Discussion: Of which nothing remains

Actually, the legislature (Althing) was a temporary encampment for a couple of weeks each summer. Some people put up tents or booths in the plain, but there was nothing permanent. What you saw was pretty much what it would have looked like for about 50 weeks of the year, though the plain has grown about 2 cm a year due to the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pulling apart.

It is said to be the oldest parliament in the world, the more remarkable because it seemed an unlikely direction for Vikings to take. They conducted business, settled grievances and listened to the law recited - from memory! - by the current Lawspeaker who delivered his recitation from the rock called Logberg, which you most likely saw (it has a flag flying above it and is right near the side of the edge of the tectonic plate you would have hiked along). The Lawspeaker recited 1/3 of the law each year for a 3-year cycle, and if he forgot any particular law, it ceased to be in effect. The current Althing is in a building on Austurvollur - the square in the center of downtown Reykjavik.

I was especially interested to visit Thingvellir last year as it appealed to my history background, but also because it's so fascinating from a geology viewpoint.

Thanks for the write-ups of this and Scotland. I've been enjoying yours and Peggy's trip vicariously!

Thanks for the background! We didn't have enough time to fully explore Thingvellir, the place I was most interested in, both because of the history and the cool landscape.

It was the place I was most interested too! And I just didn't feel as if I had enough time there either. I was there with a group that ran the marathon or half marathon in Reykjavik and one of the men achieved his seven continent medal with Reykjavik, which counts for Europe. So, they wanted to line us all up in front of the Law Rock, give him his medal, and take a photo. Being a very cooperative type, I lined up the first time they asked and then stood there waiting and waiting and waiting for the slowpokes, or so it seemed to me because I wanted to use every minute there.

So this year, the Golden Circle tour and the half marathon are the only things I'm repeating, and if they need to take a photo at Thingvellir, it will be me that everyone waits for this time! :-)

Yes, thanks for the additional background. We did go to a Reykjavik museum the next day so as to make better use of a rainy and very windy day. They explained a lot of the history of Iceland in the museum, and they included much of what you said, about the development of government. It was in a surprisingly small exhibit in a great big building but it was done fairly well with realistic looking wax models and audio headsets. The exhibit kept the interest of our son Max pretty well.

Yeah, I was surprised he lasted about halfway before he took off his headphones and said "this is boring." I think he liked seeing the realistic dead figures though.
And he got another sword ... :-)

That's good! You seem to have a done a really good job of engaging and holding Max's interest during your sightseeing, not easy with all the electronic distractions he seems to like! :-)

Nadim, I had to get out a map and follow your run. You were in the area of the early part of the Reykjavik Marathon and Half Marathon. The marathoners go way out to the east and finish with a somewhat different loop of that peninsula again. The day I ran the half was beautiful and sunny, but it was still very foggy on that peninsula. I guess you don't have to go too far in the city to find different weather sometimes.

It was nice visiting there. I did see a few runners and wondered how they go about training as the weather worstens. With all the paved footpaths, they seem to have some good areas as long as the weather and ground conditions aren't too bad.

The museum we went to was the Saga Museum.

Yes, there are some nice paths along the water on the north and south side. Also, the marathon organizers sent out an video with information on parts of the city you'd run through and some interviews with city residents, and one part showed people training for the race by running in Heidmork conservation area which looked very nice. I read that the winters in Reykjavik, because of its maritime climate, are about the same as New York City's. Probably more rain than snow, but wind is pretty prevalent, I guess.

I did see some information on the Saga Museum when I was at Perlan, but didn't get to it. If I have time, I will try to visit this time. Thanks!