Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 30

Back in your vehicle, you can continue along the coast to the
black sand beaches of Reynisfjara and the village of Vik. Beyond
this, the northern region awaits. Goðafoss, a spectacular
waterfall, is here, as is Akureyri, the second largest town in
Iceland, even though its population numbers just 18,000. This
is primarily a fishing community, with a port that remains ice-
free all year long, but tourists mainly visit during the summer
months. There are several festivals and musical events that
merit your attention here, such as the Akureyri International
Music Festival, which has featured everything from Icelandic
punk to an Argentinian tango orchestra.
If you decide to spend time in Akureyri, I suggest visiting
Noa—in my humble opinion, the best seafood restaurant in all
of Iceland. While I’ve sampled nearly everything on the menu,
I return for the bacalao or salted cod. Served with Icelandic
potatoes and a local beer, it’s the perfect end to a long day in the
car. If you’ve never tasted Icelandic potatoes, you must. Served
with a buttery caramel sauce, they’re one of the very best things
the country has to offer.
After days of hiking and exploring the eastern part of the
country, the potatoes will provide all the energy needed to
continue west towards Hvítserkur, the Troll of northwest
Iceland. Hvítserkur is all that remains of a volcano long ago
eroded away by the sea. Many of the roads here are covered in
gravel and care should be taken in severe weather. (All-wheel
drive comes in handy.)
From here, a detour to see Þingvellir National Park,
where Iceland’s parliament was formed in AD 874, is highly
recommended. This is one of the country’s most popular
attractions—and for good reason. Then, it’s on to Reykjavik
for more amazing hospitality. By its very nature, Iceland is
a country that never remains the same. I’ve been four times
now, at different times of the year, and each time I discover
something new. If you decide to visit Iceland, be sure to plan a
follow-up trip as well, for this country only reveals its secrets
gradually, over time.
28 six star magazine