| No, well get out your beach towels. For, on a | | | | charge of all the pools and spas in Reykjavik. |
| beautiful, sunny and calm summer day, admittedly | | | | Your day at Nauthólsvik can include most |
| a rare meteorological occurrence at this latitude, | | | | of the standard beach activities - sorry, no |
| you may want to visit Nautholsvik (pronounced | | | | surfing. It even has a very nice paved walkway |
| "nay-tolls-veek") for a day at the beach. Yes, | | | | that follows the ocean, circling around the airport |
| there's a beach in Reykjavik, the capital city of | | | | in one direction and following along the bay in the |
| Iceland, and on very good day you can sunbathe, | | | | other direction. People rollerblade, walk, run and |
| play volleyball, build sandcastles and even swim. | | | | bicycle along this route. There's even a small |
| Truth be told you could do many of these things | | | | coffee house near the beach sporting a traditional |
| on any day just not in a swimsuit. Iceland is | | | | Icelandic sod roof. There you can have the |
| famous, or shall I say notorious, for its capricious | | | | refreshment of your choice and watch the people |
| weather. | | | | go by or daydream about traveling to an island |
| That's not to say that there isn't nice weather | | | | way out in the North Atlantic, just below the |
| here. It just won't stay that way and warm days | | | | Arctic Circle. Wait that´s where I am! And, |
| are somewhat rare, all of which creates a sense | | | | I can't help but be almost constantly amazed by |
| of urgency to get out and soak up the sun. The | | | | the irony of this place given its global position. |
| day I visited Reykjavik's "thermal beach," as it is | | | | Planet Earth is an amazing, beautiful and diverse |
| called here, was on a particularly splendid Saturday | | | | place. |
| in July, the skies were clear, the winds calm and | | | | Nautholsvik used to be just the site of a small, |
| the temperature was about 19 degrees Celsius | | | | natural hot water stream that fed into the ocean |
| (66 degrees Fahrenheit) -- downright warm for | | | | and Icelanders have been coming here to bath for |
| Iceland. | | | | years. Though I wonder how warm the bathing |
| Nautholsvik is situated in a nice little cove at the | | | | area was back then with just a small hot water |
| mouth of a small bay and is not far from | | | | stream flowing into the bay. This spot is no longer |
| downtown Reykjavik. If you are ever here and | | | | dependent on a small stream and has its own |
| want to find this beach just locate the Reykjavik | | | | connection to the city's hot water supply which, |
| Airport and follow the road that parallels the | | | | coincidentally is located in five huge tanks on the |
| runway to the end. Yes, it is right near an airport | | | | hill above the beach at a site called Perlan (the |
| but it is just a small regional airport for domestic | | | | pearl). Iceland has hot water in spades; it is the |
| flights and not a big noise disturbance. On the | | | | lifeblood of this country. And, it is used for just |
| contrary, it's kind of interesting to see the various | | | | about everything, from home heating to warming |
| small aircraft taking off and landing. Nautholsvik is | | | | the ocean water for swimming. Let's face it |
| mostly man-made: the sand was brought from | | | | without this abundant hot water swimming here |
| elsewhere and the ocean swimming area artificially | | | | would be unbearable. |
| created. It has two fresh water swimming/wading | | | | It is redundant and almost cliché to say |
| pools more like oversized hot tubs, called hot | | | | that Iceland is a land of extremes and contrasts, I |
| pots, both with heated fresh water. The two hot | | | | know. But, the truth is, everywhere you look you |
| pots are kept at about 38 degrees Celsius (about | | | | are reminded of this fact. |
| 100 Fahrenheit) and the ocean swimming area is | | | | Nauthólsvík is just another |
| about 30 degrees Celsius (about 86 Fahrenheit). | | | | example of this. Iceland is a beautiful country and |
| There's a nominal charge of 200 kronur (about | | | | there is so much more to see. It can also be a |
| $2.75) per person to swim in the hot pots; other | | | | harsh land. These contrasts come together to |
| then that the beach is free. There's also a nice | | | | create an atmosphere and mood that is totally |
| building adjacent to the rectangle shaped pool | | | | unique. And, when the weather decides to |
| where you can borrow a locker, change into your | | | | cooperate and the sun shines and the sky is clear, |
| swimsuit and buy ice cream and other snacks. | | | | I have rarely seen a more beautiful place than |
| The whole thing is run by a city wide organization | | | | here. The views go on and on as far as the eye |
| called Íþrótta Og | | | | can see, the air is clean and clear and the |
| Tómstundaráð | | | | temperature can soar - well, sort of. So, if you |
| Reykjavíkur (a mouthful), ÍTR for | | | | come to Iceland, don't forget your sunscreen. |
| short. They are the same organization that's in | | | | |