Start a love affair with Reykjavik, as well as from all over Iceland, is somewhat reminiscent of familiarity by SMS. It is a matter of chance. You learn something from a phone number, you begin to correspond and lepish image in your mind based on some scraps of words, phrases.
- I love Bjork, and you?
- Oh, I have it complete discography!
- Can you pronounce the name of the volcano, which scared the whole of Europe?
- Easy!
- Incidentally, I love weird for listening languages.
- Oh, I know this one perfectly. Here Just look: Við skulum mæta.
- And what does that mean?
- It means "let's meet."
And you do not sleep at night, counting the days and hours before the scheduled date. You are looking for in Google images, which would help identify Reykjavik in a crowd of other cities, but you realize that everything is not it. Already sitting in the plane of local Iceland Air with a yellow flag on board, your knees are shaking in anticipation of the meeting with something truly mysterious, exciting and perhaps decisive all your fate. And here you have landed at the airport Keflavik, a former NATO military base, and he meets you as a very unfriendly. When you exit out of it you see the terrible claw, threatening to you as a strict mother, they say, do not hurt my baby, he is very vulnerable.
You sit in an expensive even by Moscow standards taxi (but the same date of your life, and go at it in the public bus is not comme il faut!) And mchishsya even as much as 50 km to Reykjavik. Old car crosses for excellent highway covered with moss anthracite volcanic boulders and talkative taxi driver on crushed English Icelandic accent and replaces the guide talks about the biggest factory in green paint, about famous people he had to bring up (about Gorbachev, for example). Including pro largest amphetamine king in Europe, too, was in Iceland. And then, finally, he Reykjavik with its unbearably low and at the same time a high sky, blinding sun, with its cutting lungs with fresh air, with his incredible love for everything and everyone.
Externally, the Icelandic capital resembles a diligent young man with perfectly shaved cheeks and chin. He always combed, Scandinavian neatly dressed in something pastel baby,
Reykjavik from Perlan viewing
though very fond of adding to your image is something out of the ordinary: that of broken mirrors brooch in the form of Iceland (yes, he is a patriot), the bright pink tie of sequins.
But all the time forgets how to tie this tie.
He can afford the image of hippies and street artist.
In the corner of his wardrobe and on the main street you can find a decent second-hand stores and shops with the author's clothes.
Deep in the heart Reykjavik like a child. For example, he carefully puts favorite toys on the windowsill.
In his veins flows the boiling thermal water entering the house through pipes Icelanders heat and water, making residents of the city will never freeze, can swim in the outdoor swimming pool and wash each time the healing liquid. It was then, and you know why all these tall, bearded Icelanders and not less high Icelander with beautiful blond hair look so amazing and literally glowing health.
Hot blood Reykjavik, however, played a trick on him. This city is surprisingly changeable mood. Literally 15 minutes ago, he could dazzle so bright sun, which you will never see even in Spain, but all of a sudden rage may frustrate you wind all the world, why in the air flows can even lie. A little later, he softened a little, repent and break out the heavy rain, but in the end always reward optimistic rainbow. Yes, he's a little crazy unbalanced.
But once on the calendar designated Friday or Saturday, Reykjavik forget about everything and go to White Castle. He has fun till you drop. Close to midnight, he fills his surprisingly numerous bars and clubs local bearded foreigners and girls in bright red lipstick, ready to drink a lot, talk a lot, dance a lot, and often runs outside to smoke. In public places in Reykjavik for a few years there is a ban on smoking. Toward morning the city finds itself in a crunchy underfoot and the sparkling lights of the ruins of bottles (Icelanders love pobalagurit) and mobile van with a surprisingly tasty hot dogs that are "fed" overstayers in the youth club.
On weekends it opens its doors flea market Kolaportið. Here, in a pile of Chinese T-shirts with wacky prints can find great vintage dress, earrings from volcanic ash, old children's book in Icelandic with monstrous, but cute illustrations of cats, a piece of smoked whale or rare records.
While here you can just stand in the corner and watch for coming to the market characters.
Reykjavik smell the ocean and seafood prepared here in cozy cafe right on the beach.
But a romantic dinner Icelandic capital is not always possible, because the taste local cuisine few dare. Perhaps that is why the menu is much more you can find pasta or burger than Hákarl. Local vodka rail is said Icelanders are exclusively Russian drink just for the sake of the sample, but to repeat the experience of alcohol can not be solved (it is really very nasty taste and smell). But there is a worthy replacement - tincture Topas. What is sure to be here to try - it's yogurt Skyr. This gentle, like a first kiss goodbye to complete, nowhere.
To all with whom ever met Reykjavik, he took different images. With someone he could be of Nordic or severe infantile naive. He could get bored or cry with happiness. But in Reykjavik you literally feel every cell of freedom from everything and some primitive joy. No matter you are acquainted with him in the company or hang out alone, Reykjavik charms irrevocably and at first sight. And long after the first date, you will fall asleep, say, in Moscow and imagine how somewhere in the Arctic pulsating thermal water and magma fragile, but very sweet heart of Reykjavik body.