Reykjavik-2009 City Break
Reykjavik is a stylish destination of Europe and hot spot city break destination for the year 2009. Reykjavik is Iceland’s largest as well as capital city with a sizable population. This well laid out capital city of Iceland is the cultural nerve center of Icelandic people. It also forms Iceland’s tourist capital. The tourists can experience this beautiful city and observe the lifestyles of Icelandic people at close quarters. Reykjavik has an alluring location in a romantic setting on Atlantic Ocean’s fringe. It is encircled by astral volcanic netherworld with the gigantic Mount Esja, forming a perfect backdrop.
Legend of Reykjavik
Reykjavik, world’s northernmost capital city is believed to have been founded by Ingolfur Arnarson, a Viking, as per a legend. As in the ancient sagas of Iceland, the Viking pursued the Nordic tradition in which the gods decided the location of the new homes of their followers. As Ingolfur was sailing towards land, he threw 2 pillars of wood in the sea and asked his slaves to find out the place where they reached the shore. The slaves traveled through Iceland’s fertile southern region and found the pillars in the northern region. Ingolfur called this place Smokey Bay or Reykjavik due to the steam arising out of the hot springs.
Modern Reykjavik
Reykjavik has several underground geothermal springs and the complete water supply and heating of the city is provided by these springs. This system has only one by-product and that is the faint smell of H2S or hydrogen sulphide. Till the mid eighteenth century, Reykjavik had only few farmhouses and afterwards, it started developing into a small sized trading community. Later, it got a municipal charter and slowly grew into an urban center. Towards the end of WWII, Iceland got complete autonomy from Denmark and Reykjavik came to the capital of Iceland. Modern Reykjavik still resembles a provincial town with its brightly colored houses and low rise buildings. Greater Reykjavik comprises of the harbor, Old Town and 6 encircling municipalities. It houses every 3 out of 5 Icelanders. Though Reykjavik is small sized city, it enjoys a dominant position in Iceland in terms of culture, politics and socio-economic issues.
Modern Reykjavik is developing at a super fast pace with a construction boom. The old city center is being rebuilt and revamped along with business and residential developments. The most ambitious project coming up in Reykjavik is the Icelandic National Concert and Conference Center, due to be completed and opened in 2009 Autumn.
Reykjavik can be easily accessed by air travel. The rental cars in Reykjavik are quite expensive. Bus and boat services are also available to reach Reykjavik. Reykjavik can be explored by cars, buses, bikes and walking. The tourist attractions of Reykjavik include the Old City, Perlan Revolving Restaurant, Reykjavik Pond, National Cathedral, National Museum of Iceland, Culture House, Hallgrimskirkja and Reykjavik Domestic Animal Zoo. The tourists can enjoy sea angling, whale watching, horse riding, water sports, white water rafting, dog sledging, snowmobiling and Iceland Symphony Orchestra while touring Reykjavik. The outdoor geothermal swimming pools are also notable tourist attractions of Reykjavik.
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