Iceland review - 2013, Page 88

86 ICELAND REVIEW
sPECIAL PROmOTION
Magical Mystery Tour
Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Iceland Excursions will take you on a magical tour
of the mystery island called Iceland. It’s not hard to believe in the supernatural when
in awe of winter landscapes, steam rising out of bubbling hot springs in subzero tem-
peratures, frozen waterfalls, the yellowish glow of the winter sun and bright green
northern lights dancing across the black canvas of the sky. To enjoy the wonders of
winter, join Iceland Excursions’ ever-popular Golden Circle Classic and Northern
Lights tours. For a proper hands-on experience, opt for the Viking Horse and Golden
Circle Afternoon. From the back of an Icelandic horse, you become one with nature.
Put your faith in the trusty servant and feel how man, horse and the surrounding
landscape slowly start to merge and how sightseeing becomes a feast for all senses.
All tours run in English with selected trips in French, German and Scandinavian.
icelandexcursions.is

Step Back in Time at Reykjavík’s Museums
Reykjavík Museum Árbær is a former farm and now an open-air museum with
more than 20 buildings which form a town square, village and farm. Árbær Museum
introduces the architecture and way of life in late 19th-century Reykjavík. Visitors
meet staff dressed in period costumes and many exhibitions and events held at the
museum highlight specific periods in Reykjavík’s history. The museum is open daily
in summer. reykjavikmuseum.is
In 2001, a Viking-Age longhouse from around 930 AD was found in an archaeolog-
ical excavation in the center of Reykjavík. The ruins of the longhouse and a part
of a turf wall have been preserved and are now on display at the Reykjavík 871±2:
The Settlement Exhibition, the site where they were discovered. These are among the
oldest archaeological findings in Reykjavík. The Settlement Exhibition focuses on the
interpretation of the ruins, and through various multimedia sources visitors can find
out about the lives of the people who lived there and see a model of the longhouse.
The exhibition is open daily. reykjavik871.is

Álafoss – Since 1896
One of Mosfellsbær’s major attractions, located some 20 minutes from Reykjavík by
car, is the Álafoss factory outlet, where Iceland’s woolens industry was launched. The
store is housed in an old factory, which for decades was the premises of the leading
manufacturer and exporter of Icelandic woolen products.
The name Álafoss is derived from the warm waterfall behind the factory, which
drove its mills. In homage to its heritage, the store exhibits a selection of old knitting
machinery and photographs from the early days, which form the basis of a museum.
There you can find an extensive selection of woolen sweaters—all of which were
made in Iceland ranging from traditional styles to high fashion, along with woolen
accessories, arts, crafts and souvenirs at reasonable prices. alafoss.is