Deep into the Westfjords
On the second day.....there were whales
5/26/25
We checked out of our home for two days, the guest house in Bildudalur. We will be heading to the town of Isafjordur, which is actually the capital of the West Fjords. By West Fjord standards it is a teaming metropolis with a population of 2744. But first we’ll make a few stops.
We checked out of our home for two days, the guest house in Bildudalur. We will be heading to the town of Isafjordur, which is actually the capital of the West Fjords. By West Fjord standards it is a teaming metropolis with a population of 2744. But first we’ll make a few stops.
They have fun with trash cans in Bildadular
Our first stop was the waterfall Dyjandi, the largest one in the Fjords. We climbed all the way to the top for the best views. Mist off of the waterfall dusted our lenses and we had to clean them often. Photos were great and then we headed down.
Djandi waterfall
The path isn’t an easy paved path. You’re basically crawling across large rocks and you have to be careful. You especially can’t be in a hurry. We took our time and Laurie’s healed leg did well.
From the waterfall we head further north but stop in a town called Þingeyri. I don’t really know how to say the first letter…it’s like a D with legs and arms or a P that dropped half way. Icelandic has a lot of letters we don’t.
From the waterfall we head further north but stop in a town called Þingeyri. I don’t really know how to say the first letter…it’s like a D with legs and arms or a P that dropped half way. Icelandic has a lot of letters we don’t.
Soup at the N1! Laurie's favorite!
We had lunch at the N1, the Icelandic gas station chain. Laurie had the daily special of Icelandic meat soup (which she just loved) and I had a burger. We ate in the company of about a dozen workmen who took a break from their labors and had lunch at the N1 too.
The pier at Holt
After this we stop at a pier at a place called “Holt”. I’m not sure what purpose it serves but I theorize it has something to do with the grass strip airfield next to it. We arrive and I watch two guys at the end of the pier, tourists like us, having what appears to be a very animated conversation.
Looking east from the pier
I’m going to fly my drone and they just recovered theirs. As they left they spotted a sign that I had already read. I watched and they were pointing at the sign and reading and seemed excited. I went over to discuss what was on the sign with them.
It turns out what I thought was a very animated discussion observed earlier from a distance (I’m hard of hearing so I didn't hear the voices far away) was actually sign language. They were deaf. They were alarmed by what they saw on the sign as it had a “no drones” symbol.
It turns out what I thought was a very animated discussion observed earlier from a distance (I’m hard of hearing so I didn't hear the voices far away) was actually sign language. They were deaf. They were alarmed by what they saw on the sign as it had a “no drones” symbol.
Laurie says this is true.....
I pointed to the map on the sign and gestured that the area they were just flying was okay, but they couldn’t fly in another area nearby due to bird nesting. They felt a lot better, thanked me in sign language and waved goodbye as they left.
I flew my drone from the pier and got some great video. I was careful to avoid the bird nesting area and Laurie took photos. After about a half hour we headed out.
I flew my drone from the pier and got some great video. I was careful to avoid the bird nesting area and Laurie took photos. After about a half hour we headed out.
Laurie playing with coffee house cats
We decided to check out a nearby town called Flateyri. I told Laurie we could either head to where we were staying or visit the little town….and it was her call. She chose to visit Flatey. She did good.
We went to a coffee shop in town and I had a latte and Laurie a hot chocolate. We eventually started talking with a guy working on his laptop who had a camera sitting on the table. Turns out he’s a writer from Seattle who is visiting restaurants and writing about his meals.
We went to a coffee shop in town and I had a latte and Laurie a hot chocolate. We eventually started talking with a guy working on his laptop who had a camera sitting on the table. Turns out he’s a writer from Seattle who is visiting restaurants and writing about his meals.
Oldest bookstore in Iceland!
Another group came in and we talked to them as well. They were from Birmingham and the daughter was from Nashville! Everyone in the coffee shop except the owner was from the states.
The coffee shop had knitted items for sale, made by one of the owners. They hung about the shop for sale, all made from the famous Icelandic wool. We paid, thanked the owners for their hospitality, and bid all of the folks we met farewell.
The coffee shop had knitted items for sale, made by one of the owners. They hung about the shop for sale, all made from the famous Icelandic wool. We paid, thanked the owners for their hospitality, and bid all of the folks we met farewell.
Handmade knitted goods in the coffee shop
We were driving down the street and Laurie wanted to stop at the “Oldest Bookstore in Iceland”. It turns out it actually is, and had been run by four generations of the same family. Half of the store is the apartment that the original owner lived in and was furnished and equipped as it would have been in 1914 when the store started.
The book store is now run by the great great grandson of the original owner. He wasn’t there today but his mom was running things as she was the previous generation and was filling in. We chatted with her and she explained the history of the store and her family. We bought several items and headed along our way.
The book store is now run by the great great grandson of the original owner. He wasn’t there today but his mom was running things as she was the previous generation and was filling in. We chatted with her and she explained the history of the store and her family. We bought several items and headed along our way.
Flateyri harbor
I went outside and flew the drone for a bit. The wind was calm enough and it was a cute town. I videoed the waterfront and the downtown before landing. Laurie was walking the main street doing photos and I drove down the block to pick her up. We headed out towards our last stop of the day, Isafjordur.
We traveled through a tunnel which was pretty unusual. It was one lane with turnouts, AND it had an intersection. If you went left you went to one community and if you went right you went to the big town of Isafjordur. I have never seen a tunnel with an intersection before……or a single lane six mile long tunnel.
We traveled through a tunnel which was pretty unusual. It was one lane with turnouts, AND it had an intersection. If you went left you went to one community and if you went right you went to the big town of Isafjordur. I have never seen a tunnel with an intersection before……or a single lane six mile long tunnel.
Our apartment in Isafjordur
We get to our apartment and are greeted by the owner. She shows us around and explains everything and shows us her garden behind the house which we are welcome to use. She tells us we may meet her dog, but he is friendly and his name is Kria Sol.
It’s a very nice apartment and much more spacious than our previous room. We will be responsible for our own breakfast however so we head to the store to shop. Our favorite is Netto but Bonus is okay too. Icelandic grocery stores are quite nice.
It’s a very nice apartment and much more spacious than our previous room. We will be responsible for our own breakfast however so we head to the store to shop. Our favorite is Netto but Bonus is okay too. Icelandic grocery stores are quite nice.
The brand name is Krap. With all that dust...it just might be.
After shopping at Netto, we grab dinner in town then head back to the apartment. We download our photos, I write a bit, and we head to bed. Tomorrow we have a big adventure planned and we’ll need our rest.
On to the next day
My ride's here....-Warren Zevon
We started slow this morning, leaving the apartment a little before 11 a.m. We were in no hurry as our next activity didn’t start until 11:30 and we didn’t have to be there until 11:15. We arrived early, and boarded our next form of transportation, the boat “Ingolfur”.
What a great ride!
We left port at 11:30 sharp, heading out in the fjords in search of whales! It was a short trip out, maybe a few miles. One of the other boats in the fleet had already spotted a few whales and we headed towards that area. Before long, we saw our first whale!
A whale!
As the trip wore on, we spotted several more. They are Minke whales, common to this area. It was a fantastic trip and if you’re ever in Isafjordur, Sjóferðir tours did a great job! The boats were well run, with warm cabins to take shelter if needed.
Somebody got wet!
We didn’t get any of the photos of whales breaching in flat calm water….because it wasn’t. It wasn’t terrible, with a little chop and just a bit of rocking and rolling. As you’re never far from land, no one that I noticed was sick and it seemed everyone handled the trip well. We highly recommend it!
Isafjordur from the air
We return to town, and wander the small downtown. We go through a few stores, have coffee and a pastry, and just enjoy the day. The town was full of people who came from cruise ships that dock here for the day, numbering in the thousands. After 6 p.m. they’re gone and back on their ship and the town returns to normal.
We have a lovely dinner and head back to the apartment, a day well spent with the one I love.
We have a lovely dinner and head back to the apartment, a day well spent with the one I love.
