After breakfast this morning, we head for the picturesque fishing village of Dalvik, where we'll set sail on a restored fishing vessel from the harbor for a whale-watching excursion. The onboard staff members are experts on local marine life, and with their help, we hope to spot minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises and humpback whales in the waters of the Northern Atlantic.
Then, we stop at the fishing village of Olafsfjordur, followed by a visit to Siglufjordur, Iceland's northernmost town. At one time, Siglufjordur was the capital of the North Atlantic's herring industry, and after lunch at a local restaurant here, we'll visit a museum dedicated to this once thriving industry. The Herring Era Museum—the only one of its kind in the world—features a variety of cultural exhibits, art works, and personal stories relating to Siglufjordur's rich fishing heritage. There will also be free time to explore the picturesque town on our own.
Back in Akureyri, you’ll have some free time to relax before enjoying a Home-Hosted Dinner this evening.
Nothing goes to waste in this remote and pristine land. Even scraps of lumber find a use...
She said, 'Don't worry about it.'
On the whale watch, we found one rather desultory humpback whale, and watched it for a while. We see whales every year at the Cape, so we weren't too disappointed, and we always love a boat ride. Some of the group did some fishing for a short while on the way back, catching some sea catfish, some herring and, I think, hake... which were cleaned and grilled as soon as we got back, so we all had a fresh taste of these Icelandic staples.
Chess is very popular in this remote country. Our hotel in Reykjavik was only a few blocks from the venue for the famous Fisher - Spaasky World Championship Match in 1972. This remote fishing village sports this oversize chess set. Icelander's also read more books per capita than any other nation. The winters are long and dark! While we were there in June, it only got dark for an hour or so, about 2:00 AM... and in the winter, it only gets light for a brief time each day.
Our driver, Eliot, and his wife, Helga, live in Akureyri, and surprised us one evening on the way back to the hotel with h'ordeuvres and a drink at their lovely home.
Our home hosted dinner was a real treat. We went to the home of a young Icelandic couple and their twin sons for an evening dinner. They speak excellent English, and were comfortable just being themselves around all us strangers. The idea is to meet local people and learn a bit about their culture by breaking bread with them.
Homes in Iceland are heated with the abundant geothermally heated water, which runs through pipes in the houses. These folks even have a heated driveway! Herewith the system controls in the garage of our hosts.
OAT travelers usually take a token gift of some kind, often something from their home state, to give to these hosts. This wonderful couple reciprocated with a little jar of homemade jam for all of us. And a song!
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