The Land of Ice

One of the benefits of flying on Iceland Air is the ability to plan a layover. So we did. We booked three nights in Reykjavik at the Hilton, courtesy of Hilton Honor's frequent stay program. As evidence that I travel too much, we had access to the executive lounge which includes breakfast, all day snacks and beer. This saved us a lot of money during our stay in Iceland. 

Visiting the Blue Lagoon was high on our list but we opted to skip it because Jennifer would not be able to enjoy it fully. We determined it would be a waste of money (transportation, food and the $40 entry fee ... each) for her to dip her toes. So we skipped it and spent a day in Reykjavik instead.

We started with ... what else? The Icelandic Phallological Museum.

Yep, and entire museum dedicated to penii from all sorts of animals, including humans. This was not in the tourism literature but very easy to find online. It was ... interesting.

They had a ghost penis and even a merman penis. Now I feel inadequate.  

Next up was a giant church with someone inside playing the organ (a different kind than in the museum...) and a violin. We skipped the trip up into the tower. Although the tower was sort of phallogical too ...

Once more strolling around downtown, we stopped at the only brewpub in the country, and was pleasantly surprised at how good the beer was - both the IPA and the stout, and played a game of backgammon while listening to the young average-looking girl going gaga over the attractive icelandic boy at the table with her. And wondering if this was the gathering place of the wandering youths of Europe.

A quick stroll around the town hall and pond then we were on the last shuttle back to the hotel. Yep, last shuttle, and it's bright daylight ... the sun does not set here in the middle of the summer. It was time for dinner, beer and chess in the executive lounge, on the ninth floor of the Hilton, overlooking Reykjavik and the fjord.