Wednesday 29 January 2020
"Would you like some tomato soup? It's free!"
Once upon a time I fell in love with a little gem called Reykjavik. It took my breath away (quite literally - it was freezing!) More than that, though, this explosion of natural beauty gave me a cultural experience I never expected, which, no doubt, influenced my perspective of the place.
I've been freelancing as a travel writer for a few months now and I've recently come to something of a 'conclusion.' I say 'conclusion' carefully, because I doubt you can ever really come to an endpoint when it comes to story-telling/freelancing/general travelling tbh. However, my work has made me realise something. If going off travelling is all about inspiring people to break boundaries and connect with different cultures, then I think it is safe to assume that it requires a mixture of two things: courage and curiosity.
With this in mind, in my opinion, Iceland is the sort of place that ignites a flame of wonder deep in your belly whilst simultaneously fulfilling any curious desires for knowledge and adventure. From the amazing natural landscapes you're presented with to its deep historic Nordic roots, there is a magic to Reykjavik that you’ll struggle to find elsewhere.
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| TLC, innit! |
And that’s before you’ve even met Greta!
You see, my cultural encounter with this city was heavily influenced by the kindness and warmth of a local waitress called Greta who offered me free tomato soup. Ok: it seems a bit of a simple tale and, at first, hardly relevant. However, to me, it was ground-breaking: it really gave me a sense of what Reykjavik, and its people, are all about.
“Would you like some tomato soup? It’s free!”
A relatively basic question, sure. But after the day I’d just had (not needing to go into that), Greta’s warm question and kind eyes spoke to me deeply. Maybe I looked sad. Maybe tired. I don’t really know, and I suppose it doesn’t really matter, but there was something so genuine about Greta, her free soup, and her conversation. We bonded over her English ancestry, my passion for her city and all things Dolly Parton (because who doesn't want a blonde bouffant? Greta with her grey wisps and my scraped back brunette bun were seriously jealous!)
Rose-tinted glasses aside, my encounter with this waitress spoke volumes about this city. Sure, it’s beautiful and historic and all that, but to me, Reykjavik will always be the friendliest place on the planet. All because of a cultural encounter with an elderly café owner and her tomato soup.
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| Post-broth-bliss xoxo |