Iceland - Land of Fire and Ice

Part 1 - Cruising the West Coast July 2024

"An endless night. He wants to erase this world, and I am its memory" Bran Stark

When you only have three months (90 days) in Europe due to Schengen visa regulations, you need to make a plan. A focal point. Mine was walking the Camino from Portugal to Spain in September. I could easily fly from the US to Portugal. But it became incredibly expensive. But then I saw it. A North Atlantic cruise from NYC to Iceland which also stopped in Greenland. But I wasn't just satisfied with a few stops in Iceland. I researched and researched until the Arctic Adventures tour company popped up on my feed. A six-day ring road trip around Iceland. Here's part 1 of my amazing journey through Iceland, my 52nd country.

In July, I boarded the Norwegian Cruise Line Sky for an unforgettable 14-day cruise from NYC through Canda, Greenland ending in Iceland. I will write more about the cruise at a later date. We had four ports of call in Iceland, Isafjordur, Akureyri, Grundarfjordur, and Reykjavik.

"Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you." Tyrion Lannister

Grundarfjordur - It's lunchtime halfway through the cruise when a note was slipped under my cabin door. Due to an emergency, the ship will need to detour to Reykjavik, and the ports of call in Iceland will be reorganized. Our first stop became the one I was looking forward to the most. Grundarfjörður is one of the best-known towns in West Iceland because of its location near one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, Kirkjufell, and its nearby waterfall (Kirkjufellsfoss). Kirkjufell, which means church mountain due to the sharp point, was shrouded in mist. It was a rainy warm day as I hiked to the waterfall, passing by pastures and the famous Icelandic horses. After lunch, it was time to explore the town, visit the church, and stop off for a few beers before heading back to the cruise ship. Many movies and TV shows have taken place in and around Snæfellsnes Peninsula, including Game of Thrones (fictional birthplace of the Night King) and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Akureyri - The largest city in northern Iceland with a population of 20,000 people. I knew I would be back on my bus tour, so decided to take the local bus to the Forest Lagoon to relax in the thermal baths and spa. With views overlooking one of Icelands longest fjords, Eyjafjordur, and surrounded by birch and pine trees.

Isafjordur - Known for its dramatic landscapes, Isafjordur is a small town located in the Westfjords region of northwest Iceland. The old town has wooden houses built by fishing merchants in the 18th and 19th century. It was a short port stop. walked around the town, stopped at the cultural museum and drank at the only brewery in the north of Iceland.

Reykjavik - The cosmopolitan capital of Iceland known for its culture, history and natural beauty. The cruise ended in Reykjavik and I spent a couple extra days relaxing and exploring the city restaurant scene including the famous Icelandic hotdog. The most famous landmark is the Hallgrimskirkja Church. The tower is 244 feet tall and took nearly four decades to build. In front of the church is the statue of Leif Eriksson, paying homage to a legendary Norse explorer. As I was exploring the main street (aka Rainbow Street), I walked straight into a women's rights march.