people come to 101 to live because of the cre-
ative energy of the downtown. In the heart of the city, you live with peo-
ple from all walks of life from dynamic local artists to the more recent set-
tlers in the ever-diversifying spectrum of Icelandic society.
THRIVING CREATIVE SPIRIT
Diversity characterises all aspects of living downtown. It’s quite common to
meet people in Reykjavík who are writing a film script or playing in a jazz
trio. This creativity goes hand in hand with what may be their day job at
one of Reykjavík’s many high-tech companies, such as DeCode Genetics or
CCP Games, makers of Eve Online. Plus, many of these companies have
their headquarters right downtown, so people living and working down-
town can wave commuting goodbye.
DESIGNER LABELS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES
What many people don’t know about downtown Reykjavík is that it is pos-
sible to shop for designer labels at prices lower than in many other cities in
the world. An added bonus is the 15% tax-free refund for visitors to the
country, which makes shopping in Iceland an affordable and highly rec-
ommended experience.
METROPOLITAN CUISINE
You’ll be amazed at the range of restaurants available in the downtown
area, with cuisines from all over the world. For a fancy night on the town,
you might want to check out some of Reykjavík’s upscale eateries like Siggi
Hall in Hótel Odinsvé or the Thrír Frakkar seafood restaurant. Seafood and
lamb is something that Iceland has in abundance and Icelandic people have
had years to hone their skills in preparing it.
One of the main reasons for the excellent taste of the dishes made here is
the purity of the ingredients, since the fish come from unpolluted rivers
and the lamb graze in their natural environment in the rolling hills of the
Icelandic countryside.
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