Reykjavík Grapevine - 21.06.2019, Qupperneq 51

Island Life
Hot news from the cold countryside
Words: Andie Fontaine
A mysterious steel box marked EXPLOSIVES washed up on
the shores of Berufjörður, east Iceland, near the village of
Djúpivogur recently. This
was later determined
to be a box of military-
grade flares but,
taking no chances,
bomb experts
exploded the
package at a
safe location.
Amaz-
ingly, bomb
experts in the
east regularly
have to do this,
albeit with WW2-
era mortars and
mines.
Stykkishólmur is feeling the
impact of tourism—literally.
The cruise ship Ocean Diamond
sidled up to the town’s wooden
pier with a little too
much speed,
damaging the
timber that
holds the
structure
together
and
crushing
a post in the
process. The
damage
was not
great, but no
one knows exactly what
caused the mishap.
Icelander Hugi Garðarsson will travel the circumference of Iceland walking a
wheelbarrow, in an effort to raise money for cancer research. He is in South
Iceland at the time of writing, and hopes to visit some 70 towns and villages over
the course of his 3,500km journey. He aims to cover 20 to 25 kilometres per day.
51The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10— 2019
East: Best Meal
Norð Austur,
Seyðisfjörður
This restaurant in is reputedly the
best sushi joint in Iceland. This is
what happens when you import
expert chefs from overseas and let
them run wild with fresh Icelan-
dic seafood. “The sizzling salmon,
served on a hot stone, was so good
I almost cried,” said the panel. It’s
worth the drive to enjoy this qual-
ity cuisine—local fisherman deliver
unusual catches to the restaurant.
North: Best Hotel
Sigló Hótel,
Siglufjörður
Fans of Scandi Noir may recognise
Sigló Hótel from the Icelandic TV
series ‘Trapped.’ Stately and on the
harbour, the hotel boasts views
onto the fjord, the mountains of the
Tröllaskagi peninsula, and the Si-
glufjörður marina. Combining old
Icelandic charm in its décor with
Nordic luxury, each spacious room
has a view onto the sea. It’s comfort
and romance incarnate.
Must-See Spot
Dynjandi
Westfjords
Iceland—and particularly the West-
fjords—is dripping with waterfalls,
but Dynjandi is a show-stopper,
nonetheless. Cascading down a se-
ries of levels like a tiered wedding
cake, it has an immense presence
that must be seen to be understood.
For the full experience, check out the
view of Dynjandi from across the
fjord before seeing it up-close—the
difference in scale is breathtaking.
Best Of Iceland
A selection of winners from our Best Of Iceland travel magazine
Sæmundargötu 11, 101 Reykjavík
Tel +354 551 7030 — www.nordichouse.is
THE NORDIC HOUSE
CONCERT SERIES
Wednesday
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all summer
Folk, jazz, classical and pop
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TICKETS AT TIX.IS
Free Audio Guide
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at The Nordic House