Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.10.2017, Blaðsíða 55

Island Life
Hot news from the Icelandic countryside
Words: Paul Fontaine
Picks: Best Of Iceland
A selection of winners from our Best Of Iceland travel magazine
Road Trip:
Reykjanes to Þingvellir

This trip will take you a whole day,
but you’ll see a range of stunning
scenery. Starting with a circle around
the mostly barren Reykjanes penin-
sula, you’ll see geothermal areas,
lakes, mountains and the beautiful
southern coastline, before looping
inland to end up at the historic, ever-
green Þingvellir national park. “This
is a perfect trip for taking pictures,”
said the panel. “It’ll be a long road
trip, but it’s worth it.”
Museum:
Eldheimar,
Vestmannaeyjar
This volcano museum focuses on the
1973 Westman Islands eruption that
destroyed 400 homes and businesses
and forced the entire population of
5,300 inhabitants to flee to the main-
land. At the time of the eruption, it
seemed doubtful that the islanders
would ever return. The museum is
newly built and highly modern, with
an engrossing interactive exhibi-
tion. “If you are in Vestmannaey-
jar, you need to go,” said the panel.
Bar:
Réttin, Úthlíð
The Réttin bar—also a restau-
rant—draws its name from the
sheep pen that used to be located
there. Alcohol is served into the
night, and you might even find
some live music. One thing our
panelists agree on is that the main
attraction might be the owner:
“Bjössi is a very funny man,” they
noted. “He always says, ‘there’s
nothing around here that I don’t
own’.”
ADVENTURE
AT SEA
REYKJAVÍK CLASSIC
WHALE WATCHING
REYKJAVÍK EXPRESS
WHALE WATCHING
REYKJAVÍK
NORTHERN LIGHTS CRUISE
WITH THE PROS
FROM REYKJAVÍK & AKUREYRI
BOOK NOW AT ELDING.IS
Tel: +(354) 519 5000
EL-01
EL-06
Classic and
Express tours
also available from
Akureyri.
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 10.990 ISK
7-15 years 5.495 ISK
0-6 years free
Valid until May 31st 2018
New Low Price
42.900 ISK
45.900 ISK
ESSENTIAL ICELAND
SUPER JEEP DAY-TOUR
ICELANDROVERS.IS • INFO@ICELANDROVERS.IS • TEL: +354 587 9999
VIÐURKENND
FERÐAÞJÓNUSTA
CERTIFIED
TRAVEL SERVICE
SILVER-CLASS
ENVIRONMENTAL
UMHVERFISFLOKKUN
A salmon that was caught in the Laugardalsá river in the West Fjords bears all the signs
of being an escaped farmed fish that found its way into the wild. The fish likely escaped
custody in the summer of 2016. One of the clues that points to its being a fugitive from
a fish farm is the obstructions in its bowels, which come from being vaccinated. Fish
escaping from farm
pens can have
devastating effects
on the local fish
stocks, but it
is unknown at
this time if the
escapee has
wreaked
any havoc.
If you’re looking for
a job in Iceland, you
might want to look into
the southern town of Vík. There, they had
to send playschool children home due to a
shortage of staff. Part of what complicates
matters is that there’s also a housing shortage
in Vík. So your choices are to either get lucky
enough to find a room for rent in the village, or
take a really long commute from Reykjavík.
Flooding in east Iceland has not
only been bad for the infrastruc-
ture, blocking and in some cases
completely washing out roads; Icelandic
farmers have also been having a hard time of
it. Many sheep have been rescued, but many
others are feared to have drowned. As a silver
lining to the whole situation, though, the ferry
Lagarfljótsormurinn, which had been in dry
dock for years, set sail again in Lagarfljót Lake
near Egilsstaðir.
55The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 18 — 2017
Now offering
catering service!
Laugavegur 2 101 Reykjavík tel: 552 4444