5am wake up call for breakfast and a flight to Akureyri. The Natura hotel is renowned for its breakfast; we were not disappointed. After I had three platefuls and a pot of coffee, time to head to the regional airport for our flight north. Icelanders, always looking at efficiency, put the air traffic control tower on top our our hotel! (we are next to the regional airport).
Again, the most dominate structure in the town is the Lutheran church. Same architect as the large church in Reykjavik. Very similar.
Flying 40 minutes to the north provided a change from cold and clear to cold and cloudy. And snowy; not coming down, but on everything. We were told by our Reykjavik taxi driver that they rarely have snow, just cold. Quite the opposite is Akureyri, lots of snow and coldER! Gloria, Tom and Kathy spent the day walking around Akureyri, I am suffering from either a bad hot dog, or pickled herring. I spent most of the day in the hotel sleeping.
These bookstores/coffee shops are everywhere. A great, warm place to gather, read and eat.
The afternoon found us in the hot springs across the street from our hotel. Oh, speaking of the hotels in Iceland. We feel like we are in a dream and have woken up in a huge Ikea store! Blonde wood, skinny chrome fixtures and LED lights everywhere. Nice actually. Very North European.
Many of the buildings were built in the late 1800 and early 1900’s, all wood; well preserved (and frozen). Starting in 1930, all buildings were made from concrete. No more importing wood from Sweden and Denmark! No trees grow in this country.
Icelanders have taken hot water to a whole new level. Gloria and Kathy last night in Reykjavi and all four of us this afternoon in Akureyri hit the hot springs. Iceland is very active geothermally and the locals have harnessed, channeled and piped the hot water very appropriately. The water complexes are composed of indoor and outdoor Olympic pools, steam rooms, kiddie pools, water slides and a menu of large hot tubs. Each with the temperature posted. They range from too cool to too hot. Appetizer, main course, then dessert.
One of many hot tubs to be found at a hot springs.
Tonight is
our first shot at the Northern Lights. The clouds are gone, we are optimistic. We meet our guide at 10pm. Report tomorrow.
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