8/9/15 Vigur Island and Isafjordur, Iceland

Eider Ducks

We were in the Isafjordarjup fjord for the day.

Vigur Island is a small island where there is a farm which has been owned and operated by the same family for 4 generations. The farm has a dozen sheep, some captive eider ducks and many wild birds. The family also earns money by hosting tourists and harvesting eider down which is used to make pillows - very soft. There is a large room in the farm house which accommodates about 100 people after  their mile long hike around the island for traditional Icelandic desserts (rhubarb tart, wedding cake). There is a 1830 windmill on site which is the only one left in Iceland. It was pouring rain when we went. We saw puffin, Black Guillemot, Eider, Arctic Terns, gulls and ravens.

The Farm

Garden back of farm house

Next we took the boat back to the ship and got on a bus to tour the area surrounding the town of Isafjodur. Isafjordur population is 3500 and is divided into 4 sections. There avalanche danger in some areas.

Our first destination was a beautiful waterfall with cold, clear and refreshing water. To watch a video and hear the rushing go here http://ow.ly/RPPhm. To get a drink of the fantastic water you have to go there.

We then went back to town to visit the Westfjords Heritage Museum which is housed in a 1785 warehouse. There are maritime exhibits, fishing exhibits and a primer on Westfjord's regional history. In addition the upstairs was dedicated to accordions! We had the opportunity to try Icelandic "delicacies": dried fish, fermented (rotten) shark and schnapps. We didn't try the shark but tried the others.

We next went to Osvor to see a turf-roofed fisherman's house and learn about the life of an Icelandic fisherman a few generations ago

Then we went to Bolinguvik where we went to a beautiful church with hand painted interior decor by elderly famous Icelandic church painters. A local teenager sang some beautiful songs for us. Iceland's first female bishop came from this church.

We returned to the ship and listened to a lecture on plants and mammals of Iceland.