A close-up of the altar of the Hallgrimskirkja, the Lutheran church in Reykjavik. (Oct. 1, 2021)

Views from the tower of Hallgrímskirkja. An elevator whisks you to the 8th floor and then its less than 40 steps to this gorgeous view of Reykjavik. (Oct. , 2021)

Views of Mount Esja, a volcanic mountain range situated on the south-west side of Iceland and visible from Reykjavik, in this case from a top the tower of Hallgrímskirkja. (Oct. 1, 2021)

Views from the tower of Hallgrímskirkja. (Oct. 1, 2021)

Views from the tower of Hallgrímskirkja. (Oct. 1, 2021)

Views from the tower of Hallgrímskirkja. (Oct. 1, 2021)

My room with a sink at the Aurora Guesthouse in Reykjavik. I’m told the water in Iceland is quite drinkable, straight from the faucet. (Oct. 1, 2021)

The exterior of the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik. The windy walk to the museum helped to wake me up and the myriad of historical artifacts kept me going. (Oct. 1, 2021)

The interior entrance to the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik. (Oct. 1, 2021)

The Badstofa, at the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik, was a communal living space until the 1950s when this type of accommodation gave way to more modern housing. (Oct. 1, 2021)

Inside the communal living area of the Badstofa, at the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik, where there was often a small table beneath the window with a small chair. Small chests and boxes were placed on the floor, on a shelf over the bed or in the bed itself. Carding combs, knitting needle boxes, spindle containers and food bowls were stored on shelves above the beds. Bed boards were often carved and placed at the edge of the bed at night. (Oct. 1, 2021)

A close-up of the carved and painted oak altarpiece from 1682 AD depicting the Last Supper at the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik. Christ sits in the middle with a rectangular halo, and in front of him is a chalice and a dish holding the paschal lamb. All the Apostles have a halo but Judas, their treasurer, who holds a purse. (Oct. 1, 2021)

This is a 1682 AD carved and painted oak altarpiece depicting the Last Supper at the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik. On the side panels are paintings of St. Paul the Apostle and the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. (Oct. 1, 2021)

Gorgeous wood carved boxes at the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik. (Oct. 1, 2021)

Around 1000 AD, the Icelanders adopted Christianity and a majority of the most splendid artistic objects of the Middle Ages are connected with religious observations. This beautiful carving is of the Virgin Mary with her mother, St. Anne and the infant Jesus from around 1500 AD at the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavik. However, during the period of 1540 to 1550 AD, the Icelandic Church became Lutheran. The Reformation in Iceland took place on the orders of the King of Denmark and Iceland, which reinforced his power. (Oct. 1, 2021)

A view of the Tjörnin, a small prominent lake in central Reykjavík that I passed on my way to and from the National Museum of Iceland. (Oct. 1, 2021)

The Tjörnin, a small prominent lake in central Reykjavík. (Oct. 1, 2021)