As it got later more and more people started to fill the streets and parks. I was surprised to see so many people. Most of them gathered along the Marathon route. There was a band playing cover songs on the waterfront beside the route. They were playing in the back of what looked like an old Mercedes transport. The trailer, where they were playing, was still attached to the truck. It seemed like the fun was starting and I was amazed at how perfect the weather was.
I made it back to the hostel shortly after 3pm and finally checked in. I spent my remaining kronor on the night’s stay, rented linen, and a Hostel International membership card.
My room was shared accommodation with 5 bunk beds. If the beds were assigned, it appeared mine was taken. I just moved my stuff to the top bunk of another bed. The latter was thin and made of steel. There was not much to hold onto, and not much room to step. It became obvious why the bottom bunks were the first to be taken.
I said hello to the 3 other people in the room but everyone seemed pretty quiet. The couple that were at my assigned bunk talked really quietly in Italian as if they didn’t want to disturb anyone. I asked the girl where she was from and she asked me. I could tell her English was not very strong and didn’t attempt to carry on a conversation.
I walked around as the streets began to really fill up and performers played music outside of nearly every bar or restaurant. I had read online of an organic fish and chip place by the water. I thought I should try that. I double-checked the price to avoid what happened at breakfast. It was very busy so I opted to ‘take out’. I ordered from under the ‘recommended meal’ section. Meals were made by order a fish and a side. I got the ling fish with potatoes and tartar sauce. I sat on a concrete block by the water and ate there. It was about 7pm and it was starting to get colder by the water, I stayed anyway.
The food was delicious and enjoyed the thicker, more textured tartar sauce compared to the stuff back home. The fish had great flavour and was covered in a crisp but thin breading.
I noticed a lot of people with the same take out coffee cup. I took this as a sign of what was good and popular amongst locals. I remembered seeing the store earlier but couldn’t find it. I settled for another coffee shop that was serving outside in the street. The man greeted me in Icelandic, I smiled and replied ‘one coffee please’. He apologized and said he did not know I spoke English. I told him he shouldn’t apologize and thanked him for the coffee. A woman beside him took my money. She only gave me back a few coins. I wasn’t sure how much I was supposed to get back right away. I looked at the value of the coins. She then said ‘o you gave me a thousand…. I’m sorry…and handed me a bill I hadn’t seen before, 500 Kronor.
The streets were packed and it took me a long time to walk back to the center of town and where the main stage was being set up. From up on a hill everyone faced the stage and the harbour. A large statue was at the top of the hill and as the fields filled up, more and more kids climbed the statue for a better view.
Background music played as a band set up to perform. The main singer was bald with a long beard. They played rock music and were very entertaining. He sang a few songs in English before switching to Icelandic lyrics. The crowd was enjoying it and so was I, despite not understanding a word he was saying.
As that band finished up I thought I’d head to the hostel and bed for the night. It was getting cold by now and I was exhausted from walking around all day. I went back to the room and uploaded some photos and got ready to sleep. I could not get into the washroom in our shared room because someone was obviously in the shower. I waited and waited and noticed another guy and a girl appear to be losing their patients. I decided to go to the main reception desk and use the washroom there. When I got down there a guy at the computer desk asked if I was going to the fireworks. In the interest of waking up early I decided to give up on the fireworks earlier in the day. But something about him asking me, and the fact they were in only 10 minutes made me reconsider. So I used the washroom downstairs and went up stairs to re dress and grab my camera.
I made it to the harbour before there was any sign of fireworks, but people had gathered along the path and fence line facing the water. It wasn’t long before they started into an impressive show. There was nothing blocking the fireworks as they lit up the nights sky. I took the odd picture but tried to enjoy it without the camera. When I sensed the finale, I started taking a video. It was worth staying up for.
I went back to my bed and put my phone/alarm right beside my head. In hopes to hear it and wake up early before it would bother everyone else. I fell asleep almost instantly.
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