Isafjordur, Iceland

We had two days at sea in order to reach Iceland from Svalbard. Each of the two nights we were asked to set our watch back one hour. There is a two-hour time change between Norway and Iceland. Isafjordur is home to one of the largest fisheries in Iceland.

We were docked at the port and walked to our excursion boat to Vigur Island.

VIGUR ISLAND

Vigur Island, half an hour’s boat ride from Isafjordur in the Westfjords, is famous for its enormous colony of birdlife. Species here include puffins, eider ducks, arctic terns, black guillemots and razorbills. We were able to photograph most of these while visiting the island.

We took a fishing boat over to the island.

Vigur Island is home to only ten people. One of these residents was our guide. He was on a research grant from France.

The locals live off the land by harvesting eider down, which is the softest, lightest down in the world.

This eider chick has lost its mother and has imprinted on our guide.

Black Guillemots

Puffin

We take our lives in our hands while walking through the arctic tern nesting area. The birds dive bombed the highest point, so we were given sticks to hold up. Virginia still came away with a small white gift on her shoulder.

Arctic Tern

Eurasian Oyster Catcher

This is an example of an eider duck nest. Neither the ducks nor their eggs are endangered while the down is being carefully harvested.

This is what it looks like before it is cleaned and processed.

This eider duck came up to the dock to wish us safe return.

The Viking Saturn is sitting in a quiet cove awaiting our return for lunch.

ISAFJORDUR & BOLUNGARVIK VILLAGE

After lunch we embarked on a scenic drive around Isafjordur and an old fishing outpost now called the Osvor Maritime Museum in Bolungarvik,

 Bunarfoss near Isafjordur

The Osholar Lighthouse surrounded by Lupine. Lupine were introduced to Iceland to enhance vegetation but are now considered an invasive.

Osvor Maritime Museum is actually on old fishing outpost.

Recreated Iceland fishing boat

The buildings were filled with 19th century fishing gear and supplies.

Fish Drying Building

Fish on Drying Racks

We were served an Icelandic snack of rye bread and thinly sliced lamb and also treated to some Icelandic folk music sung and accompanied by a dulcimore.

We pulled away from the dock and the Pilot Boat Captain boarded to navigate the ship out of the fjord.

The was the last port of call on our cruise. We headed to Reykjavik for disembarkation the next morning.