Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.07.2008, Blaðsíða 36

36 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 09—2008
DESTINATIONS By SigurÐur kJartan kriStinSSon — pHoto By Skari
The Emigration Settlement
Hofsós
Because of reasons related to both the
arduous climate and backbreaking
economy, a lot of Icelanders emigrated
to North America in the latter part
of the 19th Century. This museum is
dedicated to these travels and explains
why, where and how it took place.
Distance from Reykjavik: 326km
www.hofsos.is
The Salt Cod Settlement
Grindavík
The Icelandic fish is glorified world-
wide but since the early 19th Century
the main fish export from Iceland has
been salted cod. The exhibition is alleg-
edly “interesting” for foreign travellers
and ideal for students who have eco-
nomic ambitions. The main purposes
of the settlement are described in their
manifesto as an uplift for the Grindavík
community and a long wanted town
trophy which can make the inhabitants
proud. Distance from Reykjavik: 55km
www.saltfisksetur.is
Library of Water
Stykkishólmur
Last summer the celebrated New York
artist Roni Horn opened a permanent
installation in the Library of Water, a
modern museum in Stykkishólmur.
Roni had for some time been photo-
graphing Icelandic nature and the
installation is somewhat of a combina-
tion of her previous works. Distance
from Reykjavik: 172km
www.libraryofwater.is
The House of Edinburgh
Ísafjörður
At the dawn of the 19th Century all
commerce in Ísafjörður was oper-
ated through the Houses of Edinburgh,
originally established by Scots and
which later fell into the hands of Ice-
landers. The museum is dedicated to
the beginning of what turned out to
be the lifeline of this small community.
Distance from Reykjavik: 456km
www.kaffiedinborg.is
The Icelandic History of Music
Bíldudalur
This remote town in Northern Iceland
may not have much to offer at first, but
surprisingly has the only established
music museum in Iceland. If you’re
passing by you might as well as check
out Iceland’s music history – dating
from the settlement when Icelanders
used uncanny string instruments to cre-
ate music all the way to modern days
of pop music. Distance from Reykjavik:
384km. Phone: +354 456 2186
Museum of Skógar
Skógar
Skógar is one of Iceland’s finest spots
where you can witness some of the
country’s jewels, such as Skógarfoss
waterfall. The museum operated in the
setting lets you sneak a peek into life
as it was before, where you can find
the local church, the school, the farm-
house, the storehouse, as well as the
newest establishment of the museum:
the hydro-electric plant.
Distance from Reykjavik: 154km
www.travelnet.is
The Ghost Centre
Stokkseyri
The Ghost Centre is a museum that fea-
tures all of Iceland’s famous ghosts so
visitors beware, you’re in for a scare.
Upon arrival you can take the classic
ghost tour, where you’ll learn about the
country’s most infamous ghosts and
the storyline of several Icelandic ghost
myths are presented. If you get bored
with all the information you can always
just have a murky beer at the ghost bar.
Distance from Reykjavik: 59km
www.draugasetrid.is
The Viking Museum
Njarðvík
The great warriors of the North have
a significant background. It’s an ideal
end or beginning to your trip to Iceland
to stop at the Viking Museum, only a
small detour from the airport in Keflvík,
and get to know the red haired beasts
a little better. Distance from Reykjavik:
47km
The Art Museum in the
Westman Islands
The seductive archipelago of the West-
man Islands, a little south of Iceland,
has for a long time been the tourist’s
most treasured oasis in Iceland. The
extreme calm that encircles the old
fishing quarters is an attractive destina-
tion for many reasons, amongst others
such as the adventurous puffing hunt-
ing. You can also find the excellent Art
Museum which possesses a large col-
lection of Kjarval paintings, Iceland’s
dearest painter. Distance from Reykja-
vik: 51km
Museum Round Trip
A selection of museums outside Reykjavík
library of water in stykkisHÓlmur
NATURE IS THE ADVENTURE!
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