Reykjavík Grapevine - 16.06.2017, Qupperneq 61

Island Life
News From The Countryside: West Iceland Edition
Words: Alice Demurtas
Things To Do Outside Reykjavík
The airport in Bíldudalur in the Westfjörds has been seeing more action in
the past weeks than it has in years. Due to increased salmon farming,
Norwegian aircrafts have been landing there more often, temporar-
ily putting the small airport back on the international air map.
Finnbjörn Bjarnason, the airport guard, seems to enjoy the
idea of the suddenly busy summer that’s ahead of him.
Place:
Kópavogskirkja
Religious? Architecture aficionado?
Fast food fan? If you answered yes
to any of these, then take a gander at
Kópavogur’s Kópavogskirkja church.
The church is one of the ugliest
buildings you’ll see in Iceland [this
opinion does not reflect the view of
the Grapevine or Fröken ehf.], but if
you look at it from the side, some fa-
miliar golden arches come into view.
Pick up a burger from nearby Metro
and eat it in the parking lot. It’ll be
an experience memorable enough
to make you say: “I’m lovin’ it!” HJC
Canyon:
Þakgíl
The spectacular Þakgíl canyon
lies a few kilometres inland from
Iceland’s Ring Road. You’ll need
a decent car, but if you tackle the
rough, rocky road, you’ll be re-
warded with some amazing views
across the black sand beaches of
the coastline. There are a couple
of caves to visit along the way, and
the canyon itself is quite amaz-
ing, w ith monumenta l moss-
green walls reaching up to dizzy-
ing heights, and plenty of private
nooks and crannies to wander. JR
Pool:
Laugarvatn Fontana
A perfect finale for any day trip
around Þingvellir or the Golden
Circle is a dip in Laugarvatn Fon-
tana. It’s a fancy spa pool on the
shore of the lake Laugar vatn,
w it h severa l geot her ma l hot
pots of varying temperature and
some fiercely hot steam rooms.
There’s also a place where you
can jump in the lake to cool off,
if you’re a crazy person, or hap-
pen to be Finnish. They a lso
have a health food buffet to top
up your energy afterwards. JR
The appearance of odd
writings on the moss in
the countryside around
Nesjavellir has infuriated
everyone in equal measure. It’s still unknown
whether this act of vandalism has been carried out
by tourists or locals, but the fact that the fragile moss
holds a special place in the heart of Icelanders has made
matters even worse. Whether the perpetrators wanted
locals or aliens to “send nudes” and celebrate “LIFE,” as
their writings suggest, or whether they were just taking the
piss, is also under investigation.
An unusually cold front has been
tormenting the inhabitants of Vallanes,
close to Egilsstaðir, where the weather
has put the farmers at serious disadvantage
when it comes to vegetable production. Eymund
Magnússon, proprietor of Vallanes organic farm, is espe-
cially worried about the barley and salad vegetables he’s
planted. Despite the prospects of losing money, however,
Eymund is optimistic, saying, “There’s always something we
can rescue.”
ADVENTURE
AT SEA
REYKJAVÍK CLASSIC WHALE WATCHING
REYKJAVÍK EXPRESS WHALE WATCHING
REYKJAVÍK CLASSIC PUFFIN TOUR
REYKJAVÍK CLASSIC SEA ANGLING TOUR
WITH THE PROS
FROM REYKJAVÍK & AKUREYRI
BOOK NOW AT ELDING.IS
Tel: +(354) 519 5000
EL-01
EL-06
EL-05
EL-04
Classic and
Express tours
also available from
Akureyri.
Daily departures
available
Daily departures
available
Daily departures
available
Daily departures
available
See schedules on
whalewatchingakureyri.is
Elding Whale Watching Reykjavík . Ægisgardur 5 . Reykjavik's Old Harbour
Tel: +(354) 519 5000 . elding.is . elding@elding.is
Adults 10.990 ISK
7-15 years 5.495 ISK
0-6 years free
Adults (10 years+)
19.990 ISK
Min. height 140cm
Adults 6.500 ISK
7-15 years 3.250 ISK
0-6 years free
Adults 14.200 ISK
7-15 years 7.100 ISK
0-6 years N/A
Open 11:30-22:00
saegreif inn. is
Geirsgata 8 • 101 Reykjavík • Tel. 553 1500 • seabaron8@gmail.com
An absolute
must-try!
Saegreifinn restaurant (Sea Baron) is like none other
in Iceland; a world famous lobster soup and a diverse
fish selection.