It was already late morning in Akureyri as I dragged myself out of bed. The long drive from Egilsstadir and chasing the Northern Lights into the wee hours yesterday had tired me out. Hence, I started the day at a much slower pace than I usually would. Of course, the comfortable bed of Hotel Kea played a crucial role as well LOL. After washing up, I went over to check out the hilltop church of Akureyri (Akureyrarkirkja) which sits next to the hotel. The Lutheran church has a simple yet distinctive façade. On the inside, there’s a nice-looking model ship hanging from the ceiling. Perhaps it’s for prayers to the loved ones who are out at sea?
Rub 23 in Akureyri
Rub 23 is definitely my favourite restaurant throughout the trip that I patronized thrice during my stay in Akureyri. One of the main reasons why I had chosen Hotel Kea since the restaurant is right across the road. I was the only one on that day’s early lunch hours and my order was served very promptly. The Arctic Char was nicely done and absolutely delicious! The prices are on the high side, just like everywhere else in Iceland…duh. Hence, I suppose it’s easily justifiable by the food quality and the superb taste.
And as mentioned, I like it so much that I was back for another 2 rounds, much to my stomach’s delight and my wallet’s dismay LOL. Their famed Sushi Pizza blew me away every time!
Dettifoss Waterfall
I was checking the road condition on road.is when I noticed that Route 862 leading to Dettifoss is passable. Time to hit the road! I continued along Route 862 after turning in from the Ring Road, until reaching a spacious car park. Thereafter, a supposedly short walk over to the West side of Dettifoss turned out to be freaking tiresome as the snow was so thick. It’s definitely not a walk in the park to the lookout.
It’s a splendid sight where the thunderous waters roar down the edge of the opposite canyon. Dettifoss is after all, often regarded as one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. I had to tread cautiously around the viewpoints as the paths and markings were buried in snow. It would be nice to get closer to Dettifoss on the opposite side but that’s not to be since Route 864 remains closed during winter.
Lake Myvatn
I continued to drive around Myvatn region where the landscape is so diverse here. Lake Myvatn is one of the highlights among the other volcanic and geothermal sights in this area. The lake was created by volcanic eruptions long time ago. But I suppose it’s better to visit during warmer months as there isn’t much to see while the lake is frozen. Perhaps Myvatn natural bath would be a nice place to visit but it’s not my kind of thing.
Dimmuborgir
Similar to Lake Myvatn, Dimmuborgir or the Dark Fortress is a lava field formed by volcanic eruptions too. The solidified lava has become rocky formations which looks rather interesting. I noticed there are quite a few walking paths here but the thick snow makes it tough to move around. The nearby Hverfjall volcano looks majestic even from a distance away.
Strikd in Akureyri
I decided to head back to Akureyri for dinner before heading out for the Northern Lights later on. This time round, I went over to Strikd (Strikið) instead. The popular restaurant is located on the top floor of a building near the shopping street, which offers a nice view of the harbour area. The outdoor patio seating would be nice if it’s not so cold. But most importantly, the food comes in excellent presentation and it’s delicious.
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