Reykjavík Grapevine - Sep 2019, Page 51

Island Life
News From The Icelandic Countryside
Words: Andie Fontaine
A golfer saved a woman's life after
she fell down rocky hillside in
Seyðisfjörður. The man was golfing
when he thought he heard a voice
from the hills. He told an
off-duty police officer
about the voices and
a rescue team was
dispatched, eventu-
ally locating the
injured woman
around 10 PM.
Responders
said that she
would not
have survived
the night out
there alone.
Talk about a
hole in one.
A short-term agreement has been
reached with the local veterinarian
in the Westfjords, after she
threatened to quit her job because
of an obsolete contract and
no one to relieve her
of her duties. The
vet hasn't had a
summer vacation
since 2011.
For a while,
it seemed
that the
region in
the northwest
of Iceland
would not
have anyone
to take care
of their sick animals. The
minister of agriculture
in Iceland is working
hard on finding a
permanent solution
to the veterinary
shortage.
The traffic lights in Akureyri are being upgraded (finally!). The
town’s workers are changing all lights, both for traffic and
crosswalks. Instead of the old fashioned light bulbs, Akureyri will
be outfitted with newfangled LED bulbs. What next? Flying cars?
51The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 14— 2019
Reykjanes: Best tour
ATV Adventure,
Grindavík
Yearning to get close to nature?
Straddling a roaring ATV and
zooming into the wilderness might
not be the most tranquil method,
but it quickly gets you into the thick
of it. You’ll reach impressive spots
much faster than by hiking, and
you’ll be able to crawl over black
sand beaches and summit tower-
ing mountains that road-trippers
can only gaze at.
North: Best Road Trip
The Diamond Circle
This powerhouse road trip features
the best of the north. Visit Húsavík,
famed for its whale-watching tours
and Whale Museum. Continue to
Ásbyrgi, canyon of the Norse gods.
Take in the roaring power of Det-
tifoss, Europe’s most voluminous
waterfall. Explore the volcanic re-
gion of Lake Mývatn, replete with
rare-in-the-world volcanic forma-
tions (pseudocraters) and critters
(marimo a.k.a. moss balls).
North: Best Pool
Hofsós Swimming
Pool, Hofsós
Hands down our panel's favourite,
Hofsós Swimming Pool was praised
for its spectacular views across the
North Atlantic to the island Drang-
ey. “I love the relaxing atmosphere,”
said the panel. “It’s priced like a mu-
nicipal pool, but this amazing bath-
ing spot is a design classic with an
infinity pool that makes you feel like
you're swimming into the horizon.”
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