Reykjavík Grapevine - jún. 2020, Blaðsíða 12

12 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 04— 2020
Travelling Icel"nd Like An Icel"nder
When you can’t go to Tenerife, go to Djúpavík!
Words: Hannah Jane Photo: Art Bicnick
Most Icelanders will be taking a stay-cation this summer, so we’re here to help you out with a comprehensive selection
of famous sites that are worth visiting and unknown places you shouldn’t miss (no matter how out of the way they are).
Have a blast, friends.
Westfjords
!ingeyri: After you’ve stopped by the
Látrabjarg cliffs to chat with the delightful
terns and tell some secrets on the planes
of Rau!isandur, head to Jón Sigur!sson’s
Musical Instruments Museum to learn
how to play the langspil, the traditional
Icelandic drone zither.
Árneshreppur: Stay a night at Hotel
Djúpavík to soak in the silence, then drive
one town north (yes, there’s a north of
Djúpavík), obviously with a quick stop
to soak at the sickeningly scenic Kros-
sneslaug pool, to Nor!afjör!ur. Check
out their abandoned herring factory then
learn about nature and ancient handi-
crafts at Elín Agla Briem’s Yurt. Yes, the
Westfjords have a yurt.
Selárdalur: If you want concrete proof
that Iceland was full of kooky artists long
before Björk, take the unserviced Route
619 to the Samúel Jónsson museum.
Filled with pastel plaster buildings and
sculptures, it’ll inspire you to let your wild
side out.
Tjöruhúsi": Just eat here.
Hornstrandir: Go. Just. Go.
West
Bú"ir: Hotel Bú!ir is a given for both food
and rest, obviously, but next door there’s
a random magical witch store simply
marked by a sign that says SHOP. Stop by
for amulets, mysterious powders, herbs
and other spiritual objects. Then have a
seance at the eerie Bú!akirkja church.
Snæfellsbær: L"suhólslaug, a.k.a.
‘The Green Lagoon’ is worth the drive
out just for its skin-healing Chlorella-
laced waters. Afterwards, drive to the
Ytri Tunga beach and make friends with
seals.
Húsafell: Camping, mountain biking,
horseback riding, hot pots, hiking—this
town is an outdoorsy dream come true.
Get that blood a’pumping! Oh, and shell
out for a stay and meal at Hótel Húsafell.
Stykkishólmur: Stykkishólmur is a town
where you don’t even need to plan activi-
ties—simply staring out on their grassy
peak at the thousands of birds flying
around the Brei!afjör!ur bay is majestic
enough. Taking a boat—or better yet,
a kayak—into the water comes recom-
mended though. Stopping by Helgafell
on the way over ain’t a bad idea either.
Snæfellsjökull: Hike up it (with a glacier
guide and the right clothing and equip-
ment, of course). Yes, it’s hard.
South
Vatnsleysuströnd: Here’s a hidden
gem. As you’re driving on Highway 41
towards the International Airport, take
the side route on what Google Maps
calls Highway 420 (lol) to snake around
the north shore of Reykjanes. Hello and
welcome to the scenic route along the
Vatnsleysuströnd beach. Take great
care, though, because it’s a bird breed-
ing territory so don’t fuck up their nests. If
you look hard enough, there will be a very
dodgy side road, which Google Maps
calls Jonathan Road (lol) that’ll lead you
to an abandoned farmhouse which has
become a haven for graffiti artists and
also contains a selection of concrete
sculptures. Stay weird, Reykjanes.
Skaftafell: First, get your goth on at
Svartifoss, the most black metal water-
fall in the world. On the walk back, take
every opportunity to hang out at the
national park’s random areas covered
with gnarled trees and mossy knolls.
Send the trolls there our love. After-
wards, get some lamb at Freysnes, an
unassuming gas station across the street
from Hotel Skaftafell. If you have time, try
to hop over to the Ingólfshöf!i black sand
cape to see some birds. Give them our
love, too.
Sólheimasandur: An ATV tour is the
Westfjords
West
FEATURE