Despite the cold air and the strong gusts of wind in the nation of Iceland, the beauty of the architecture and the design within the city of Reykjavik is undeniable. From Hallgrímskirkja, the Lutheran church in the featured image, to the music hall, to rainbow road, Reykjavik is a wonderful view wherever you are in the city.
Although at first, I was unsure on what my impression of Iceland was going to be, it was quickly made known to me that I was going to fall in love with every aspect of the country within minutes of being there. The people who I have interacted with at restaurants, our professional driver, and our guide, Ólöf , have all treated me with nothing but respect despite me being a foreigner to their country. Their hospitality is one of welcoming anyone with open arms with the eagerness to teach them about the history of the nation all the way back to Norse Mythology.
Today, we explored only a very small part of the city of Reykjavik leaving a lot of the beauty of the city yet to be discovered by me. As our time here goes by, I am hoping to take advantage of free time to explore the different aspects of the city and learn more about the culture and customs within it. After one day, I have already tried multiple different foods including an Icelandic hotdog, lamb with mushroom sauce, and much more. I don’t know if I will ever have the chance to visit this beautiful city again, so I want to ensure I make the most of this opportunity and truly try everything.
I look forward to extending my knowledge on the history, culture, and sustainability of this glorious country as the week goes by and hope to share what I learn with those willing to listen when I return home.
Swanson School of Engineering 