![](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9766_by_bicnick.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&quality=99&ssl=1 )
In the city of cranes, work is never quite over.
Construction workers certainly know that, and yet they aren’t afraid of coming to Iceland from the disparate corners of the world to offer their sweat and tears to the expansion of Reykjavík’s urban map.
Polish workers seem to be particularly eager to move to Iceland, for six month stints, to fill positions that no Icelander wants. We followed Jarek Kuchta, a Polish crane operator who has been working on the construction of Hotel Hilton in downtown Reykjavík for the past four months.
Like the rest of his crew, Jarek lives in Mosfellsbær, in a hotel built from industrial containers. Every morning, at 07:00 on the dot, Jarek is ready begin his day amongst the clouds—but not before a cup of coffee and a sneaky cigarette. Not bad for a day’s work.
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> It's 07:00 when Jarek arrives to Harpa's empty parking lot. Nobody is around yet.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9415_by_bicnick-1.jpg?w=401&h=267&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> Safety first: nothing gets done without helmet and gloves.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9451_by_bicnick.jpg?w=197&h=132&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> A quick cup of coffee is essential to stay awake.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9439_by_bicnick-1.jpg?w=197&h=131&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> It's a long way up to Jarek's office: there's no time to waste.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9464_by_bicnick.jpg?w=243&h=162&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> Photo by Art Bicnick](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9502_by_bicnick-2.jpg?w=108&h=162&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> Jarek climbs to his office with determination...](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9571_by_bicnick-1.jpg?w=243&h=162&quality=99&ssl=1)
![DCIM100GOPROG0010988.JPG ... and he's finally on top of the city. Not a bad spot for a lunch break!](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/G0010988_by_bicnick.jpg?w=215&h=162&quality=99&ssl=1)
![DJI_0502c_by_bicnick DJI_0502c_by_bicnick](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/DJI_0502c_by_bicnick.jpg?w=215&h=121&quality=99&ssl=1)
![DJI_0490_by_bicnick Jarek's office is one of a kind and certainly not for the faint of heart.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/DJI_0490_by_bicnick.jpg?w=383&h=287&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> Photo by Art Bicnick](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9712_by_bicnick-2.jpg?w=317&h=211&quality=99&ssl=1)
![DCIM104GOPROG0034919.JPG Jarek can't see everyone from such heights...](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/G0034919_by_bicnick.jpg?w=281&h=211&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> ..., so he relies heavily on radio communication. With so many cranes and people around, the work needs to be careful and precise.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9698_by_bicnick.jpg?w=401&h=267&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a gigantic yellow crane!](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9721_by_bicnick.jpg?w=197&h=132&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> Good teamwork is the crew's bread and butter.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9735_by_bicnick-1.jpg?w=197&h=131&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> A quick cigarette break...](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9736_by_bicnick.jpg?w=317&h=211&quality=99&ssl=1)
![DCIM104GOPROG0014753.JPG DCIM104GOPROG0014753.JPG](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/G0014753_by_bicnick.jpg?w=281&h=211&quality=99&ssl=1)
![DJI_0496_by_bicnick ...with the best view in Reykjavík.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/DJI_0496_by_bicnick.jpg?w=190&h=142&quality=99&ssl=1)
![DCIM101GOPROG0011730.JPG DCIM101GOPROG0011730.JPG](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/G0011730_by_bicnick.jpg?w=190&h=143&quality=99&ssl=1)
![DJI_0476_by_bicnick You can see Hallgrímskirkja in the distance, a tiny dot in the horizon. How far high are we?](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/DJI_0476_by_bicnick.jpg?w=408&h=289&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> Only late at night do the cranes stop.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9783-HDR_by_bicnick-2.jpg?w=299&h=199&quality=99&ssl=1)
![Photo by <a href="//bicnick.com”">Art Bicnick</a> Before clocking off, the workers set up the cranes in the direction of the wind so that they don't fall down during the night.](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/BIC9480_by_bicnick-1.jpg?w=299&h=199&quality=99&ssl=1)
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