Day 170 – Akureyri, Iceland

Although we spent ten days above the Arctic Circle last month, it was nonetheless fun to learn that Viking Sky crossed the Arctic Circle again last night just before midnight. We were traveling above Raufarhöfn, the northernmost town on the Icelandic mainland, on our way to Akureyri, and we sailed above the Arctic Circle for about three hours.

Akureyri, the “Capital of the North,” was our destination for today, and I was awake as we sailed the Eyjafjörður toward the city. Unfortunately, when I opened the curtains, I was greeted by another dreary, cold, and windy day.

My plan was to discover “Northern Iceland's Natural Treasures,” a seven-hour optional excursion to visit Godafoss Falls and the Mývatn volcanic lake area and explore the stunning landscape of this part of Iceland. I just couldn’t seem to drag myself out of bed, however. The weather has really begun to affect me, and I badly need to see the sun again.

Although I felt guilty about skipping a rather pricey excursion, I reluctantly concluded it was best for my state of mind. Seeing raindrops on the Bridge Cam erased any lingering doubts I may have had!

I Decided Raindrops Would Not Fall on My Head Today!

Tim went on his included excursion, “Panoramic Akureyri,” to see the highlights of the city, and he said that he enjoyed it. The weather doesn’t seem to affect him.

The one building that I had wanted to see in town was Akureyrarkirkja, also known as the Church of Akureyri, designed by prominent Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson. I had read that the church is distinguished by its striking modernist style, characterized by clean lines and a bold, towering silhouette. I was able to get a distant view of the church from the upper deck of Viking Sky.

Akureyri Looked Like a Very Nice City - The Church of Akureyri Is at the Left Center of the Top Photo

A Zoomed-In View of the Church of Akureyri

In the afternoon, Tim and I made another attempt to catch up on the lectures we had missed. This time, we watched Russell Lee’s talk on “The Icelandic Economic Boom, Crash & Recovery.” As we learned about the 2008 economic crisis that sparked a political revolution in Iceland, my respect for this island country only continued to grow.

The Icelandic Economic Boom, Crash & Recovery