I’ve recently got back from an absolutely excellent family holiday in Iceland, with around 1500 photos to prove it! I’m rather overwhelmed by the task of editing them and writing about all our experiences, but I need to get back into blogging after a very slack few weeks. Where to start? I have plenty of half-baked ideas bursting out of my head though they all need tweaking and further thought, especially so as not to simply repeat what many others have said about this incredible nation before me. Here I am, back in the intense yellow light of the Côte d’Azur, recalling a reflection I made while wandering around the streets of Reykjavik one grey, overcast, drizzly day last week. Trying not to moan too much about the totally horrible flat light for photography it struck me that the city wasn’t grey at all. It’s well documented that the capital of Iceland is a colourful city, seen from above it’s almost lego-like with brightly coloured roofs on top of the corrugated iron and wooden houses. But from ground level, the overwhelming dominant colour downtown appeared to me to be blue: a colour rarely seen in the architecture of my home area in the south of France (except for shutters). From whole buildings painted deep blue, to little details like window frames or flower pots, from bright blue roofs to grey-blue facades, the variety was endless and beautiful. So without further ado, I’m going to take you on a tour of “Blue Reykjavik”, as a little entrée into my view of Iceland and an appetiser of what’s to come in the next few weeks on the blog.
Want to visit Reykjavik on the cheap? Read my selection of best things to do for free or nearly free in the Icelandic capital.
It seemed appropriate that even our shoes were blue that day! Have you been to Reykjavik? Do you associate it with a particular colour? Or what about another city and its colour? I’d love to hear from you.
Further Reading:
Scratching the surface of Biarritz and the Basque Coast
Nice Carnival a colourful tonic for the winter blues
A walking tour of Monaco in pink
Hello again Phoebe. I thought I’d seen your gorgeous photos before – and I had! Just as beautiful second time around. I really love that you’ve zoomed in on this detail and made the most of grey days by accenting some colour.
Beautiful pictures Phoebe. Iceland is pretty high on my travel list. You have captured it’s ‘blue’ wonderfully. I particularly like the blue tyre for the flowers. Great snapshot of Reykjavik. Thanks for linking to #citytripping
Thank you for sharing your photos! Lovely!
What gorgeous photos – we had such a wonderful visit to Reykjavik a few years ago and it’s somewhere I’d love to take my daughter to when she’s a bit older. I didn’t remember the blue particularly, but having looked at your pictures, you’ve really captured the city. #citytripping
We had a fantastic family holiday in Iceland some years ago and it’s still the holiday which brings back the most memories for all of us. Your photos are truly beautiful and you must have been paying far more attention than I did – I never realised there was so much blue to be seen.
#citytripping
What a great collection of photos. Love that you’ve picked a colour to describe Reykjavik! We’ve just come back from NYC and couldn’t describe that in colours…only lights! #CityTripper
What absolutely beautiful photos! I love the way you’ve used a colour to group your photos together. It looks wonderful.
Glad to hear that from a Reykjavik dweller, thanks Kaelene 🙂
Blue really is a great color to describe Reykjavik!
I like your “yet”! I hope you find your dream blue house Van!
Oh how I would love to live in a blue house. We have a lot of them in Tromso too though unfortunately I don’t live in one of them (yet) 😉
Thanks Elle Alice 🙂
That’s an interesting idea Camila!
Thanks Cynthia, I think it’s easy to see Reykjavik as grey especially in dull light, but the blues really did stand out to me and I had fun spotting all the different shades. My kids thought I was mad!
What a beautiful town! So much character!
It was great finding you through Travel Tuesday!
Love your photos! I love that scandinavian countries like that have adding colour to their houses to something (i’m only guessing here) compensate for the lack of sun other times!
I am in love with this post. I never would’ve thought to associate Reykjavik with the color blue, but I completely see it now. I think mostly “grey” with a splash of random color thrown in, but I love this perspective. Thanks for sharing all of your lovely photos 🙂 Iceland is so magical.
Ooh I’m happy another person agrees with me!
I’m so pleased a true Reykjaviker (? not sure what people of RVK are called!) enjoyed my take on your lovely city. Thanks for commenting Halla.
Such a great idea! I love this, especially as my favourite colour is blue 🙂 I’ve been to Reykjavik and you are so right; it is blue! 🙂
Thank you for lovely images of my native and home city – I too love the blues of Reykjavik and love that you caught so many shades!
Regards, Halla
Oh I can’t wait to read your impressions of the country too. Jealous that you got to go to the Faroes.
Glad I brought back good memories Dianne
The flag is a mosaic with mirrors for the white cross, designed by students of the Iceland Academy of the Arts. I stumbled upon it in a street downtown.
Yes that particular colour was very unusual, it really caught my eye.
I’ll be writing more posts soon…..
I hope you get there Anna, it’s such a great place
Thanks Clare
You should visit him Marsha
Thanks Sally! 🙂
Michele you must go and visit your friends. Accommodation is so expensive in Iceland that having friends to stay with makes it much more doable. The church is Hallgrà Âmskirkja the tallest structure in the country and it will feature in future posts.
Still trying to find the time to edit and organise those photos! 😮
It’s really just my take on Reykjavik, not sure everyone would see it that way.
You can’t go to Iceland for the weather, it’s changeable, unpredictable and cold but that’s all irrelevant when surrounded by phenomenal scenery. I too am a hot weather person, but happy to make exceptions for places as unique and interesting as Iceland. I urge you to reconsider and give it a go Katie. You can always get hot and steamy in all the geothermal pools around the country! Look out for details on this in a future post.
Thanks SJ
I agree with Florence but surprisingly I’ve never been to Bath so I’ll have to take your word for it. I’m pleased to hear that you think RVK is a blue city!
I’m glad you enjoyed it Catherine
Phoebe, We are finishing up our trip to Iceland and the Faroes with lots of posts to come. I love your “blue”. I definitely think it fits Reykjavik. So colorful. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your photos!
So many blue things! Love the shot of the Iceland flag superimposed on an image of the country. So cool 🙂
I love the blue roof on the third photo down.
There certainly are some striking shades of blue. I’d like to venture to Iceland one day so look forward to finding out more about your holiday.
I love the blue color theme! And all the pictures of the cute little houses and doors :). I really hope to visit one day.
What lovely photos. Adore the blue theme
I visited Iceland 2 years ago and loved every minute of it. Nice to see photos today to remind me. Have a great week.
lovely…my nephew is doing his PhD in Reykjavik and loves it there.
Hello Phoebe,
You’ve proven once again that BLUE is the world’s favorite color!
Thanks for making Blue Monday special.
Have a Beautiful Blue Monday!
A very clever theme! Ever since 2 of my high school friends moved to Iceland, I’ve been wanting to visit. I hope you tell us more about that church whose very interesting steeple is peeking out in one of the photos.
Never been to Iceland, I love your focus on the color blue, I understand why you took 1500 pictures!
[stopping over via the Sunday Traveler link up]
Never knew it was so blue… 🙂
Love the color theme to this post! Iceland looks gorgeous – I haven’t thought about going there too much because I’m a total baby when it comes to cold weather! I prefer hot and humid, but your pics have me wondering if I should reconsider… 🙂
Ahhhh so much blue, and oh-so-beautiful. What a great set of shots Lou. Thanks for linking up with us for #SundayTraveler again.
Beautiful photographs, and well observed. I lived in Reykjavik for three years and never thought about its overall colour, but you’re right; it’s blue. As for other cities’ colours, how about terracotta for Florence, when seen from the surrounding hills, and creamy grey for Bath?
Thank you for your “”Blue Tour” of Reykjavik. I would never have thought of focusing on one colour in a town. You have hit upon a brilliant theme and I enjoyed it hugely. Sorry Reykjavik is not a town it is a city and according to your photographs a very pretty one.