I have been wanting to visit Reykjavik for quite some time now and it certainly met my expectations. We first arrived over a week ago at this point and were only able to witness a glimpse of the city in the early morning in our sleep deprived state. Reykjavik is only the second major city outside of the U.S that I have ever been to and has a population less than that of Pittsburgh so I wasn’t too sure of what to expect when I arrived.
Today we were finally able to explore the city on our own and I was pleasantly surprised. I was met with safe walkable streets, rows of stores, food, and nice people. I loved the city, it felt much more lively and sophisticated than any other city of similar size I have been too. There were unique clothing stores on nearly every block, restaurants and cafes, and interesting architecture everywhere. We were only able to walk around for a few hours but I wish I had more time to explore every corner of the city.
One of the first stops I had to make was to the Handknitting association of Iceland. Icelandic wool is some of the highest quality in the world and I knew I had to buy a sweater to remember my time there. Although it was expensive, it will last me for decades and I will always be able to carry a piece of this trip with me to remember the great times I had.
Another place I would highly recommend visiting is the National Church of Iceland. The architecture of the church is unlike any other church I have ever seen. In the middle of the city at the top of the hill it really manages to pull everything together and work as a beautiful piece of art that everyone of any faith can admire.
With some of the most fascinating and beautiful landscapes, amazing people, and a culture unique to them, Iceland is a special place that will always have a place in my heart. Our trip was only about a week long and I can’t stop thinking about the next time I will come back. There is still so much more to experience in this amazing country and I am truly lucky to have had the chance to visit with this great group of people.
Swanson School of Engineering 