Reykjavik, Iceland

We caught the shuttle from the ship to Harpa, Reykjavik’s stunning concert hall, where we set off on foot to explore the old town. It was really mild at around 13 degrees which we were assured was unseasonably warm, so all around us were locals stripped down to short sleeves whilst we were bundled up in three layers. Within minutes, we unsurprisingly found ourselves at Eymundsson, a chain bookstore with an huge selection of books, magazines, luggage, stationery and gifts. I bought a copy of Independent People, the book for which famous Icelandic author Halldor Lakness won the 1955 Nobel prize in literature, a cute book bag, a couple of fridge magnets and an Icelandic house magazine. I know, I don’t know a word of Icelandic, but the homes and decor are so fabulous that I figure I’ll just enjoy looking at the pictures! The other stores we visited were absolutely gorgeous and shockingly expensive. Iceland is eye-wateringly expensive, which I see as its only downside. The old town is really pretty and quaint and the architecture is amix of traditional and super modern, which somehow just works.