The University Library on a Cold Winter Morning

This is the National and University Library (or in Icelandic bókhlöð , meaning "book stacks" - no, more like book repository) located just across the street from the University of Iceland and the National Museum of Iceland on Suðurgata at Hringbraut. It's a nice walk past the town lake and through the sculpture-filled lakeside garden (see this map - the library is point number 14). Bring some bread and feed the ducks and geese on your way. Or you can pass through the very beautiful old cemetary (marked with a blue cross on the map) then stop at the museum or library for a cup of coffee before strolling back to your hotel or guesthouse. Worth the round trip!

By the way, I just found a really cool interactive map at the Visit Reykjavik web site. Go there and click on, you guessed it, Interactive Map.

I also want to plug The Reykjavik Grapevine which, with it's (relatively) new editorial staff, has taken leaps and bounds in quality. It's the only truly independent newspaper in Iceland and, whether or not you agree with its editorial content, it is an important source of alternative information here on the island. And it's all in English!