To the Zoo and A Pool and A Hot Dog and A Ship. and more!!!!
After breakfast we decided to take a bus to one of the City Pools. The pool we chose this morning was Laugardalslaug. This pool is located a bit east of the Old Harbor area so a city bus was in order. We made our way to the bus stop 50 meters from our hotel. The weather was in and out, one minute sunny and then the next a snow squall. Our stop is located near where the bus makes a turnabout and retraces the route. While the bus was making it’s stop across the street from our stop it was rear ended. Traffic came to halt. Just as we were contemplating making the walk/hike to the pool another bus arrived. This would have been about a 5K plus walk, doable but we are weather weary today.
The city buses are big and yellow and the route is easily noted. The route we were on was not direct in that this route meandered a bit. Yet this will be faster than a walk. The bus stops are noted with a blue sign with a yellow bus, there is usually a shelter at most stops. The drivers are most helpful should you have a question about your route or destination.
The Reykjavik Welcome Card is also a bus pass (Zone 1) for the validity of the card. The Reykjavik card is sold to you by 24 hour periods, and you state the starting time for the card. Hence a two day card bought on Tuesday with a start time of 1100 would be valid till Thursday at 1100.
The bus stop for the Laugardaslaug Pool is right in front of the pool. We opted to make our way to the Reykjavik Zoo. This was located a 1K away from the pool and the walk took us passed the football stadium and into a nice park. The path leads directly to the Reykjavik Zoo entrance.
A spoiler alert. This Is Not a Zoo as one may be used to: Simply put it is rather small and is almost like a petting zoo. Here you can see horses, pigs, cattle, domestic birds and rabbits. There was an enclosure with two Reindeer and a Seal pool. There was also an enclosure where an Arctic Fox was pacing away. Yet with all this being said, in the Summer I think there are many advantages to make this a place to visit for a family wishing to have a nice outing in a park. First, even with the park being covered with snow, I could only imagine how nice it would be in the Summer. There are several play area inside the zoo for children to play and explore. One could self cater a picnic and have a great day. This could be followed by a nice swim in the Laugardaslaug Pool. The Reykjavik Welcome card will provide one with admission.
This is the open play area that I believe would be fun for a family with small children.
Fear Not there is a hot dog stand at the zoo.
After visiting the zoo we made our way back to the Laugardaslaug Pool. Admission to the sixteen City Pools is covered by your Reykjavik Welcome Card. If you did not bring your own towel one can be rented for 550 ISK. After paying your pool fee you receive a rubber wrist band with a RFID chip inside. This device lets you in the turn style, and opens and locks a locker for you to store your clothing. Further should you forget your locker number the band can be scanned for a reminder. WHO SAID DISNEY CAME UP WITH THE MAGIC BAND FIRST!!!
The pools are filled with natural pure spring water. Thus before entering the pools one must shower nude. There are instructions showing you where to concentrate your scrubbing. There is an attendant who makes sure this is done. There are several sign telling you no cameras and no photos are allowed.
From the locker shower area you make you way to the pools. The Laugardalslaug Pool has several offerings. There is a 50 meter 12 lane lap pool, a pool to relaxingly swim in, a large waterslide (closed) and a small children's slide (closed) , a large 38C soaking pool and then small pools a varying temperatures, (38C, 40C, 42C and 45C). There is also a steam bath and sauna. This is a great place to relax and enjoy a swim and a soak. We used all the pools except the 45C pool. As there is a large bleacher area next to and above the lap pool, I asked for access to take some photos and was told only photos of myself could be taken in the waiting area and no other photos were allowed where others would be in the picture. Maybe something was lost in the translation, I did as instructed, but did get a Magic Pool Band pic taken.
After a most relaxing swim, soak, steam, and soak, we, by chance, found a place called Pylsuvagninn Laugardal, yes, a Hot Dog Stand!!!. All the hot dogs we have had have been very tasty and yes, they are sold at many locations. The standard condiments of raw white onions and crispy fried onions, ketchup, sweet brown mustard called pylsusinnep, and remoulade, a sauce made with mayo, capers, mustard, and herbs have all been the same. The only difference we have noticed is snap of the hot dog. Here we were able to get two dogs, a candy bar and a coke for 1100 ISK. FYI most of these places take credit cards.
After our stand up lunch we took the #14 bus back to the Maritime Museum to tour the Coast Guard Cutter Odinn. Entry to the Museum is included with your Reykjavik Welcome Card, but the tour is extra.
We were the only people on the 1400 tour so were able to ask many questions and enjoy a bit more in-depth tour. The Odinn was decommissioned in 2006 and given to the Maritime Museum. Basically the Icelandic Coast Guard gave the Maritime Museum the keys to the ship and said it’s yours. All of the ships tools, equipment, rescue gear and clothing, etc, etc, etc. were not moved or repurposed by the Coast Guard. There were even ships stores stocked with food. The Odinn had a crew of 26 - 28, each person on board had private quarters. One very large stateroom was for the President of Iceland. Thus the Odinn also served as the Presidential Yacht.
The Odinn did see action during the Cod Wars. These were more of a conflict where conventional weapons were not used. This conflict came and went as Iceland established it’s 12 mile boundary to 50 miles and the 200 miles. One time during the Cod Wars the Odinn was rammed by a British fishing trawler. The Odinn further served in many SAR (search and rescue) Missions saving many lives. This tour is well worth it and is offered at 1300, 1400, and 1500 daily.
The map shows the fishing boundaries claimed by Iceland. Next is the trawler cable cutter and the wench from which is is deployed.
Across the street from the Maritime Museum is Valdis a local ice-cream shop. The offer 12 different flavors. I had a pineapple and Lynn had a chocolate/caramel, both were very good. We were told by people in the Maritime Museum the Summer crowds get so large and the line so long the street is often closed.
With ice cream in hand, we walked around the corner to a local Bonus Store. These are a local grocery chain and are very easily identified by the Pink Pig. Here we looked for a local unique jam to take home as a souvenir. Going to local stores as such one gets a better feel for how the local folks live and eat. Finding no unique jam or jelly we settled on some Lakkris or licorice and a bar of milk chocolate with honey added.
This evening we have decided to do a final walkabout the old town area. We revisited the Old Town area as this seems our favorite. We walked around the City Pond and stopped at a little hole in the wall burger place. It was rather good and they had Mad Magazine for patrons to read while waiting or dining.
General Thoughts:
Very friendly and helpful people.
Credit cards are used widely in Reykjavik, little cash is needed.
Tipping is not expected.
The Reykjavik Welcome card for two days, cost us 4400 ISK per person, our activities would have cost us 5800 ISK , giving us a savings of 1400 ISK. So yes, it was worth it for us.
Interesting the tourist industry here in Iceland is rather young, as they only realized the importance in 2006.
Tomorrow we will walk to another City Pool and get a soak in before we leave for the airport.
Iceland is a very young country and has a population of 313000.
