Reykjavik, Iceland

There is a certain harmony in Reykjavik. Quietly, away from the spotlight, Icelanders have managed to create a

city with no real shortcoming. Defying all urban logic Reykjavik is able to be a clean, completely safe city, while

still maintaining a good healthy metropolitan feel when it’s in the mood to; having arguably one of the best party

scenes in Europe. As a New Yorker it can often be hard to admit that another city may have us beat, Reykjavik

certainly comes close. It doesn’t make sense, how can Reykjavik provide entertainment up to par with any cities’

standards yet still be so incredibly friendly and safe? In Manhattan, if a drunk teen was seen standing on the

hood of moving vehicle the way I have seen so many do on Laugavegur, there are only two possible scenarios;

Death or arrest. Reykjavik is an anomaly; Cities that provide as much as Reykjavik does are just not supposed to

be flawless places with the warmest of people. You can feel it on the busiest street and you feel it in the most

out of the way places, there is a certain camaraderie in Reykjavik that you don’t find in most cities of two

hundred thousand people, it almost feels as if everyone is agreed, “Hey, were all in this together.” Bus drivers

let us on when we didn’t have the right change, cars on busy streets stopped for careless pedestrians who

wandered into the street, bikes sit all night unlocked, I even saw a mother or two leave her child in a stroller

outside a café when she ran in for coffee. (something that is preached against is parenting seminars around the

world.) While these miracles are easy to take for granted when seen every day, to a New Yorker it makes you

question everything about your city, and your society. That level of trust and confidence in ones fellow citizens is

infectious. I soon found myself holding door open, offering the elderly my seat on the bus, even lending a

stranger four hundred Krona at the 10-11. In Reykjavik you can find the largest of parties or the quietest quaint

streets. You can immerse yourself in metropolitan culture, or look up and see mount Esja looming in the

backdrop, reminding you that natural beauty will always be prevalent in Iceland, no matter how much Reykjavik

blossoms. I have read reviews online saying Reykjavik is a party town, a good place to stop for the weekend on

your way to Europe. I fiercely disagree. While I would gladly argue in the favor of Reykjavik’s nightlife compared

to that of other cities, that is another discussion for another day. The fact is, Reykjavik is not a party city, and

partying is certainly not what makes it a special place. It is that mixture of old and new, traditional and young.

These contrasts don’t clash like they do in many cities, why? Because the people in Reykjavik have a unique

attitude towards each other and it goes far beyond respect. Of course Reykjavik doesn’t have an advantage in the

livability category because it is a reasonably small city. However it is still uncommon, if not near impossible, to

find a place that has all of the good qualities of a big city and none of the hindrances. Aside from the laughably

picturesque setting, it is, in short, the extraordinarily thoughtful and considerate people who inhabit Reykjavik

that make it an incredibly inspiring and refreshing place to visit. Or if you are lucky enough, to live.