Iceland review - 2016, Page 138

136 ICELAND REVIEW
Culture’s Home
On Hverfisgata in central Reykjavík you can’t miss the large white Culture House
(Safnahúsið). Looking like part castle, part gingerbread house, its purpose is not
immediately apparent—but its importance is clear from first sight.
Go inside and you’ll be treated to an exhibition called Points of View—a unique
collaboration between six of Iceland’s most important cultural institutions, pre-
senting a thoughtful snapshot of Iceland’s entire culture and history across four
floors. Still, it does not claim to be exhaustive!
From taxidermy and crystals to priceless paintings and irreplaceable manu-
scripts, as well as modern design classics and more, Points of View is the conflu-
ence of art, science and showbiz. The exhibition presents all artifacts together
as equal and significant—and the result is surprising and undeniably interesting.
Located at Hverfisgata 15. Open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday-Sunday. culturehouse.is
Soaking in Style
Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths are located right on the black beach
of Laugarvatn Lake, which is boiling hot in places due to geothermal activity.
An hour’s drive from Reykjavík, Laugarvatn Fontana is a must-stop on the
popular Golden Circle route. Laugarvatn Fontana’s steam rooms are built over
a boiling hot spring which has been used for this purpose for over 80 years.
Elegantly renovated, the steam rooms have special grates in the floor, allowing
guests to see, hear and smell the natural hot spring. A Finnish-style sauna has
also been added to the area, along with a series of interconnected baths and
natural pools of various temperatures and depths, ideal for the entire family
to relax or play. A refreshing swim in Laugarvatn completes the bathing expe-
rience. As swimming stimulates the appetite, you can spontaneously decide to
try the freshly-made delicacies in the in-house buffet, available daily at noon
and in the evening. fontana.is
BITS & PIECES SPECIAL PROMOTION
Magical Mystery Tours
Sit back, relax and enjoy everything that this magical island has to offer,
with the leading tour operator in Iceland. Gray Line Iceland’s staff are
ready to welcome you at our sales desk at Keflavík International Airport
as soon as you step off your plane. With a ticket for our Airport Express
in your pocket and dreams of your upcoming Gray Line Iceland tours,
you’re already on your way to making some unforgettable memories.
If you haven’t yet made up your mind, drop into our sales office on
Hafnar stræti 20, downtown Reykjavík, where our service-minded sales
personnel will guide you in your choice of tours. Whether you would
like to be introduced to the Icelandic horse, do some city sightseeing,
experience the northern lights or hop on a classic Golden Circle tour, you
are sure to find something that suits your budget and time schedule in
our large selection of tours. All tours run in English, with selected tours
in French, German and the Scandinavian languages. grayline.is