Iceland review - 2015, Page 120

118 ICELAND REVIEW
BITS & PIECES SPECIAL PROMOTION
Pools Worth Making a Splash About
Reykjavík’s geothermal swimming pools offer a place to soothe your cares
away and soak up the many therapeutic benefits of Icelandic water. Perfect for
a relaxing dip or a few lengths. There’s fun for the young-at-heart on the water
slides and it’s always a good time to unwind in the range of hot tubs by the
poolside and get to know the local gossip. Why not visit the ‘swimming palace,’
Sundhöll in, Iceland’s oldest and most charming pool, designed by renowned
architect Guðjón Samúelsson? Enjoy the range of facilities at Laugardalslaug,
including 50-meter (164-feet) inside and outdoor pools, a range of hot tubs and
waterslides, and for family fun look no further than Árbæjarlaug where the little
ones can enjoy a children’s pool, paddling pool, slides and water fountains. In the
western part of town is the recently-renovated, small and friendly Vesturbæjar-
laug. Located within walking distance of the city center, it’s good for a soothing
soak after a day of shopping and sightseeing. visitreykjavik.is/swimming-reykjavik
Pablo Picasso at National Gallery of Iceland
In its exhibition featuring the sculpture ‘Jacquiline with a Yellow Ribbon’ (1962)
by Pablo Picasso, the National Gallery of Iceland (NGI) invites visitors to ex-
perience the work of the Spanish master—the most famous artist of the 20th
century—while getting acquainted with his art, the history of the work and its
exhibition record.
Picasso’s widow, Jacqueline Roque Picasso, gave the sculptural portrait of
herself to the Icelandic nation, and the sculpture became a part of the collection
of the NGI in 1986. The sculpture, which is considered to be among the artist’s
most unusual portraits, has been shown more often abroad than in Iceland and
is consequently coveted by art museums worldwide.
This is a long-term exhibition which has been running since July 2015. The
NGI is open Tuesdays-Sundays, 11am-5pm, closed Mondays. listasafn.is
Adventure Extraordinaire
Just as one should never have hot chocolate without cream, one should never visit
Iceland without a glacier tour. Mountaineers of Iceland offer tours by snowmobile
and super jeep on Langjökull, the country’s second-largest glacier. Visitors can choose
between different glacier tours or combine them with other destinations. The popular
Pearl Tour includes the Golden Circle—Þingvellir National Park, the erupting hot
spring Strokkur and Gullfoss waterfall—topped off with a cruise on the creamy-white
Langjökull. The Mountaineers’ base camp at the foot of the glacier, including a stor-
age for coveralls, is heated and well-equipped. Guides make sure travelers are warmly
dressed and wearing the necessary safety gear before they head out onto the glacier.
Mountaineers operate open day tours, half-day tours and evening tours as well as
private tailor-made tours for smaller and larger groups, for one, two or more days.
Other destinations include highland reserve Landmannalaugar and volcano Hekla,
forested highland paradise Þórsmörk with a view of Eyjafjallajökull glacier-volcano
and a trip around the volcanic wonderland of Reykjanes peninsula. Every trip with
Mountaineers of Iceland is an adventure worth embarking on. mountaineers.is