Reykjavík Grapevine - 09.11.2018, Side 51

Island Life
Hot news from the cold Icelandic countryside
Words: Andie Fontaine
An old fashioned timber house in Seyðisfjörður dating
back to 1900 went up
in flames late last
month. Fortunately,
no one was inside,
but high winds that
whooshed over
East Iceland
that night
contributed
to the de-
struction of
the house.
The cause of
the blaze is
still unknown.
If you needed your faith in
humanity restored, look to
Borgarnes. Shortly after
a woman living just
north of the town
announced on
social media that
she had lost
30,000 ISK
in cash at
either a Nettó
grocery store or a
photography
supply store,
a Nettó
employee
answered that they had
found her cash and were
keeping it safe until
she could pick it up.
It turns out a Dutch
tourist found the
money in the shop and
handed it over to staff.
In less cheerful news, two horses needed to be put down in South Iceland last month
after they were struck by a car while crossing the road. The car sustained extensive
damage and the driver was taken to hospital in unknown condition. The horses, though,
were put down at the scene of the accident. Sad.
51The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 20— 2018
West: Best Museum
Herring Era Museum
“The name doesn’t do it justice,” said
one panellist, “but it’s truly a won-
derful place to discover the history
of the local community.” Síldarmin-
jasafnið is an unexpected gem in the
museum scene of the North, with
a collection that pays tribute to the
boom years of the herring era with
pictures, texts and countless arte-
facts recollecting Siglufjörður’s glo-
rious fishing past.
South: Must-See Spot
Borgarfjörður Eystri
“Borgarfjörður Eystri is not to be
missed,” said the panel. This remote
fjord is home to the tiny fishing vil-
lage of Bakkagerði, surrounded by
beautiful mountains. Just outside
the village, “a visit to the puffin
colony at Hafnarhólmi is the best
place to see these colourful birds up
close,” said the panel. “In early sum-
mer there are hundreds of them all
over the place and they are so relaxed
that you can almost reach out and
cuddle them.”
East: Best Hike
Arnarstapi to Hellnar
This leisurely coastal walk takes you
past lava fields and ocean outlooks
on the southern shore of the penin-
sula. Surrounded by basalt columns
and ravines, the old path mean-
ders around fishermen’s relics and
through seabird nesting areas. The
hike is great for birdwatching—you'll
glimpse kittiwakes, Arctic terns and
fulmars. Take your time, and grab a
coffee and cake at Fjöruhusið after
your journey.
Best Of Iceland
A selection of winners from our Best Of Iceland travel magazine
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18:00 STAFRÆNN HÁKON
thursday
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friday
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Laugavegur 120, 105 Reykjavík
+354 595 8565
16:00 FEBRÚAR
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saturday
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