Today marked the final day of my world journey, which I planned to end with a visit to Hallgrímskirkja church and a night out in Reykjavik. I woke up around 11 am, still feeling groggy. Although I tried to get some work done on my laptop, fatigue got the better of me. Embracing the laid-back mood, I opted for a lazy day, relaxing and napping a bit more in the dorm.
Meeting Vera
Around 3 or 4 pm, I finally emerged and headed to the kitchen for a drink. The smell of someone’s cooking lingered in the air, though it was a bit odd. A girl was making pasta, and as I grabbed my drink from the refrigerator, I tried to play the nice guy of the dorm. ‘That smells nice,’ I commented. She smiled, and a conversation began.
She asked me to guess her nationality, which turned into a fun little game. My first guess was American, which she quickly dismissed, almost looking offended. ‘With that attitude, you must be British then?’ I teased. She laughed but shook her head. Eventually, Vera revealed she was Australian. ‘Alright, then I’ll guess your city—Melbourne, right?’ I said confidently. Bingo! I was right. Almost every Australian traveler I meet seems to come from Melbourne—it’s weird, but true.
We struck up a great conversation—Vera was a cool girl and an avid traveler. She had explored South America, recently come from Canada, and was now making her way through Europe. We chatted about Australia and Indonesia, and as we talked, it hit me how long ago my time in Indonesia felt—almost like it had been three years. Such a strange feeling.
Travel by Foot to the Church
I grabbed a drink and later said goodbye, determined not to let my last travel day go to waste. One of Reykjavik’s must-see spots was Hallgrímskirkja church, a towering church in the city center, and I decided it was time to check it out. The distance from the hostel wasn’t far, so walking seemed like the best option. At the reception, I asked about the church and learned the lookout tower was open until 9 pm. ‘Lookout?’ I asked, suddenly more excited—it wasn’t just the church I’d get to see, but also a panoramic view of the city from the tower. Around 7 pm, I left the hostel and started my walk to Hallgrímskirkja church.




I strolled through the city center, which wasn’t very crowded. The houses, with their weathered exteriors, had a certain charm, but to me, they felt more worn down than anything else. It gave the area a somewhat dreary vibe—almost depressing, in my opinion.
The Hallgrímskirkja church was about a 15-minute walk away. When I arrived, I snapped a few pictures and paid the 600 Krona fee to take the elevator up to the tower. The ride itself was a bit unsettling—church music played softly in the background, and for a moment, it felt like I was on my way to meet my maker. Definitely not the most relaxing elevator experience!








Beautiful Vistas Over Reykjavik
At the lookout of the Hallgrímskirkja church, I gazed out over the city and snapped a few photos. Reykjavik had a serene charm, living up to its title as Europe’s smallest capital. The colorful houses added a cheerful touch to the landscape, though a few could definitely use a fresh coat of paint—just a little character, I suppose!








In the distance, I spotted Harpa, the iconic concert hall I’d read about earlier. It seemed like another spot worth visiting. Checking my map, I gauged the distance and planned my evening. I wanted to be back at the hostel by 8 p.m. to relax for a couple of hours before heading to bed. With an early 3 a.m. wake-up call and a Flybus pick-up scheduled for 3:30 a.m., I needed to make the most of my remaining time.
Checking Out Harpa
I had plenty of time, so I headed downstairs and asked the staff at the ticket desk if Harpa was still open. They assured me it was, thanks to the restaurant inside. Without hesitation, I left Hallgrímskirkja church and set off toward Harpa, eager to see it up close.




The streets grew busier as I walked, and I realized this must be the main street. There were clothing stores, a Subway, and a souvenir shop. I decided I’d stop by Subway on my way back to the hostel. At this point, I felt like I could apply for a marketing job there—I’d probably eaten over 100 sandwiches already, haha.












I had a great time at the Harpa concert hall. The windows were definitely impressive, with the beehive-shaped panes reflecting the lights, and some of them were colored. Upstairs, I captured some cool close-ups and spent around 40 minutes there in total. The shop caught my attention too, though it was filled with expensive art pieces.
Blue Skies?
As I walked back to the hostel, I noticed something happening in the sky—the clouds were parting, revealing a patch of blue. It felt so special that I had to take a picture. Ten minutes later, the blue sky was gone. The weather in Iceland was really starting to depress me, but thankfully, sun and warmth awaited me back in the Netherlands.




After having a Subway sandwich, I headed back to the hostel and relaxed in the lounge for an hour. Vera mentioned she was going to check out a band at the nearby Kex hostel, where a free concert was happening. I decided to join her.
Live Music at the Kex Hostel
“Through Vera, I met two other girls—Hanna from Texas, with whom I talked about San Francisco, as she was planning to move there soon, and Ellis from France. Of course, I had to practice my French with her, which mostly consisted of swear words. Hanna knew the way to the hostel, having been there before, so she led us. ‘If we get lost, we’ll just blame the American girl,’ I joked. After 10 minutes, Hanna declared that she was lost, haha. I checked the map on Vera’s phone—it was simple, so I took over and guided us there in another 10 minutes.”
“The Kex hostel was packed, and the band was playing outside. The music was strange and unsettling, with the band singing in Icelandic, and I’d classify it as screamo. After a few minutes, I decided to head back inside for a beer.”




A Fun Night Out
At one point, Claire, a friend of Vera, joined us. Claire was also from Melbourne, Australia. We had a great time, and as the night went on, it got later and later. At one point, the bartender made a mistake and gave me 3000 Krona, even though I had only paid him 1000. Being the nice guy that I am, I pointed out his error and returned the extra money. Yes, I’m such a good person!
While I was in the bathroom, the girls (Claire, Vera, Ellis, and Hanna) took a photo together. It was a fun moment, and later in the evening, two other American girls joined us. I regret to say I’ve forgotten their names (writing this 10 days later, I know, silly). The older sister was living in France, and the younger one was visiting her.
I can’t recall the exact time, but I think it was around midnight when the bar stopped serving alcohol. We left, but I was convinced to stay a bit longer.
The next bar was a bit dull. We sat outside, and there was this Icelandic girl who was really drunk. She kept pretending to be from Australia, which was pretty funny. Every now and then, she’d spin her cup and proudly show how the drink stayed inside. She was completely hammered, haha.
Pulling an all-nighter
At around 1:20 am, I left with Hanna. She had to wake up early too, though not as early as me at 3 am. By then, I had decided to just lie down in bed and wait until 3 am. I didn’t want to risk missing my flight.
I did, and around 3:45 am, I was picked up by the shuttle. Clara, the German girl from my dorm, had to leave too, and we were on the same tour bus. We chatted a bit more before saying goodbye at the airport.
Security Check and Breakfast
After passing through security, my bag was searched again—about the third time, I think. The last time was in the US when they found my sunscreen. I was pretty sure they’d find nothing this time. After a couple of minutes, the security guy handed my bag back. I continued on and wandered through the shops. First, I treated myself to an overpriced breakfast: a croissant, a sandwich, and a drink. While eating, I had to grab something from the small pouch of my bag. As I dug deeper, I found two small soap bottles I had gotten at the Blue Lagoon. I wasn’t sure if they were allowed, which might explain why my bag had been searched. Security breach?
Afterwards, I exchanged my last Icelandic krona for euros. It felt strange to hold those small bills again—amazing, really. While I was waiting, my Indonesian friend AJ texted me, wishing me a safe flight. I thanked her, and we chatted for a bit. ‘So many great memories, and today it all ends. What a journey,’ I texted. She replied with some wise words.
I’ll close this blog post with her words: “It’s not the end, it’s just the beginning.”