DESTINATION FOCUS
stay at the Hotel Framnes in Grundarfjor- dur, owned and run by the irrepressible Shelagh Smith, who also acts for the Port of Grundarfjordur itself, which is beginning to see more cruise visits each year. A shorter option is the Golden Circle
tour, a 6-hour trip visiting Pingvellir National Park for the Gullfoss waterfalls and hot springs at Geysir and Strokkur. Just 10km from Reykjavik is the town of Hafnarfjordur, where some ships also stop, and you can get a taste of Viking past in their quirky museum Many companies also run Whale and
Admittedly, eating out is not cheap but the prices compare favourably with nearby Scandinavia, with main courses in mid- range restaurants at around £15 and a beer coming at around £5 a pint. And, remem- ber, this is the fuel that fed the Vikings, so be careful not to overdo it! If you plan a full day in Reykjavik, a
wise investmest is the Welcome Card (£7 for 24hrs), which includes free bus and ferry transport, as well as entry to all muse- ums and even seven municipal pools and spas in the centre of the city. Laugardalslaug is a great place to enjoy
Iceland’s geothermal waters. This spacious outdoor complex has several large swim- ming pools, hot tubs, steam rooms and a bewildering variety of jacuzzis. Admission is included with the
Welcome Card but it’s remarkable value at £1.50 if you pay separately. Iceland’s geothermal pools and spas are a national obsession , a place to meet friends and wind down after work, akin to the British pub – only slightly healthier. Available as a day tour is The Blue
Lagoon, Iceland’s most prestigious spa complex. Here you can indulge in luxury pampering, mud baths and massages and even buy products to take home from the gift shop (
www.bluelagoon.com). Of the museums, the newly renovated National Museum of Iceland details the history 9th century Viking settlement to the modern day. It is highly informative and also has an excellent café and bookshop. For art lovers, the excellent Reykjavik Art Museum houses collections from much- loved painters Johannes S Kjarval and Erro. For the more adventurous, there are a
variety of fascinating circular day trips, including the highly recommended trip
80 WORLD OF CRUISING I Summer 2011
around Snaefellsnes National Park via Grundarfjordur. Many believe this area be one of the earth’s seven energy spots and, in Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth, the protagonists entered through the glacier-capped mountain of Snaefellsjokull.
D
escribed by Bjorn Palmarsson, Major of Grundafjordur, as ‘Ice- land in a Nutshell,’ the peninsula encapsulates the country with its spectacu- lar glacier, basalt column formations, an- cient volcano at Saxholl and the magical, pebbled beach at Djupalonssandur. It is impossible to put away your camera in this inspiring and surreal vista. The co- lours of the mountains, lava-fields and lakes seem to constantly change and amaze, and nature begins to overwhelm you. A stop at the famous Fjoruhusio (Beach House) café in the village of Hellnar is then a renowned spot to view passing whales. This tour can be done as a 10-hour day- trip from Reykjavik or with an overnight
Puffin-watching tours, as the waters around Iceland have large populations of Hump- back and Minke whales, as well as dolphins and porpoises. Occasionally, the conten- tious issue of whale-hunting is brought up, but it’s best to avoid confrontation as Icelanders believe strongly in their rights to hunt a certain number of whales per year (for scientific purposes, as they insist). However, this is still a great and fas- cinating country that leaves an indelible impression on visitors; the tours are excel- lent and well run and the people polite and friendly. Whether you’re a believer or not, some would say visiting Iceland is not far from being a religious experience in its own right.
Iceland FACTFILE
MORE INFO: For further information, contact the Reykjavik Tourist Information Centre, tel. 00 354 590 1550 or
www.visitreykjavik.is. Excursions from: Iceland Excursions (
www.grayline.is) or 00 354 540 1313; Special Tours (
www.specialtours.is) or 00 354 892 0099; Iceland Travel (
www.icelandtravel.is) or 00 354 585 4300.
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