25 km south of the Arctic Circle

Friday, September 20, 2013
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland
After our delicious Icelandic breakfast we went to Glaumbaer to see the Skagafjordur Folk Museum where they have typical Icelandic old 'turf houses'. The roofs and most walls are either stacked pieces of turf the size of large bricks, or take the shape of a severely slanted roofs covered with turf made up of grasses. Only one side had small windows, probably using thin hides in days of old, and chimneys in all the other areas due to the use of oil lamps used for heat and light.

Next at Saurdarkrokur we went to see the factory where they do tanning of salmon skin and many other skins of animals and water creatures. The salmon skin is seven times stronger than lamb or cow skin as the fibres go perpendicular in alternating layers but in land animals the fibres all are parallel. They have salmon skin shoes, purses and bow ties (no we did not get one).

At Holar, we saw the 'other Iceland Vatican' - this is where Christianity started in the twelfth century. At that time there were 2 bishops in Iceland - one in the south and one in the north (Holar) but after seven hundred years, the north took a back pew to the bishopric in the capital Rekjavik. Holar was the area where they printed the first bible in the Icelandic language many centuries ago. They still have one which we saw through glass.
 
At Siglufjordur we saw the Herring Museum, but will have to go back tomorrow to fully view it.

We proceeded through four tunnels and drove across the top of a few capes facing north and came within 25 km of the Arctic Circle. The longest of the tunnels was 7 km and went under a few mountains cutting two hours off the trip. The sights were almost 'pinch me cause I am dreaming' quality. The views rivalled Cabot Trail, California route 1 and any other of the fantastic routes we have driven. The snow topped mountain chains, that separate the various fjords, have verdant fertile bases full of 'troll eggs', sheep, Icelandic horses and cows in beautiful expansive valleys. From the bottoms of the wide flat valley floors, streams and lakes gently reflect the mountains.

Tonight in Akureyri we ate dinner at 'Rub 23'. Amazing food. You chose which fish or animal you want and match it up to one of twenty three rubs or sauces it would be cooked with. The turbot and Arctic char were great. We both had our mains with 'asian rub'. Their signature sushi, 'ten ten three', was a combination of tempura lobster, arctic char, salad and chilli tomatella. Wow!

After a 30 minute walk back to the hotel we fell into a well deserved sleep.
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