Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2018, Page 63

WE LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU AT OUR EVENTS!
See full line up at:
centerhotels.com/centertainment_events
Centerhotels are offering a line
up of fun events this summer,
a little something we like to call
CENTERTAINMENT
JUNE
7
Jazz In The GardenCENTERHOTEL
MIÐGARÐUR
18:00-20:00
Free admission, extended Happy Hour and
other drink/food offers
JUNE
13
Jörgensen Wine Tasting - 3.900 ISK CENTERHOTEL
MIÐGARÐUR
18:00-19:00
Limited seating capacity so book your seat
in time at: bit.ly/MG_Winetasting
JUNE
17
Happy Birthday Iceland!
ICELAND
00:00-23:59
An annual holiday in Iceland which celebrates
the foundation of The Republic of Iceland on
17 June 1944.
JUNE
21
Jazz In The GardenCENTERHOTEL
MIÐGARÐUR
18:00-20:00
Free admission, extended Happy Hour and
other drink/food offers
JUNE
14
Jazz In The GardenCENTERHOTEL
MIÐGARÐUR
18:00-20:00
Free admission, extended Happy Hour and
other drink/food offers
JUNE
28
Fokus Group - Vocal GroupCENTERHOTEL
MIÐGARÐUR
19:30-21:00
Free admission, extended Happy Hour and
other drink/food offers
EVENTSJune
Live
Music

Island Life
Hot news from the cold Icelandic countryside
Words: Paul Fontaine
Best Of Iceland
A selection of winners from our Best Of Iceland travel magazine
The tiny East Iceland village of Vopnafjörður
made headlines when their bookkeeping
brought to light that they have a surplus of
about 100 million ISK. There isn’t any great se-
cret to their success;
they simply paid
down their debts
and cut costs. No
word yet how
they’re going
to spend
all that
loot, but if
they give
everyone in
the village
an equal
share... well,
they’d prob-
ably be really
well off.
Westfjords news service Bæja-
rins Besta has happily reported
that the Arctic tern has returned
to Arnarfjörður. Why this is cause
for celebration is any-
one’s guess. These
little shits are
some mean bas-
tards who will
shriek and
divebomb
at you if
you get any-
where near their
invariably gigantic
nesting
grounds.
In fairness,
though, you’d be
pretty cranky too if you
travelled all the way
from Antarctica using
only your arms.
Rejoice! Reykjadalur is open again! Conditionally, though: there will be rangers on hand to ensure people stay on the
walking paths, so that the region can more fully recover from all the foot traffic it has had to endure, which prompted its
closing at the end of last March. Be kind to our sites of natural wonder, folks!
55The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 09 — 2018
South: Best Road Trip
Hveragerði to Höfn
The south coast is an amusement
park of natural wonders. Every few
minutes, there's a sign for a histor-
ic spot, a canyon, a glacier tongue,
a wild beach, a forgotten pool, or
a coastal viewpoint. The scenery
changes so rapidly and suddenly,
constantly disarming you with un-
expected sights. “This drive will
forever leave me speechless,” said
the panel. “It never gets old.”
West: Best Meal
Hótel Húsafell
The tasting menu at Hótel Húsafell
might be a little steeply priced, but
if this is one of those birthday/an-
niversary/engagement ring mo-
ments—splurge. The luxury hotel
offers an excellent five-course tast-
ing menu of creatively prepared
local ingredients with excellent
service, and wine pairings or great
cocktails. Sit by the fire, and trust
and believe, she or he will say yes.
North: Must-See Spot
Ásbyrgi
This forested, horseshoe-shaped
canyon is at the northern end of Vat-
najökull National Park. It was carved
by glacial flooding several millen-
nia ago, and it’s breathtaking in its
magnitude. Drive down to the for-
est and campsite in the canyon for
a forest stroll, or walk to the tip of
Eyjan, the “island” of rock that was
once the canyon’s northern bank, for
a beautiful hike.