Reykjavík Grapevine - 16.03.2018, Qupperneq 51

4.8
4.9

Hað Bláa
The Blue Sea
restaurant with a view
483-1000 • hafidblaa.is
5 minutes from Eyrarbakki
at the Ölfusá bridge
483-3330 • raudahusid.is
10 minutes from Selfoss
and Highway 1 in Eyrarbakki
open daily 11:30-22:00
Traveling the south coast or Golden Circle?
Reykjavík
Eyrarbakki
Keavík
International
Airport
Vík
Island Life
Hot news from the Icelandic countryside
Words: Paul Fontaine
Best Of Iceland
A selection of winners from our Best Of Iceland travel awards
South:
Best Hike
Þórsmörk
Þórsmörk is a dramatic moun-
tain ridge in a wide, ashen val-
ley. It’s between two glaciers that
shelter it from the wind, creating
a warmer climate than the sur-
rounding area. Through it runs
Krossá, a shifting glacier river—
you can get a bus there, or cross
the footbridge. Head to the camp-
site to pick up a trail map.
West:
Best Meal
Bjargarsteinn Mathús
Located in the coastal haven of
Grundarfjörður, Bjargarsteinn
Mathús is a small-town eatery
that serves up a mix of traditional
foods (think dried shark skewers,
fish soup, skyr) with bold twists
(think sweet potato muffins and
blueberry thyme sauces). If that’s
not enough, the food also comes
with a stunning view of the moun-
tain Kirkjufell.
North: Best
Bathing Spot
Hofsós Pool
The pool at Hofsós is situated just
at the edge of a cliff at the edge of
town; there’s no fence, and the views
extend out to the island Drangey and
beyond, all the way to the cliffs on
the far shores of Skagafjörður. An
infinity pool, North Iceland style.
“I’d drive hours to get there, espe-
cially at sunrise or sunset,” one of
our panellists said; the others mur-
mured approvingly.
East: Best
Accommodation
Skálanes
The unusual, ambitious and re-
mote Skálanes guesthouse is lo-
cated in a nature reserve 17 km east
of Seyðisfjörður, it’s the opposite
of a roadside motel—you’ll have to
cross a small river to get to this
tranquil and ecologically minded
place. “It’s not the most luxurious,
but it’s the most authentic,” said
the panel. “It’s completely isolated.
It’s just you, the house, a couple of
other people and nature.”
East Iceland will welcome some 19 Iraqi refugees this month,
who will be settled in Reyðarfjörður and Neskuapstaður. The
first families arrived earlier this month and were well received
by locals; the families are all being registered in classes about
the Icelandic language
and culture, and
the kids are getting
involved in sporting
activities. A definite
step up from a
Jordanian ref-
ugee camp,
from where
they were
selected.
In decidedly more upbeat
news, the line-up for Aldrei Fór
Ég Suður festival in Ísafjörður
has been finalised. This year,
the festival will include
such acts as rockers
200,000 Naglbítar,
folk and blue-
grass musician
Michelle Niel-
son, rapper
Birnir and
Joey Christ
and the incom-
parable Friðrik Dór.
Held every
Easter, this
year marks
the 15th itera-
tion of the festival.
In tragic news, a head-on collision in south Iceland resulted in the death of two Dutch tourists, a man and a woman, who
were reportedly driving west from Laugarvatn when their vehicle strayed into the left lane, striking a vehicle coming from
the other direction. Both the weather and road conditions were fine that day, so police are still investigating what could
have caused the crash. Authorities in Holland have been notified.
51The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 04 — 2018