Hallrimskirkja, evangelical Lutheran National Church designed by Guðjón Samúelsson and consecrated in 1986. Design mimicks columnar basalt arrays in many volcanic sites of Iceland.
Inside Hallrimskirkja
Hallrimskirkja organ
The statue of Leifur Eiríksson (c. 970 - c. 1020) who was the first European to land on North America (c. 1000 CE) is in front of Hallgrímskirkja on the most prominent hilltop, Skólavörðuholt, in Reykjavik. The early settlers and explorers born in Iceland worshipped Norse gods. This statue was a gift from the USA to Iceland in 1930, and there was controversy at the time of the gift to place it in such a prominent location at the end of Skólavörðustígur. The city that helped bring peace between Reagan and Gorbachev offers peaceful coexistence between Pagans and Christians.
Skólavörðustígur is one of the main streets for shopping, dining and hanging out on the sidewalk, drinking tea/coffee/beer and watching the world go by. The rainbow flag painted on the most famous street in Reykjavik provides a contrast to Florida’s “Don’t say gay” law. Photo by Joan Castleman.
Outside of old city jail on Skólavörðustígur. Windows are painted with portraits of former inmates. We all be happy! Photo by Joan Castleman.
Austurvollur (public square) outside our hotel (Hotel Borg). Site where the city celebrates National Day on 17 June (their Independence day). This is the city site of protests and demonstrations in the past against NATO membership and economic hardships of 2008.
Parliament House (Althingishus) on the edge of Austurvollur.
Statue of Jón Sigurđosson, leader of Iceland’s independence movement in Austurvollur.
Reykjavik Pride 2022 informational signs on the perimeter of Austurvollur (public square) and next to the Hotel Borg. Icelanders are fiercely supportive of free speech and individual rights, and Reykjavik appears to support better understanding of sexual orientation/gender orientation and expression out in the open at one of their most important city centers. However, since the signage is only in English, it appears that they may be targeting tourists with special educational needs (e.g., Floridians). Photo by Joan Castleman
Monument to the Unknown Bureaucrat. If you are an unknown and unloved bureaucrat, Reykjavik is thinking of you ;^).
Street art on home off of Skólavörðustígur.
Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Center and tourists. Only tourists carry umbrellas in Iceland (Think what happens to umbrellas in regularly occurring wind gusts of 30-40 mph!).
