(Psst… this is my third post about Reykjavik. Part 1 is here, and part 2 is here.)

Time for my last post about Reykjavik! After a morning of coffee, fish stew, and exploring rainbow-painted pedestrian-only streets, I press onward through the downtown area. I don’t have much to add in the way of commentary, but these photos will give you a good impression of the charm and Nordic quaintness that is Iceland’s capital city.

In the winter months, this area freezes into a giant ice skating rink, but for now it’s a pond:

There’s some great artwork along city buildings downtown.

Kristjan who dropped me off in a Porsche last night, highly recommends this restaurant, Fish Market. It’s not really in my budget but I offer it to anyone reading this who is headed to Iceland. It’s upscale and the menu looks fantastic.

I pass by this town square as people are setting up picnic tables and a giant screen. I sense there might be a sporting event happening this afternoon… time will tell.

I love this next place — The Laundromat Cafe. I stumble upon it and just have to go inside.

They had me at these bookshelves organized by color. Please take my money and bring me a latte.

One of my favorite traditions each time I visit a country is to take time on my last day or two to write postcards. It’s a great way to reflect on the journey and take in everything I’ve done. As I’ve detailed before, I write myself a postcard from every country I visit with a list of all the things I did there as a mini-journal entry. My friends and relatives also receive frequent postcards when I travel; I love the ritual of writing them.

Having written my postcards and consumed my second latte of the day, I continue on towards the waterfront. This Icelandair Hotel at the marina catches my eye — I check out the lobby and admire its decor.

There’s a cute cafe next door that is also part of the hotel:

These are bold claims… I want a slice of captivating cake.

Yeah, okay, I guess those cakes could pass as captivating:

Across the street is Cafe Haiti, which is well-reviewed on-line. Since I’m not ready to eat yet I skip it but I’m intrigued by The Cinema next door.

I spot this advertisement board and decide to check it out.

For around $8 USD (if memory serves correct) I watch a 25-minute exclusive video on the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption from 2010. The footage was shot and edited by the couple who run this cinema; I meet the wife there and she tells me how they lived in Los Angeles while her husband went to film school. What a small world. I’m the only person at this particular showing. It’s a great space and I’m glad I checked it out.

This is the Maritime Museum:

Whenever I see U.S. locales used to describe international food, it cracks me up (see: Burger Wisconsin in New Zealand). This place called Texasborgarar — featuring a ‘Texas Pizza Pie’, no less — catches my attention. Worth noting: as of this moment, it ranks #335 out of #340 restaurants in Reykjavik on Trip Advisor.

My sister told me about a popular gelato place in this area called Valdis so of course I stop by.

Then I spot a sign for the Northern Lights Center, which I wrote about last week. I drop in since I have the time and it looks interesting. I love how free-form and spontaneous this day is, just hopping from one place to the next with no set itinerary. It’s my favorite way to travel.

I pass through this main square again on my way back; sure enough, a crowd has gathered to watch a sports game. The atmosphere is electric. Everyone is glued to the screen.

A few more charming storefronts as I walk back to KEX Hostel:

One last look at Hallgrimskirkja:

A homeowner has tested out new colors for their house, below. The bold-hued exteriors in this area make me smile.

Perhaps it’s silly that I’ve now eaten three meals at KEX when there are so many other restaurants to pick from in Reykjavik, but my sister raved about the cod dish and I have yet to try it. So it becomes my last meal in Iceland. It’s served over a bed of clams, potatoes, and leeks — like a deconstructed clam chowder.

And then it’s off to the airport for my late night flight.

This afternoon I found out at the Northern Lights Center that I might have a good view of the aurora borealis tonight once the plane gets above the cloud cover. Sure enough, I notice the faint green glow outside my window. It’s not as bright as it appears in this photo — for example, the people next to me on the plane could not see it at all — but the color comes out stronger in photos. When I press my nose against the glass, I can see it pretty well.

Isn’t it beautiful?

An hour or so later, it’s gone.

Pro tip: if you have a late night flight into or out of Iceland, sit on the side of the plane that’s facing north for the best view of the Northern Lights.

Can you believe this wraps up my time in Iceland? I’ve been writing about it for months! Tomorrow I’ll have a budget breakdown and then a final recap the day after that. My time here was short but I am so grateful to have witnessed Iceland’s beauty.