I’m enjoying this cruise immensely. Today we arrived at Isafjordur, which is a town situated in the northwest of Iceland in the Westfjords region. It has stunning natural landscapes , rich cultural heritage and a close knit community. Isafjordur stands as a testament to Iceland’s remote beauty and the enduring spirit of its inhabitants. The towns name translates to ‘Ice Fjord’. With a history that dates back to settlement times, Isafjordur has played a significant role as a trading post and a hub for fishing and maritime activities. The town is characterised by colourful houses that line the waterfront against a backdrop of rugged mountains. The old town has wooden houses with corrugated tin roofs built by fishing merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Our tour today takes us along the Westfjords peninsula. Long ago glaciers carved their way across the peninsula, leaving behind a dramatic landscape of deep fjords, steep mountains and craggy inlets. As the terrain is so harsh, life in this area has always centred around the sea.
The draw of water is even more powerful farther inland at Dynandi, the largest waterfall in Westfjords. This natural wonder consists of 7 cascades, each with its own name and identity. According to legend, supernatural beings once lived in Dynandi, whose name means ‘The Thunderer’.
After leaving the waterfall, we drove to the small fishing village of Suoureyri, where our guide lives. It was very remote until a tunnel through the surrounding mountain made travelling there easier. Suðureyri is a fine example of an Icelandic fishing village. The village only began to form in the early 20th century, growing rapidly with the mechanisation of the fishing industry. Recently, villagers seized the opportunity of combining the fishing tradition with tourism, and every summer sea anglers from Europe visit the village and try their luck at catching cod and halibut out in the fjord.
It’s so nice to return to the luxury and comfort of our ship!! This is a very harsh environment to live in despite the beautiful, remote and serene landscape.