Iceland is tied up with the sea. A sea fishery has still a significant impact on economy of the country and it is possible to find in every family some member who worked at least once in the open sea. So there is actually nothing strange in the fact that Seafarer´s Day is celebrated all around the country. In 1987 it was even announced as a statutory holiday in a view of playing a key role by the sea and seafarers in the country‘s history. For 15 years The Festival Of The Sea has been organised in the capital city of Iceland in the harbour area and it has been expanded into a weekend-long event.
Although the weather during the weekend of 31st of May and 1st of June was not good enough and quite a big part of planned attractions took place outdoors it was impossible not to feel this serene harbourside carnival-type atmosphere. However, it does not change the fact that the festival was way more popular on Sunday since it is a proper day of celebration. Then people of Reykjavík assembled with all their families in the old harbour counterbalancing the amount of tourists that visited all the spots curiously.
The festival is mostly aimed at families with children so the most occuppied place turned out to be a playground near the pier. Normally it is just a small playground but that weekend it turned into a centre of fantastic fun that was constructed of things from the ocean and not only the youngest had there a great time. Children could spend this day having their faces painted, playing pirates or wearing sea hats made of newspapers at Krínólin Hat Shop and also could try out their courage thanks to Ársæll Search and Rescue Team on a rescue line bridge by Víkin, Maritime Museum.
Glancing at the surface of water in the harbour it was noticeable how gladly Óðinn, the Coast Guard Vessel, was visited. Further in the direction of the city, in the Old Harbour, were a lot of tourists going on the whale´s watching trips. Little ships cut through waves in the gate of the harbour.
For two days Grandagarðurinn had been turned into a pedestrian precinct where were exhibited various (and sometimes also eerie) specimens of fish that were trawled in Icelandic waters and were quite an attractions for children. Who would not like to check, especially in the childhood, if this monster in a container with ice will move by any chance? Stands with local specialities mostly focused on sea products like for example a few kinds of herring or other fish were situated all around. Restaurants in the harbour area offered a special menu and a traditional Icelandic fish soup was given away on the streets of Reykjavík not only in the heart of the harbour but also even on the main promenade of the city, Laugavegur! However, there was a little wagon of Bæjarins Bestu Pylsur too, serving the most famous Icelandic snack, and a Sunday´s family walk could not be fulfilling without Valdís’ ice cream. It does not matter that it was raining and the temperature was barely vernal. In Iceland there is always time for ice cream.
Typically, such an event could not be celebrated without live music. A sound of accordion was heard in many places at the harbour offering us sea shanties. There were also stages set up in the Old Harbour, at Gamlagarðurinn and HB Grandi that let listeners experience various music including this year Eurovision representative, Pöllaponk, or Icelandic rap music performed by Reykjavíkurdætur.
There were also other solutions than experiencing a drizzle outside. During The Festival Of The Sea local museums had some unique offers. That weekend the city gained two new objects – The City of Reykjavík Museum, that actually unites five other museums, and the second one called The Aurora Reykjavík Northern Light Centre that will for sure satisfy tourists that visit Iceland in the summertime because… now they can come back home with their very own taken photo of the northern light although they could not observe it on the bright sky.
Summing up, The Festival Of The Sea can guarantee that there will be an opportunity to feel the Icelandic atmosphere that is very precious to people who did not grew up here or have not soaked with this specific climate yet. It is also a good occasion to spend a lazy and careless afternoon with family or neighbours, to have a walk around the harbour or just to experience a lot of Icelandic attractions located in one small area these days.
Justyna
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