Day 7: Akureyri/ Trollaskagi Peninsula

30 September 2018

The hotel decreed that breakfast didn’t start until 8am so we have a slower than normal start. 8.45 departure on a beautifully sunny day but it is still sub-zero temperature.

Our first stop is the Godafoss waterfall (Waterfall of the Gods). It is said that into this 30m wide, gently curving waterfall, a pagan priest symbolically threw the idols of the Norse gold in the year 1000, signifying Christianity becoming Iceland’s official religion. I love this about Iceland – they can just make a decision and do it. In 1000 they decided to convert to Christianity (officially) but said that people could do whatever they wanted at home.

Similarly after WWII the Brits built roads in Iceland but then they handed over to the Yanks who decided that they needed to build everything bigger and better, and of course they had to change the side of the road that people drove on. They made a change overnight. At that time there were only 2 cars but they still managed to have an accident(!)

Then we drove further through snowy mountain passes to get to the town of Akureyri where some of the group are going whale watching. It is a beautiful little place set into the longest fjord in Iceland – capital of the north and has many similarities to Reykjavik.

Once we had seen the group off whale watching, the rest of us were free to explore the town for a couple of hours. Gill and I had a cup of coffee and then set off to explore. It was Sunday so there wasn’t very much open. We walked the stairs to see the church at the top of the hill (designed by the same person as the cathedral in Reykjavik). We got there just as they were closing the doors for a service so we just admired the view. Then we visited a tourist shop because we realised that we hadn’t taken any photos of the knitwear. And then carried on taking photos of fur accessories, Viking paraphenalia, and lots of trolls. We also had to admire the delights in the bakery (and shared a caramel scroll).

Akureyri’s traffic lights are delightfully quirky – the red lights are heart shaped, so we had to photograph those and then walked along the waterfront admiring the views of the buildings, sculptures and trees against the snow covered mountains and waters of the fjord.

We met the ‘whalers’ and then stopped at a cafe for lunch. Lisa had been promising more ice cream treats so we also visited a place that makes soft serve ice cream from milk not cream; you can have it dipped in a whole range of sauces (I had chocolate and caramel) and then in any topping you could imagine e.g. liquorice, peanut brittle, etc.

Then we set off on our afternoon’s long but picturesque journey – more winding roads so I’m happy to be sitting near the front again. This time we travel through 3 different tunnels through the mountains – one was over 7km long and the longest in Iceland. There is snow all around and at one lookout stop there is a snow covered ramp and a fully iced up car park. We start to appreciate the spiked winter tyres on the van. In Iceland winter tyres are compulsory from 15 October. Such tyres are banned elsewhere in Europe because they destroy the roads but are essential in the icy conditions in Iceland.

We have a break in the village of Siglufjordur, which was formerly the ‘herring capital’ of Iceland. There is a large and comprehensive Herring Museum celebrating the Herring Era but we all decline a visit in favour of stretching our legs, taking some photos and having a bathroom break. It is a very quaint and photogenic town.

When we arrive at our evening’s accommodation, Lisa has arranged a special treat for us: we have a whole range of Icelandic delicacies to try. We were warned when she said we would be trying them outside that one of these would be the infamous fermented shark. It smelt absolutely disgusting but although I didn’t like it (at all) it was not as bad to taste as it smelt. We chased this down with a shot of the Icelandic spirit Aquavit. We also had dried fish – which they eat spread with butter; mine was so hard that I couldn’t even chew it and just ended up with a mouthful of butter – and some dried seaweed.

The hotel staff had asked what time we wanted dinner (7pm) so we all relaxed with a drink, only to discover that they no longer served the dinner (that was included in the trip) at the hotel. No-one had bothered to tell Lisa and as every other trip she had done it had been at the hotel, she had had a glass of wine. We had to drive some distance to the restaurant instead so they had to locate a local driver with a van who could drive us to the restaurant. There was also some confusion as to what we were able to have ‘included’. It was a very nice restaurant and the food was delicious – I had the Seafood Soup with scallops, lobster and prawn (when it first came out it was rather short on soup but this was poured over the seafood later).

 

Please join me over the next several posts as I take you on our Journey to the Arctic (and more).

The Joy of Business Class

Copenhagen Stopover Day 1
Copenhagen Stopover Day 2

Arctic Express: Northern Lights
Day 1: Copenhagen to Reykjavik
Day 2: Reykjavik to Constable Point, Greenland
Day 3: Scoresby Sund: Frederiksdal & Flyvefjord
Day 4: Scoresby Sund: Nordvestfjord & Ingmikortilaq
Day 5: Scoresby Sund: Eskimobugt & Immikkeerikajik
Day 6: Scoresby Sund: Danmark Island & Vikingsbugt
Day 7: Scoresby Sund: Cap Hope & Ittoqqortoormiit
Day 8: Scoresby Sund: Steward Island & Constable Point
Day 9: Constable Point back to Reykjavik

Iceland Discovery
Day 1: Reykjavik: Blue Lagoon
Day 2: Golden Circle
Day 3: South Coast
Day 4: Jokulsarlon
Day 5: Eastern Fjords & Moorudalur Valley
Day 6: Moorudalur Valley & Lake Myvatn
Day 7: Akureyri & Trollaskagi Peninsular
Day 8: Grabrok Volcano & Snaefellsnes Peninsular
Day 9: Snaefellsness to Reykjavik

Toronto, Canada
Day 1: Reykjavik to Toronto
Day 2: Toronto to Port Perry
Day 3: Lake Muskoka
Day 4: Millbrook
Day 5: Back to Toronto
Day 6: Toronto
Day 7: Niagara Falls

 

 

 

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For this and other similar tours see:

Explore Europe with Intrepid Travel (a range of different travel styles – see my post on travel styles)

Peregrine Adventures (Comfort tours)

Geckos Adventures (for 18 to 30s)

Note: After people telling me they had booked an Intrepid Tour on my recommendation, I now have affiliate links with the Intrepid Travel group of companies and may receive a commission if you book a tour online within a couple of months after clicking through to these sites.  So if you are enjoying my tips and stories and finding them useful in choosing your own travel, please click on these links and help me to bring you more .

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