Reykjavík Grapevine - 14.07.2017, Side 55

Island Life
News From The Countryside
Words: Paul Fontaine
Things To Do Outside Reykjavík
Place:
Hornstrandir
The Hornstrandir nature reserve,
on the northern edge of the Westf-
jords, is only reachable by boat from
Ísafjörður. The area is deserted, hav-
ing been abandoned by its entire
farming community during World
War II. Throughout history it was a
place where outlaws hid away before
boarding ships for distant shores,
and where polar bear attacks were
frequent. Today, it has become a pop-
ular hiking area, with its sublime
nature attracting hundreds each
summer. EÞ
Event:
Sæluhelgin Suðureyri
The village of Suðureyri, popula-
tion 270, was founded in the 9th
century by Hallvarður Súgandi,
who f led Norway after losing a
battle against King Harald. Each
summer in the beginning of July it
sheds its bloody past and celebrates
Sæluhelgi (“Pleasure weekend,” in
English—and no, not that kind,
you pervert). It’s a family-friendly
festival filled with activities, and a
Friday party. The village is charm-
ing, and the festival is a remnant
of an Iceland before tourism. EÞ
Ferry:
Baldur
Do you like puffins? Of course you
do. What about ferries? Well, we
do. Therefore, taking the ferry
Baldur from Styk kishólmur is
highly recommended. The trip
ta kes you over Breiðaf jörður,
an island-filled fjord. The most
prominent is Flatey, which has a
cosy little hotel; it was on Flatey
that the most extensive manu-
script in Icelandic history, Flat-
eyjabók, was written. You could
also treat yourself to the “Viking
Sushi” boat tour—it’s yummy. EÞ
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
Glæsilegur veitingastaður á Hótel Örk. Vandaður matseðill og hlýlegt umhverfi.
Pantaðu borð í síma 483 4700 eða á hverrestaurant.is.
Meanwhile, in the Westfjords, the eagle population is growing. Good news for us,
bad news for fish and other birds. There are now 76 mating pairs of eagles in the
region, up from 74 pairs the year before. At this rate, in a couple of decades the
Westfjords will be practically teeming with eagles. You won’t be able to step outside
without some eagles getting all up in your face, trying to steal your hot dog, and
harassing your cat. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
You might know lupins as those lovely
blue flowers you find growing in the wild
all over Iceland. You might find them
beautiful, but you would be wrong. East
Iceland news service Austurfrétt reports
that they are actually a scourge. The non-
native flowers have spread
at an alarming rate and,
having no other plant spe-
cies to keep them in check,
they effectively choke
the life out of other
plants. This leaves
us with fields
of gorgeous
lavender flowers,
instead of good
ol’ fashioned
grass and rapidly
eroding soil. Curse
you, lupins!
By far the
most cryptic
news story to ap-
pear from the coun-
tryside these
past couple
of weeks has
been the story of
Guðmundur B. Guðmunds-
son, a doctor and landowner
from Snæfellsnes. He
has reportedly owned
a giant swath of land,
stretching from Hafnarf-
jall to Borgarfjörður, since
1968. West Iceland news service Skessuhorn
reports that Guðmundur’s dream is to be rid of
livestock, and develop the land to grow a forest.
“But that would not come to pass,” Skessuhorn ominously
intones. “All about that in Skessuhorn this week.” Come on, Sk-
essuhorn. This isn’t ‘Twin Peaks’. Don’t leave us hanging like that.
What’s to become of Guðmundur’s forest? We need to know!
Finally, in the south: someone in
Selfoss reportedly found an undis-
closed sum of cash in front of a store. The
honourable person took the money directly to
the police, who have posted a shout-out for anyone
missing the money. And you thought common courtesy
was dead.