Around Iceland

Dear Friends,

Our last four days have been spent in Iceland and tomorrow we disembark in Rekyavik. Most of our fellow passengers are heading home tomorrow, but Charlotte and I decided to spend another day in Iceland before beginning our homeward journey. When would we ever be here again?

Seydisfjodur

Our first landing in Iceland was in the town of Seydisfjordur. It lacks the quaint charm of the Shetlands and the Faroes, yet it has a quirky vibrancy.

Particularly endearing was the Technical Museum of East Iceland, an ambitious warehouse of film footage, time capsules, and old tools and gadgets from the last 100 years. Charlotte had fun here.

Sadly this town has had its share of tragedy. Due to its location avalanches and mudslides are a frequent threat.

In 2020 14 buildings were demolished by a ferocious mudslide. Fortunately no lives were lost.

Grimsey

Grimsey, population 100, was a delightful stop.

Svavar Knutor

After dinner on our first night in Iceland we had a delightful concert on our ship given by Svatar Knutur, an Icelandic folk singer. His pure voice was enchanting, his personal anecdotes were both humorous and tender, and his songs were intriguing in their originality.

Svatar and his 8 year old son stayed onboard with us for a few days He gave another concert before they left. It was a treat!

Vigur

Vigur is a tiny island in NW Iceland (an area called the Westfjords.) Its family of 3 humans are the only permanent residents, but in the summer they are visited by thousands of eider ducks, arctic turns, and puffins.

The arctic terns are so vigilant of their young that we walked with poles and sticks above our heads so they wouldn’t dive bomb us. (It happened anyway. I was lucky to have been spared.)

We spent a sunny windswept morning there.

The owners of the island also make a living exporting eider down from the eider ducks who also nest here.

The North Atlantic Ice Shelf!

After lunch back on the ship we headed towards Rekyavik around the west coast of Iceland. There was talk from our expedition leader earlier that morning that we were going to be pretty close to the North American Ice Shelf, and wouldn’t it be fun if.. .

Well we got our chance!

It began like this.

The next thing you knew, we were sailing along, accompanied by ice-crushing sound effects.

Lest you be concerned that the captain was foolhardy, this ship spends the months of December-February in the Antarctic.

We have been so fortunate!

Best.

Mary