Friday, July 27, 2007

Husavik

After a stay at Snorrastadir Farm, we piled in the cars for a long drive out to Husavik, in the north of Iceland. It was truly a long drive, over 9 hours, but mostly because we stopped along the way to see sights and eat local gas station delicacies like smoked lamb and bean sandwiches and butterfat ice cream. One place we stopped was the Glabrokargigar volcano - a quick hike to the top of the blown out mountain and we could see for miles (and also into the big crater left by the volcano).

Glabrokargigar (micah & becky at the top)
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View from the top of Glabrokargigar


Us at the top (Aiden is in the car with grandpa)



Aiden was still adjusting to the time change by this time, so he was not having the best car-ride out to Husavik. We had to let him out for some wiggle time on the side of the road a few times.



Our destination in Husavik was the Kaldbaks-Kots Cottages (see above) - there are about 15 cottages here that sleep 2-4 people each, very small but they have all the amenities you could need and the setting could not be more beautiful. I think this spot was my favorite in all the places we visitied in Iceland. The cottages are overlooking a large lake area which again overlooks the ocean, and as the light gets yellow to orange in the evening it was just spectacular. (Plus there were lots of breeding birds with adorable chicks!)


Andy and Aiden out for a stroll after dinner one night




Late night glow from Kaldbaks-Kots cottages...the steam you see is from geothermal pools




We went to the Bonus (supermarket) in Husavik and got some things to grill for dinner at the cottages- we're having marinated lamb, pork chops, and salmon in these pictures...


You can rent fishing poles for a nominal fee at Kaldbaks-Kots to try your luck at fishing from the lake, which was supposedly stocked with Arctic Char. Micah rented two rods for himself and Andy, and guess what? One was a 3 foot kiddie rod built for someone not much larger than Aiden...guess who he gave that rod to? Andy thinks Micah is just still bitter because Andy caught the biggest salmon when we went fishing in Alaska. Neither of them caught anything this time :)

The end of the lake near Kaldbaks-Kots is "hot"


Hiking before dinner



Aiden enjoying an icelandic tea cookie, like a huge vanilla wafer




Micah, Becky and Andy out on the strip between the lake and ocean, fishing...








Clockwise from top left: Andy and Aiden by the lake; dinner at one of the cottages; Aiden on Micah & Becky's porch; the harbor in Husavik




The town of Husavik itself was also very nice, and Andy, Aiden and I spent most of a day in town lounging about. We got coffee by the waterfront, Aiden crawled around for a long time on the ball fields in town, and we had a great lunch with Micah and Becky at Salka Restaurant by the harbor. (where i had the poor little smoked puff-puff).


Becky and Aiden at Salka



The harbor at Husavik, a big fishing village

Husavik is also home to the "Icelandic Phallalogical Museum" which has pickled and dried penises of thousands of animals on display. We hear it's quite a collection- Andy and I didn't go, but my parents took our little impressionable 10-month old in our stead! There are no human "members" yet but at least one Icelander has agreed to donate his to the collection when he passes away. Icelanders are a strange bunch.



Outside the Icelandic Phallalogical Museum

A fishing boat leaves Husavik harbor




There is a small mountain right in the town of Husavik that is absolutely covered in lupine. Micah and Becky climbed it one morning and took this picture.

1 comment:

Melanie said...

Cool pictures- looks like you guys had a good time, despite the flight! I'll give you a call to catch up soon-
Mel