Reykjavík Grapevine - 19.06.2015, Blaðsíða 34

Reykjavík Grapevine - 19.06.2015, Blaðsíða 34
34 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 8 — 2015TRAVEL How to get there: If you are driving youtself, take Route 61 from either Ísafjörður or Road 1 at Brú, that will lead you to Hólmavík. You can take the bus there too. It runs three times a week during the summer. Strandir Strandir is an area on the east side of the Westfjords, reaching from Hrútafjörður to Reykjarfjörður. It’s one of the most sparsely populated parts of the country with around 800 inhabitants spread over 3,500 square kilometres. Strandir’s tour- ism industry is a bit of a late bloomer, per- haps partly because of the lack of dra- matic attractions like there are in South, and definitely because of tough road conditions, although there have been some improvements in recent years. Exploring the swimming pools in the region is an adventure worth tolerat- ing the bumpy road for. There are four of them. Yep, there are four swimming pools, and several hot tubs, for 800 peo- ple (well, and a bunch of tourists). What’s perhaps even more surprising is that the pools in the more remote areas are actu- ally far older than the ones in the more populous areas. 1 Hólmavík The first swimming pool you will en- counter in Strandir is located in Hólma- vík, which is the region’s largest town (approximately 400 people). Construct- ed in 2004, this is—truthfully—the most uninteresting pool on the list (although the fact that it exists is interesting). This 25-metre pool is the only one in the re- gion that’s not heated by a geothermal energy source. But it’s nice enough, with hot tubs, a wading pool, a sauna and a gym. Situated next to a campsite, it should satisfy any tourist’s need for cleaning, refreshing, exercising and re- laxing. 2 Drangsnes The next pool you’ll find in Strandir, is in Drangsnes, a village of 70 people. This cute little 12.5 x 8 metre pool opened in 2005 and also has a hot tub, a wad- ing pool, a sauna and a gym, along with a great seaside view towards Grímsey island. However, Drangsnes has a far more popular and attractive bathing option: the hot tubs. These legendary tubs have been located at the shoreline, just off the main road, literally since the day after a geothermal energy source was discovered in 1997. Originally, there were two green tubs, donated by a trout farmer. Now only one of the origi- nal tubs remains, and there are an addi- tional two more conventional tubs with seats and massage jets. Back in the day, it was not uncom- mon to see the people of Drangsnes walking the streets wearing bathrobes, on their way to or from the hot tubs, but now there is a changing and showering facility across the street. People used to joke that the locals used the hot tubs much like the Gauls used the magic po- tion in ‘Asterix’: to gain their strength. 3 Laugarhóll Now we get to the even more interest- ing pools. Those are a bit more difficult to access, as the roads in the northern part of Strandir are unpaved. Just drive carefully. Words Ragna Ó. Guðmundsdóttir Photos Art Bicnick/Ragna Ó. Guðmundsdóttir Swimming pools and hot tubs are always major attractions in Iceland, both to Icelanders and foreign tourists, and they can be found in the most unlikely places all over the country. Swimming On The Edge Of Nowhere Swimming pools in Strandir ÞÓRSHÖFN VOPNAFJÖRÐUR GRÍMSEY ÍSAFJÖRÐUR AKUREYRI EGILSSTAÐIR REYKJAVÍK
Blaðsíða 1
Blaðsíða 2
Blaðsíða 3
Blaðsíða 4
Blaðsíða 5
Blaðsíða 6
Blaðsíða 7
Blaðsíða 8
Blaðsíða 9
Blaðsíða 10
Blaðsíða 11
Blaðsíða 12
Blaðsíða 13
Blaðsíða 14
Blaðsíða 15
Blaðsíða 16
Blaðsíða 17
Blaðsíða 18
Blaðsíða 19
Blaðsíða 20
Blaðsíða 21
Blaðsíða 22
Blaðsíða 23
Blaðsíða 24
Blaðsíða 25
Blaðsíða 26
Blaðsíða 27
Blaðsíða 28
Blaðsíða 29
Blaðsíða 30
Blaðsíða 31
Blaðsíða 32
Blaðsíða 33
Blaðsíða 34
Blaðsíða 35
Blaðsíða 36
Blaðsíða 37
Blaðsíða 38
Blaðsíða 39
Blaðsíða 40
Blaðsíða 41
Blaðsíða 42
Blaðsíða 43
Blaðsíða 44
Blaðsíða 45
Blaðsíða 46
Blaðsíða 47
Blaðsíða 48
Blaðsíða 49
Blaðsíða 50
Blaðsíða 51
Blaðsíða 52
Blaðsíða 53
Blaðsíða 54
Blaðsíða 55
Blaðsíða 56
Blaðsíða 57
Blaðsíða 58
Blaðsíða 59
Blaðsíða 60
Blaðsíða 61
Blaðsíða 62
Blaðsíða 63
Blaðsíða 64

x

Reykjavík Grapevine

Beinir tenglar

Ef þú vilt tengja á þennan titil, vinsamlegast notaðu þessa tengla:

Tengja á þennan titil: Reykjavík Grapevine
https://timarit.is/publication/943

Tengja á þetta tölublað:

Tengja á þessa síðu:

Tengja á þessa grein:

Vinsamlegast ekki tengja beint á myndir eða PDF skjöl á Tímarit.is þar sem slíkar slóðir geta breyst án fyrirvara. Notið slóðirnar hér fyrir ofan til að tengja á vefinn.