Day 1: All things Reykjavik!

We landed in Reykjavik (actually technically Iceland’s only international airport is in the nearby town of Keflavik) at 6:20 am local time. We were determined to stay up all day to reset our body clocks and beat the jet lag, so we knew we had a long day ahead. The airport was very small and un-stressful and “cute” (Becky’s word) – we quickly got our bag and rental car and started the drive to Reykjavik. Beautiful 40-minute drive with the Atlantic ocean on our left, mountains ahead and on the right, and a kind of otherworldly volcano-like terrain on our right in front of the mountains.

Arrived in Reykjavik and got breakfast at the Grai Kotturin (the Gray Cat) after it took me (Matt) too long to decipher how to pay for parking downtown.

Then we walked along Laugavegur street (the main drag through Reykjavik) on our way to Hallgrimskirja Cathedral.

After lunch, took a walk by Lake Tjornin and Ingolfur Square, then headed back to our AirBnb to check in/freshen up.

Back to Reykjavik, went to the bank to get our currency exchanged, to the fascinating and well-put-together Icelandic National Museum, then to dinner. Matt got fish & chips from the Icelandic Fish Company (I think that was what it was called), Becky got the Anthony Bourdain-recommended lamb hot dog with fresh onion, fried onion, mayonnaise remoulade, dijon mustard, and a tiny bit of ketchup on a toasted bun from Icelandic Street Dog. Then to Loki Cafe for some sweet rye bread ice cream. (!!!!!)

After seeing the Sun Voyager, we stopped by the Perlan Glass Dome to look around and see some views of the city, then to Kronan to get some groceries for breakfasts and to eat on the go throughout the week. Went to bed around 8 pm because I could not keep my eyes open.