1 00:00:03,079 --> 00:00:10,279 There is a saying that Iceland is green and Greenland is ice, and on Google Maps, you can certainly see this is true. 2 00:00:10,279 --> 00:00:14,779 Apparently, we have the Vikings to thank for the funny mix-up in the names. 3 00:00:14,779 --> 00:00:23,472 This past summer, during an amazing cruise to these 2 unique countries, I saw for myself lots of ice and green, but also so much more. 4 00:00:25,826 --> 00:00:32,879 Welcome to Romancing Reads, an Anne Webster's new series on cruising through Iceland and Greenland. 5 00:00:35,650 --> 00:00:50,819 Spectacular, awe-inspiring, extraordinary are just some of the many adjectives I could use in describing the amazing Oceania Insignia cruise I took with my sister, Vera, to Iceland and Greenland, called Atlantic, Glaciers and Harbours. 6 00:00:50,819 --> 00:00:57,360 Follow along on our adventure through this blog series, starting with our first port in Reykjavik, Iceland. 7 00:00:57,959 --> 00:01:01,999 Before I begin, however, I would like to say a dedication. 8 00:01:01,999 --> 00:01:12,859 This blog series is dedicated to the memory of Walter Penner, my sister's husband, who sadly passed away just 2 months before realizing his dream of going on this trip. 9 00:01:12,859 --> 00:01:18,142 I'm forever grateful to my sister Vera for asking me to accompany her in his place. 10 00:01:18,819 --> 00:01:25,232 And now part one: Reykjavik, embarking on an amazing cruise to Iceland and Greenland. 11 00:01:26,139 --> 00:01:33,319 There is a saying that Iceland is green and Greenland is ice, and on Google Maps, you can certainly see this is true. 12 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,819 Apparently, we have the Vikings to thank for the funny mix-up in the names. 13 00:01:37,819 --> 00:01:46,544 This past summer, during an amazing cruise to these 2 unique countries, I saw for myself lots of ice and green, but also so much more. 14 00:01:47,079 --> 00:02:02,039 Spectacular, awe-inspiring, extraordinary are just some of the many adjectives I could use in describing the amazing Oceania Insignia cruise I took with my sister, Vera, to Iceland and Greenland, called Atlantic, Glaciers and Harbors. 15 00:02:02,039 --> 00:02:15,299 Vera and I had so many wonderful experiences on our trip, and in my blog series, I will share some of the highlights of what we saw, did, and learned, as well as some tips and recommendations in case you go there one day. 16 00:02:15,299 --> 00:02:17,699 Discovering Reykjavik, Iceland. 17 00:02:17,699 --> 00:02:24,080 Our trip began with a 7hour flight from Vancouver to Reykjavik, the capital and largest city in Iceland. 18 00:02:24,579 --> 00:02:32,339 Reykjavik has about 140,000 people, which is roughly one-third of the population of the entire country. 19 00:02:32,339 --> 00:02:40,019 From this, you can gather that the rest of Iceland must have mostly small towns, and we indeed saw that for ourselves. 20 00:02:40,019 --> 00:02:46,539 A few small villages here and there, amongst large expanses of green open spaces. 21 00:02:46,539 --> 00:02:51,759 After our flight landed, we had a few hours to explore Reykjavik before boarding our cruise ship. 22 00:02:51,759 --> 00:03:01,319 We headed over to the downtown area to see some of the main sights I had read about, chuckling as we tried to read the funny long street names that Iceland is known for. 23 00:03:01,319 --> 00:03:08,499 As we walked along a multi-use path, taking deep breaths of the fresh clean air, we were struck by how neat and clean the city was. 24 00:03:08,499 --> 00:03:12,879 Reykjavik looked like many modern cities and had a European feel about it. 25 00:03:12,879 --> 00:03:21,679 Tall office-type buildings were interspersed with simple yet colorful apartment buildings, many adorned with beautiful identical flowerpots. 26 00:03:21,679 --> 00:03:28,339 We did not even need a map to spot one of the main attractions, the majestic Hallgrímskirkja Church. 27 00:03:28,339 --> 00:03:35,619 Towering over the city, it is one of Reykjavik's most famous landmarks and is one of the tallest structures in all of Iceland. 28 00:03:35,619 --> 00:03:44,259 With its unusual conic shape and side wings, it is symbolic of the volcanoes, mountains, and glaciers of Iceland's landscape. 29 00:03:44,259 --> 00:03:50,019 From there, we wandered down to the waterfront area, browsing at the shops and sights along the way. 30 00:03:50,019 --> 00:04:01,119 The weather being unusually warm and sunny for Iceland at 20 degrees Celsius, average for August there is 10 to 15 Celsius, we were happy to spend the day outdoors. 31 00:04:01,119 --> 00:04:09,599 As we approached the water, we spotted the famous Hofdi house, where a major historical summit took place in 1986. 32 00:04:09,599 --> 00:04:17,099 The presidents of the USA and Russia, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, met there to discuss an end to the Cold War. 33 00:04:17,099 --> 00:04:22,559 Other famous people who have visited it include Winston Churchill and the Queen of England. 34 00:04:22,559 --> 00:04:28,719 From our viewpoint, the historic white building looked especially lovely against the blue waters of the ocean. 35 00:04:28,719 --> 00:04:36,439 Arriving at the water's edge, we strolled along the scenic shoreline path and again took some deep breaths of the clean fresh air. 36 00:04:36,439 --> 00:04:42,179 In the distance, we could see another prominent landmark, the award-winning Harpa Concert Hall. 37 00:04:42,179 --> 00:04:56,219 With its gigantic size, unique geometric design, and green glass exterior, it was impossible to miss, and later we could even see it from a long ways away as we left the harbor on our cruise ship. 38 00:04:56,219 --> 00:05:04,239 As we meandered down the path, taking in the spectacular views of the city and harbor, we could hardly believe we were actually in Iceland. 39 00:05:04,239 --> 00:05:07,079 It seemed another world away from our home. 40 00:05:07,079 --> 00:05:19,619 Then, as if saving the best for last, we came to our final main sight to see in Reykjavik, the Sun Voyager, a strikingly beautiful and unique steel sculpture resembling a Viking ship. 41 00:05:19,619 --> 00:05:32,579 Known as an Ode to the Sun or a Dream Boat, it represents a dream of hope, freedom, and discovery and was created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Reykjavik. 42 00:05:32,579 --> 00:05:40,304 With the sparkling blue waters of the Atlantic as its backdrop, we could see why it is one of the most photographed statues in Reykjavik. 43 00:05:40,779 --> 00:05:53,118 Finally, with those breathtaking images still in our heads, it was time to bid farewell to Reykjavik and make our way to our cruise ship and the exciting start of a voyage to new and wonderful places.