Overnight there was a dramatic change in the weather, from a sunny and warm day, to a very rainy one! This however did not affect our plans or participation in the morning’s activities.
We had arrived at a village on the north coast of Iceland called Siglufjodur, known for its historic fishing industry. The fish that the village focused on was the herring, which drove the economy and development of this quant community. Nowadays, the fishing is mostly gone, and tourism has been on the rise for years. One of the big draws is the “Herring Museum”, which utilized the old fish processing buildings near the dock, which has much of the old equipment, housing and office in their original condition, with many additional interpretive signs and displays! There was even a reenactment of the “Herring Girls” cleaning the fish, complete with theatrics and song! What a great way to get a feeling for what it must have been like to live and work in this once bustling fishing village.
So, right after breakfast we had a brief introduction from a local guide, and then headed off, rain or not, to walk to the museum for a several hour tour.
By eleven we were all back onboard the National Geographic Orion to get ready to reposition to Akureyri, which is considered the second city of Iceland. But first, twenty one of our intrepid guests left to enjoy an afternoon riding Icelandic horses, eventually meeting up with us at the dock in Akureyri soon after we arrived. Along the way however, the remaining guests did get to see a number of Humpback whales, as we traversed the fjord on our way to Akureyri!
Once we arrived and tied up to the pier, there was an opportunity to have free time to roam around this lovely city, maybe even eating dinner ashore, before returning for the evening’s entertainment. A concert at a local venue, where there were three different musical performances after dinner. This was also special because the National Geographic Explorer had arrived just before us, and would also be joining us for this musical entertainment event! A wonderful way to end a great day!
