Icelandic cool in Reykjavik

Almost a decade after Reykjavik was forced to reinvent itself, it remains wonderfully weird, perhaps more than ever, writes Cynthia Rosenfeld.

As a point of divergence between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, Iceland is home to more strange beauty than most places: Snow-covered peaks, black-sand beaches, skyscraping geysers and caves glittering with kaleidoscopic stalactites.

The country’s drama isn’t restricted to its landscapes, though. After the 2008 banking collapse, the government imposed a steep exit tax to keep investors from moving their funds abroad.