Iceland - Land of Fire and Ice

Part 4 - Akureyri - to Reykjavik Whales and Horses oh my

"Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you .... Tyrion Lannister"

Day 5 - We continue our drive around the northwestern coast of Iceland. We wake up early to start the day with a whale watch tour at Dalvik. Humpbacks, minkes and blue whales all call the waters off the north coast of Iceland home. The weather was cold, and windy and we donned insulated dry suits to cruise past snowcapped mountains and mountain villages. Unfortunately, we only saw two whales on this trip.

After we left Dalvik, we continued around the peninsula to Icelands northernmost town, Siglufordur. By the early 20th century, many people came from other parts of Iceland to work the herring industry. They built brightly painted iron and wooden houses to offset the gloomy weather this far north.

On our way to the accommodation for the night, we drive through Skagaförður, a beautiful landscape of fjords dotted with a few islands. The steep sea cliffs form from the remnants of a 700,000-year-old volcano. The Icelandic Grettis Saga tells the story of the outlaw Grettir, who at age 14, kills a man in a quarrel and is outlawed for three years. He spends the years taking refuge along these sea cliffs performing many brave deeds.

Day 6 - A relatively short drive day in West Iceland that started with a hike to Grabrok crater, an ancient formation dating back 3,000 years and towering about 170 meters (558 feet) above the ground. Both the lava field and its craters have been protected as a nature preserve since 1962

We continued driving the west coast into the Borgarfjörður area. Stopping at the legendary waterfall, Barnafoss (the Children´s Waterfall), According to legend Barnafoss takes its name from two children who fell into the waterfall. One day a mother went to a Christmas service but left her children at home. When the widow came back from the evening service her children had disappeared. People went searching and found their footsteps leading to the stone arch over the river. Their mother had the arch destroyed promising that no one would ever cross the falls alive again.

This area also houses the Hraunfossar waterfall, a collection of creeks and cascades streaming out of the lava over a distance of about 900 meters.

The last stop on the tour before reaching Reykjavik is the Sturlureykir horse farm, a family run farm for over 150 years. The first central heating system based on natural hot water in Europe was built at this farm. We had the opportunity to taste fresh bread baked outside over the natural hot steam vents. It is known for its unique Icelandic horse breeding practices and stunning countryside location. Sturlureykir Horse Farm

I hope you enjoyed this four-part series. Iceland is truly a magical land. Filled with natural wonders, volcanoes, glaciers and fjords. During the long dark winter nights of old, storytelling was the chief form of Icelandic entertainment, with each region fostering its very own bulk of tales and legends that were passed down from generation to generation throughout the centuries. Since the first Norse settlers reached the island, Icelanders have told fantastic tales of their strange encounters with the many peculiar supernatural beings with which they share the land. From the extraordinary Lyngbakur—a fishermen-eating whale giant that disguises himself as an island—to the trolls of day and night, Icelandic folklore is riddled with countless tales of fantastic spirits that reflect the unique natural landscapes in which they reside. A Complete Guide to Folklore in Iceland | Guide to Iceland