Iceland 2011

Here we are in Stykkishólmur. This small town of 1100 inhabitants (the largest on the peninsula!) is a small port from which it is possible to cross the Breiðafjörður fjord to reach the northwest region of Iceland.
Except that it's too late to take the ferry and tomorrow no one will be working in town because it's the fishermen's festival! So we decide to stay two nights here to enjoy the town and its surroundings.

The modern church with futuristic looks completed in 1980

The campsite.
Once again there's no crowd, just 2 Icelandic neighbors to take the photo! 

Short walk in the port

Everything is ready for tomorrow's games...

We're going to see the lighthouse on the small island of Súgansey, which is connected to the port of Stykkishólmur by a dike. It's midnight and we really hope to see this midnight sun set!!!

Argh! It's setting in the clouds... Oh well!

Sunday5thJune

Geothermal pools are an institution in Iceland! Naturally heated by the subsoil, they allow for pools reaching 40 degrees!

It must only be 5 degrees outside but not enough to stop us from doing a few slides...

Enough splashing around! We have to get to the port where the fishermen's festival has already begun! The whole village is gathered on the quays to encourage the brave participants...
But don't tell me they're going to do all that in this icy water??? Well, yes! Not even scared!  

First event: boat race with shovels.

Second event: a short race on pallets without falling into the water

But these Icelanders are crazy! Now they're throwing themselves into the icy water with a buoy pulled by their teammates!!! HAAAAAA!!!  

And now, with moving images:

And hop! another little race on the water. Jesus better watch out!  

Icelandic tug-of-war... The losers are directly punished by falling into the icy water!

And now even better! Nobody forces you to jump into the water, you do it yourself!  

And again with a duel 4 meters above the water!

That's it, it's over. Everyone is invited on the ferry for a "small" snack and a little trip off the coast!

It's an all-you-can-eat buffet! An opportunity to try some Icelandic gastronomic curiosities... 
Well... finally, it wasn't so bad!

From the ferry deck, a few photos...

Basaltic columns

The lighthouse on the small island of Súgansey where we were last night.

And there you have it. After this short tour, a quick visit to the church of Stykkishólmur, which is as modern inside as it is outside.