Bad weather meant we missed the remote Icelandic port of Isafjordur. No matter, we diverted to Reykjavik and stayed overnight: what a bonus it turned out to be!!

In the morning, way in the distance (straining the telephoto lens), and over a strangely green sea … a fishing boat and a snowy mountain … this MUST be Iceland!

What an impressive little city is Reykjavik. More than 200,000 of the 330,000 Icelanders live here, and the place seems to hum. On the way into town from the port, modern buildings, excellent roads and infrastructure. Construction activity. Clean, pacey and orderly.

An impressive glassy Concert Hall on the waterfont …

We walked and found locals enjoying the short summer outdoors …

Past impressive older buildings (clad with corrugated iron to protect them from snow, ice, and salt attack in the winter!)

… and lots of interesting little houses …

Up the hill to this huge, impressive, modern Lutheran church …

… and up its tower for great views of the city (see the modern buildings on the waterfront).

Jan indulged her favourite pastime (in beautiful shops, I might say), but everything was pretty expensive …

After checking out the celebration of gay pride in the main street …

… we bumped into new shipboard friends Tom and Deanna Jones …

… and walked together along the main shopping street …

We dined (on fish of course) with the Jones’ here …

Every local we spoke to was delightfully friendly and helpful, (… and spoke perfect English). They also obviously have a sense of humour. We saw a few “folk” like this …

… and came across this.

We couldn’t read the plaque, but my guess it must have had something to do with bankers with rocks in (on?) their heads … a subject very close to Icelanders’ hearts since 2008!