We were scheduled for an early tour to drive from the pier to take a relaxing ninety-minute dip in the Myvatn Geothermal Nature Baths on Akureyri Island. Unfortunately, my digestive, internal system let me know that I was having too much fun, and  prevented me from joining Josh and Barbara on the early scheduled trip, so I stayed aboard, and looked forward to exploring the ship and taking a walk into town later that afternoon.

Akureyri is the second largest city in Iceland with a population of 19,000, and is near the Arctic Circle. However, strange as it seems, the town offers some of Iceland’s warmest weather and an ice-free harbor. Although the Vikings did touch down on the Island, the first written record of Akureyri was in 1562. In the late 19th Century Danish merchants settled the Island developing an agricultural society and adding the production of meat and wool products. They weren’t interested in fishing, but Norwegian settlers came and took advantage of the herring shoals that swam right next to the main street. Now Akureyri is one of the biggest fishing and fish processing centers in Iceland.

So, while Josh and Barbara took a dip in the Natural Hot Baths, I discovered that I was the only passenger left on the ship. Others, had taken advantage of the several offered tours. I wandered around the Ghost Ship until I heard six loud blasts from the ship’s horn, and an announcement, “Crew prepare for the drill.”  Then I heard, “This is a drill. There is a fire in the port engine. Go to your stations.” I returned to my cabin! A crew member, wearing a life vest, threw open my door, saw me and said, “Sorry, this is a drill. By the way, all of the elevators are locked.” After the drill, I once again began to wander, and took photos of the empty ship venues which was so much better than taking photos of a bunch of strangers.

I did a little soft-shoe dance on the theatre stage, and took a bow.  There was no applause. Then I returned to my cabin where the ship’s carpenter and two helpers were taking the lock apart on my cabin door because it didn’t close properly.  Thus, I entertained the three men in my cabin until the door was fixed. Time for lunch!  It was delightful being able to pick any table in the restaurant. I enjoyed the view of the sea as well as the lunch, and since I was the only person there, every waiter in the room came by to say ‘Hello.”

I then returned to the cabin to take a shower and get ready for my afternoon venture into town.  As I was showering, the lights went off momentarily. I guess it was the final check-up of the ship before the passengers returned. People were now coming back from their tours, and as soon as Josh and Barbara returned, Josh and I took off for our walk-about in Akureyri. We looked in the stores and at the woolen products. When the sweater label says, “Designed in Iceland,” it probably means sewn in China.  However, the authentic Icelandic sweaters are well marked. Josh had purchased one in a recommended store in Reykjavik where the owner had knitted the sweater herself. She took a photo of him wearing the sweater.  He is probably now a poster boy in Iceland advertising her beautiful work.

Josh’s favorite activity on our walk was purchasing an Iceland hotdog. Iceland is famous for their hotdogs.  I asked him what all those ingredients were that they put on the hotdog, and he replied, “I don’t know, but it smells good and is delicious. I didn’t ask but as long as  they didn’t put any fermented shark on there. That’s good enough for me.”

On to Isafjordur—My introduction to Marine Corps Basic Training.

Esther Blumenfeld