#solfar

Solfar - Sun Voyager

Solfar

The famous sculpture is called Solfar or Sun Voyager. It is described as a dreamboat or an ode to the Sun. It represents the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress, and freedom. It is a metal statue resembling a Viking longboat which sits on the seashore in Reykjavík. This piece of artwork by Jón Gunnar Árnaso is one of the most visited sights in the capital city and makes a great photo location with its view of Mount Esja in the background on the other side of the bay. The Solfar sculpture is a walking distance from the city center.

The photo above was taken at midnight. The best thing about Summer in Iceland is the endless amount of daylight. It's a staggering 24 hours of daylight. There was no darkness the whole time we were there and actually for the whole month of June. It was absolutely worked great for us. Because we had plenty of time exploring outside the city.

The Harpa Concert Hall

Walking towards Harpa, I stopped and just stared at it for a while as such an impressive structure demands that you do. I was captivated by its shimmering beauty set against the backdrop of Mount Esja and the Atlantic Ocean. Its irregularly framed windows continually changed colors which reminded me of the Aurora Borealis. By day, Harpa sparkles with reflecting light and by night it glows gently with different colored LED lights. Since its opening in 2011, it has become one of the most known architectural icon of Iceland.

The Harpa Concert Hall offers year-round cultural events as well as daily exhibitions during the summer months. This architectural masterpiece is a must-see when visiting Reykjavík.

Höfði House

The Höfði House was built in 1909. It is considered to be one of the most historically significant buildings in the city of Reykjavík. It is best known as the location for the 1986 summit meeting of presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. A historical event that effectively marked the end of the Cold War.

The Höfði House is a walking distance from the city center of Reykjavík. It is overlooking the waterfront and currently used for official receptions and meetings. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public. But visitors are welcome to explore the house from the outside.

Perlan

Perlan Museum of Natural History with Planetarium show is a must-visit place while in Iceland. It is a modern interactive museum presenting variety of Icelandic nature. In the Wonders of Iceland exhibitions, you learn all about Icelandic nature in interactive and fun ways. Natural wonders come alive at your fingertips – volcanoes, northern lights, glaciers, ocean-life, seabirds, and so much more. You explore a real ice cave, sit back in a first-class Planetarium, have fun with interactive displays, and enjoy views all over Reykjavík city. On Perlan’s top floor, there is a café and fantastic views. Admission Fee with free parking.

Photo above courtesy of Perlan

The Yellow Lighthouse

As you go around Iceland, the chances are good that you will see a lighthouse or two. That is not surprising, considering there are over a hundred of lighthouses all along the coastline. For many, lighthouse structures seem to be a legacy of a bygone era. But if there’s one quality to Icelandic coastal towns that is consistent across the country, it’s the prevalence of lighthouses. These structures are symbolic of the county’s long history as a seafaring nation.

Ships and boats nowadays are equipped with advanced navigation systems, they might not need a lighthouse anymore to guide them. But lighthouses make good subjects for photography and became a popular tourist attraction. Iceland’s lighthouses will likely continue to be a source of fascination for years to come.

They say, "Be a lighthouse. Let your light shine and be the light to others.”

The Nootka Lupine

The purple plant is taking over the landscape of Iceland. They are everywhere and a sight to behold. The plant is called Nootka lupine. We learned from our tour guide and from reading that the plant is native to North America. They have spread wildly in Iceland since their introduction in the late 1970s to halt soil erosion.

To tourists and plenty of Icelanders, the lupine fields are a breathtakingly beautiful sight in midsummer. But for some natives, the plants are an alien blot on the landscape that need to be eliminated.

Why do they want to get rid of this attractive blossoms? They say the threat is growing. Encouraged by the warming atmosphere, lupine is spreading beyond Iceland. Within 30 years, under current climate change forecasts, it could colonize much of the highland interior.

There is another downside to lupine. After bloom, the lovely light green foliage and the flowers die an ugly death. They fade to dark grayish-brown spikes bearing seed pods. In public parks, admirers of the plants wait for the snow to cover up the mess. Opponent of the plant says, “Everything but the glaciers are potential lupine land.”

How about you? What is your take on these lovely plants?

Click on links below to read more:

The Best Of Iceland 

City Tour In Reykjavík 

Sand Hotel by Keahotels 

𝗥𝗘𝗬𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗙𝗝𝗔𝗥𝗔: The Black Sand Beach 

The amazing digital art of SolFar