Akureyri y Agua de Zancudos

So like I have previously said, Akureyri is this small town of about 17,000 people in northern Iceland. Most Icelanders tell me that the weather here is the best and there are occasionally large tourist cruisers that show up here. However, the temperature is usually below 15°C (59°F) and it rains or is cloudy a lot, when the sun does come out it is very good. Regardless of this, I prefer to be in this climate than the terrible summer heat of Texas/Mexico. Here are some pictures of the town:

This was the town center where they have some artwork of old Akureyri (the artwork pics are in black in white as well). There were some tourists looking at the pictures and some local children riding their bikes and playing with a soccer ball.


This is the main church in Akureyri, and pretty cool inside with a model ship hanging from the ceiling (an Icelandic tradition or something).


This is a cafe downtown that looks pretty cool and I've never been inside.


This is the Catholic church in Akureyri. Very small and nicely colored.


Some cool coffee shops/bars/restaurants by the art museums.


Some viking/elf looking thing in front of one of the tourist stores.


Restaurant called Bautinn (its actually red) where Jenn, Cynthia and I ate way too much for a decent price. How did we do it you ask...we go to MIT. OK so basically they have this soup and salad buffet for like 1400 ISK and some other stuff on the menu that allows you to get the additional buffet for like 790 ISK. One of these other items was pizza, the cheapest 10" plain cheese one costing like 1000 ISK. So we split the pizza in three and were able to each get the buffet at the 790 price. So in the end we each saved about four bucks for the buffet and we also have some pizza. Thank you 10.213*.


Another awesome evening from the rooftop.


Some interesting graffiti.


Another cool place in the north is Lake Mývatn which loosely translates to "mosquito water." It's this awesome lake (with mosquitoes) with crazy volcanic rock structures and the perfect place for bird watchers. Some other places around the Mývatn area include bubbling, sulfur-smelling mud puddles, waterfalls, and natural hot tubs in some caves. The time I went there with Hreinsi we did not stay very long and it was more of an introductory tour, so I definitely need to return and enjoy it some more. Anyway, here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.


This is Goðafoss which is close to the lake.


This is the lake with its great natural structures.

This was some park (I forgot the name, but I think it's also the name of a heavy metal band...) with tons of crazy volcanic formations. The name in English is something like "Dark Castle."


A natural hot tub in a cave.


Bubbles bubbles bubbles.

We finished the Lake Mývatn trip by going to this cafe in a barn with glass walls so that customers can see the owners milk the cows. I had a coffee and this amazing bread and smoked fish thing. Very delicious, but sadly no pictures. :(

But don't fret, there's more to come later. :Þ