Jürgen and I have been to our share of pride parades around the world: Boston, Berlin, NYC, Spain. But we've never seen a Gay Pride quite like Reykjavík's, held annually in August. Led by its mayor, the entire city paints itself in rainbow colors and puts on an astonishing celebration of gayness.
It was my birthday, and Jürgen had thought of the perfect present: a trip to the Penis Museum! After all, what could possibly delight a birthday boy more than a building full of animal dongs?
Iceland welcomed its first permanent resident in the 9th century, when Ingólfur Arnarson landed on the shores of Reykjavík. Today, most physical traces of early Viking culture have vanished, so it was a big deal when, in 2001, a longhouse was discovered in the center of the capital. After careful excavation, it's been opened to visitors as the the 871±2 Settlement Exhibition.
Geologically speaking, Iceland is one of the Earth's newborns. The island didn't even exist until after the age of dinosaurs had passed, and it was the last European territory to be settled. Iceland continues to grow, still firmly in its adolescence, but its short history has been a volatile one. Whether they've been dealing with abusive Danes, glaciers, the plague or volcanic ash, Icelanders have had it rough. Here's a rundown of the biggest events in the country's history.
A light-gray concrete space shuttle pointed to the stars, the Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík's most instantly recognizable landmark. Set atop a hill, the Lutheran church is visible from miles away, and its tower offers one of the best views of the city.
Reykjavík is more than just Iceland's biggest city. It's Iceland's only city. Really, even calling it a "city" feels like an affront to its spirit. Despite claiming two-thirds of the country's total population, Reykjavík is closer to an overgrown village than a major European capital.
Iceland, a small island stranded in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic, was our home for 91 days. The country's 300,000 citizens lay claim to some of Europe's most remote and beautiful terrain. Massive glaciers, simmering volcanoes, geothermal pools, puffin colonies, Viking sagas, whales and nerve-wracking road trips conspired to provide us with an exhilarating summer.
