Sólheimasandur’s
beach relic
According to Icelandic legend,
the stacks—named Skessudrangur,
Langhamar and Landdrangur—
were once two trolls towing a threesailed ship back to shore. Before they
could reach safety within Reynisfjall
mountain, the sun turned the trolls
and ship to stone.
Also found along the beach are
the basalt columns that inspired
Reykjavik’s Hallgrímskirkja church.
They form an impressive step pyramid
up the cliff face. But be mindul of the
waves near the cliffs: They’re forceful
and can knock you off your feet or
worse—there have been several fatal
accidents over the years.
DAY THREE
Not far outside of Vik lies another
of Iceland’s black sand beaches at
Sólheimasandur. Driving through the
sand takes you to the unusual site of
a crashed U.S. Navy Douglas Super
DC-3 cargo airplane. Abandoned on
the beach since 1973, the plane’s fuselage has remained next to the ocean
for more than 40 years. Although the
exact reason for the DC-3’s downing is
unknown, it’s been suggested the plane
ran out of fuel after the pilot switched
to the wrong tank. Thankfully, all crew
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SUMMER 2016
AMA INSIDER
members walked away from the crash.
About 200 kilometres east along
Highway 1 is the Jökulsárlón glacier
lagoon. Here, icebergs calve off of the
receding Breiðamerkurjökull glacier
and crash into the water at its base.
Some icebergs can spend up to five
years floating in the 250-metre-deep
lake before moving on—via a short
river—and slowly drifting out to the
Atlantic Ocean. On the beach, the
diamond-like icebergs sun themselves
on the black sand, rolling in and out
with tidal waves. There are boat tours
that cruise the lagoon and offer a closeup look at the frozen milky-white
and light blue formations. (Ice colour
depends on the amount of compressed
air bubbles within it and the light
refraction on its surface.)
After taking your time to explore and
enjoy the unique setting of Jökulsárlón,
it’s time to start the return journey to
Reykjavik—about 4.5 hours by car.
Consider staying outside the city for an
opportunity to see the northern lights.
Although winter is the best time to view
the aurora borealis, Iceland’s higharctic latitude makes it a great yearround spot to witness the pulsing
greens, reds and whites in the night sky.
DAY FOUR
Before you say bless (goodbye) to the
countryside, pick up some souvenirs.
Try a lopapeysa, Iceland’s ever-popular
hand-knit sweaters. The cozy pullovers
and cardigans are made using lopi yarn,
from the fleece of Icelandic sheep. For
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City sights:
See Reykjavik’s Nordic
charm atop a doubledecker bus. Hop on/off
tour with 12 stops. Save
10% on a day pass.
Watery delights:
Book a whale or
puffin watching tour, a
northern lights cruise
or a fishing trip through
Elding Adventure at Sea.
Members save 15%.
Road trip:
The Golden Circle is one
of the world’s grandest
driving tours. Rent a
car to see its natural
wonders. Save up to 20%
on a Hertz car rental.
Where to stay:
Best Western Hotel
Reykjavik is steps from
the city’s top attractions.
Save 10% or more at Best
Western hotels in Europe.
AMARewards.ca
PLANE: BJORNSTEFANSON/ISTOCK; SWEATERS: ANNAPURNA MELLOR/GETTY
Colourful and cozy lopapeysa sweaters
real local flavour, pick up a bottle of
pylsusinnep, a hot dog topping that’s
more than mere mustard. The sweet,
brown condiment perfectly accents the
weiner’s mix of lamb, beef and pork.
Save the best for last: On your
way back to Reykjavik, melt away
travel stress in the silica-rich waters
of the Blue Lagoon. Since 1976, the
geothermal spa has been a popular
communal soaking spot for tourists
and locals alike. The unique water and
silica mud are said to have therapeutic
benefits for a variety of ailments. And
at 8,700 square metres, with a volume
of nine million litres, it’s one of the
largest medicinal spas in the world.
The lagoon recently expanded to offer
a silica mud bar and an enhanced
meditative area.
Lagoons, glaciers and geysers are
rich introductions to Iceland’s dramatic landscape and legendary history.
But they really are just the tip of the
iceberg when it comes to discovering
the essence of this icy-cool country.