Reykjavik's Grey Embrace: A Botanist's Unexpected Detour
okay, so. i didn’t plan to end up in Reykjavik. My grant proposal for studying moss ecosystems in the Scottish Highlands got rejected (again - seriously, who needs that much paperwork?), and my therapist suggested I “shake things up.” Shake things up led me to a last-minute flight deal and a whole lot of confusion about Icelandic weather.
I just checked and it’s… a damp, pewter sky kind of day. The kind where the rain feels like a persistent mist, clinging to everything. The temperature’s hovering around 3.85 degrees Celsius, feels like 2.54, which is… bracing, let’s say. Pressure’s 1016, humidity’s a solid 95%, so pack accordingly. Seriously, pack everything.
I’m staying in a tiny guesthouse near the harbor. It’s… charmingly basic. The walls are painted a shade of blue that reminds me of slightly bruised blueberries. I spent the first few hours just staring at the moss growing on the building across the street. It’s different here. Tougher, somehow. Adapted to this relentless dampness. I’m already taking notes.
Someone told me that the harbor area can get a bit rough after dark. Apparently, there’s a bar called “The Drunken Viking” where things get… lively. I’m not really a bar person, but I might pop in just to observe the local flora and fauna, you know? (Metaphorically, of course. Mostly.)
I wandered around today, trying to find some decent botanical specimens. The *Laugardalur Botanical Garden was a surprisingly good find. It’s small, but they have a decent collection of arctic and alpine plants. I spent a good hour just sketching a patch of Dryas octopetala - mountain avens. It’s incredibly resilient. It’s like, “Yeah, it’s freezing and rainy. So what?”
I overheard a couple arguing about the best place to get skyr. Apparently, there’s a fierce rivalry between the local supermarkets. The woman insisted that Bónus had the best, while the man swore by Krónan. I’m not sure I care enough to get involved in that particular debate, but it was entertaining to listen to. You can check out some reviews on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g189970-Reykjavik.html.
I also stumbled upon a really cool street art scene. There’s this one mural near Grandagarður that’s just incredible - a giant puffin with a crown made of moss. Seriously, someone needs to document this. I’m thinking of reaching out to a local art collective. Maybe they’d be interested in collaborating on a project.
If you get bored, Akureyri is just a short drive away. I’m considering a day trip tomorrow. I need to see more of this island. I’m also checking out some local foraging groups on Meetup https://www.meetup.com/topics/iceland-foraging/. Apparently, there are some edible plants growing wild around here that I haven’t encountered before.
I heard that the Blue Lagoon is touristy and overpriced, but still worth a visit. Someone I met at the guesthouse said it’s like “bathing in milky blue sadness.” I’m not sure about the sadness part, but I’m definitely intrigued. You can find more info and book tickets on their website https://www.bluelagoon.com/.
Honestly, Reykjavik is… unexpected. It’s not the lush, vibrant landscape I was hoping for, but it has a certain stark beauty. A quiet resilience. And the moss? The moss is amazing. I’m already planning my next research trip. Maybe I’ll finally get that grant…
Oh, and Yelp has some interesting reviews of the local hot dog stands https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=hot+dogs&find_loc=Reykjavik%2C+Iceland. Apparently, you have* to try one.
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- https://votoris.com/post/commute-times-in-maputo-how-long-will-you-spend-in-traffic-seriously-its-a-thing
- https://votoris.com/post/what-is-ai-powered-qa