SEYDISFJORDUR – WELCOME TO ICELAND – Monday 3rd August 2015
At last we are arriving in Iceland (the south east corner), as midday approaches we are sailing up a narrow fjord with spectacular scenery either side. Well I think spectacular, could not see the tops because of the low cloud and mist. I wonder how the Vikings felt when they first rowed up this fjord in the mist 1000 years ago?
Sam and Dave have done the research, not much to do in this small town but there is a walk up the mountain and down the valley passing about 20 waterfalls – called the singing waterfalls walk. So off we go into the mist in our hiking boots. Several other passengers have same idea. We get to an information board – major snag – the walk does not start for another 6km. No problem let us go and get a taxi – further snag – no taxis in this little town!
Ah well, we can see a couple of waterfalls up the mountain, so we can walk up there. It is a good walk and we get our first experience of an Iceland forest. (Iceland was once 25% forested but was all destroyed as the country developed. Now they are re-planting). The forest was sparsely populated, no tree more than 6ft high, the urban myth being if you get lost in a forest, just jump up and to find out where you are!
Part way along the walk, we hear a loud neighing and some shouting followed by hoofbeats on the road in the valley. We spy a run-away horse complete with saddle but minus rider. Fellow walkers inform us the horse has just thrown his rider but since Icelandic horses are very short and stubby we assume the rider is not hurt. We later see another rider galloping down the road to recover the horse who by now has met a herd of horses in a field and stopped for a chat, so was easily caught.
Back in town, we find the one and only pub – excellent, serving many interesting bottles and a local brew on draught (made in Reykjavik but to a Seydisfjordur recipe). It was nice to drink ‘beer with attitude’ compared to the ships offering. What a surprise, the pub was half filled with ships passengers, one of whom was having trouble with his cameraphone – no problem, Paul soon had him sorted. Outside, a local hotel advertising free high speed wifi was surrounded by about twenty of the ships crew tapping into the system with their ipads, phones, laptops, etc. (The system on board the ship was very slow and costs 60p per minute).
A last walk up the one and only street, we visit a beautiful local church painted blue, inside the atmosphere was overwhelmingly peaceful and calm. During the Summer, concerts are held in this church – looking at the gleaming church organ, I can only imagine how wonderful it would sound.
Near the church is an unusual monument of twisted girders designed to remember the last serious avalanche here which flattened a local factory. Kath and Liz were now in a hurry to spend their Krona, so buy Icelandic hats in a local shop and I fall into conversation with four young people about 12/13 years of age. Their use of the English language is just excellent and they explain they have just painted the church blue in honour of my football team! How ashamed we brits should be, I could not share a joke with anyone in their native tongue. Then they tell me their English is so good because they have excellent teachers – I cannot remember the last time young people made that kind of statement to me!
We now head for the Supermarket to buy snacks for our cabin (I do miss my plain crisps!) – another surprise it is closed! Nothing else for it – back to the pub! As the mist rolls in, we could hardly see the ship from the bar, but we could read the labels on the beer bottles. Paul found a lovely bottled beer – Myr Kvi – meaning “darkness” in Icelandic. A veeery smooth tasting Porter, he even took a photo of it!
It is an Italian evening on board with the restaurant staff suitably bedecked in red, green and white. Of course we sing Volare with Inna. She looks after us very well, very good at her job, yet pleased to share a joke with us.
Once again, the disco calls. I have been to more discos in the last few days than I have in the last few years! Not sure I can keep this pace up as I once again stagger back to the cabin in the early hours.
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Six Sail to Iceland 