Grimsey in Nov - Dec ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Grimsey in Nov - Dec

Replies: 11 - Last Post: 22-Oct-2009 09:42 Last Post By: justasaintz

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Posted
20-Oct-2009 14:35
by: justasaintz

Posts: 9
Registered: 19/10/09

Grimsey in Nov - Dec

Hi,

Does any one know of any accommodation in Grimsey. I plan to visit next month end.
Was also hoping if anyone could provide any travel tips to visit Grimsey during winter.

I know its a cold month and probably not the best idea, however i do want to experience what the locals experience be it warm or cold!! and that is what im looking for.

Appreciate any insights to my quest.

Posted
20-Oct-2009 18:25
by: Bjoern

Posts: 4,137
Registered: 13/04/00

1

Just wonder wht you expect in Grimsey that is different from any tiny village anywhere else in Iceland, since you spend time and money going there end November?
Sorry that I do not know if any of the 2 B&Bs are open. e-mails are here http://nat.is/travelguideeng/grimsey_accommodation.htm

Posted
20-Oct-2009 18:32
by: iviehoff

Posts: 1,523
Registered: 02/03/05

2

wht you expect in Grimsey that is different from any tiny village anywhere else in Iceland

Noting also that it will be dark most of the time

Posted
21-Oct-2009 01:01
by: justasaintz

Posts: 9
Registered: 19/10/09

3

its not very much as to what i expect there...but to just see the way of life in such parts of the world. and it being the northern most part of Iceland just gives an incentive to the experience that you "have" visited the northern most tip!

Posted
21-Oct-2009 02:15
by: iviehoff

Posts: 1,523
Registered: 02/03/05

4

but to just see

But, to repeat, there is very little in the way of seeing anything at that time of year, because it's dark so much of the time.

And the buildings are mostly ordinary modern buildings: see commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grimsey.JPG whose residents wear ordinary modern clothes and go about the same ordinary sort of modern life (minimising stepping outside into the cold, wet and wind) they would in any other remote Icelandic village. Bars are infrequent. At least in a village on the mainland with a few more inhabitants you'll probably have a coffee shop to see life going by, whereas Krian on Grimsey (population about 100) only claims to be open regularly in summer. See http://www.grimsey.is/english/ "In the village, the fishermen´s families live a modern kind of life today. They are well off, have a good school for their children, the harbour has been improved."

What is interesting in Iceland is the scenery, not the settlements and way of life. Because of a shortage of wood and fuel, until remarkably recently people mostly lived in terrible conditions in small turf-roofed stone cottages, not practical for adaptation to modern life. The few old buildings in Iceland are mostly consigned to museums, and nearly everyone now lives in unexceptional buildings of modern construction, especially in the villages. Though there are some villages which have a bit more interest - try Bildudalur in the Westfjords.

There is little clay for pottery, little wood for woodwork, little ore for metalwork, little silica for glasswork. Fishing has been industrialised. Sheep and cows live indoors in sheds through most of the year. For centuries Iceland lived by eating its home-produced milk and lamb, and exporting fish to pay for nearly everything else. To the extent that there are some surviving traditional crafts, knitting is the main example. If you are looking for a living ethnological museum, Iceland has very little of it.

For a view of modern Icelandic village life, try the film Noi Albinoi.

Edited by: iviehoff to try and make a URL show up - it keeps doing this to me

Posted
21-Oct-2009 07:10
by: justasaintz

Posts: 9
Registered: 19/10/09

5

Thanks for the insights iviehoff. I appreciate your help in saving me my precious time there.

Posted
22-Oct-2009 03:12
by: justasaintz

Posts: 9
Registered: 19/10/09

6

Hi iviehoff,

I see that during winter there are no trips to detifoss...do you know

1. If the roads are closed for it or is it because of lack of day time hours that tour companies do not provide it
2. Is it worth making the effort to get to detifoss during winter if its possible.

Posted
22-Oct-2009 03:42
by: Bjoern

Posts: 4,137
Registered: 13/04/00

7

Probably due to that there are not enough guests for the company to make any money - or in other words - it would be far too costly for a single guest to pay for car and guide.
Also guees that you cannot get close - the roads there are pretty bad.

Iviehoff may have been there that time of the year?

Posted
22-Oct-2009 03:44
by: iviehoff

Posts: 1,523
Registered: 02/03/05

8

The roads to Dettifoss are only open in summer.

But there are trips to Dettifoss in winter, when there is sufficient snow to go in a snow vehicle, and enough tourists to make it worthwhile. I think these things can be very spectacular in winter. But in intermediate seasons, there can be no tours. A tour agent in Myvatn will clarify the situation.

Posted
22-Oct-2009 04:27
by: justasaintz

Posts: 9
Registered: 19/10/09

9

Thanks both of you.

I am trying to sort out my itinerary and there seems to be tours available in Akureryi only on Mon/Wed/Fri. Does anyone know of another companies who do tours on other days...

Its getting really tricky when choosing tours as not all of them are available daily.

Posted
22-Oct-2009 05:14
by: iviehoff

Posts: 1,523
Registered: 02/03/05

10

I think you will find there is only one vehicle that does it. That tends to be the reality in Iceland for anything much less popular than Geysir. So you can talk to some other agent, and it may be a slightly different price, but it will be the same tour. I suspect the reality is that it is not even that often. They will probably cancel if there aren't enough people, and cancel if the weather is unsuitable.

Maybe they do something different on the other days of the week? You have to take advantage of what is available.

Posted
22-Oct-2009 09:42
by: justasaintz

Posts: 9
Registered: 19/10/09

11

hmm...I think that is a good idea. I just booked my tickets to akureryi without realizing the tours are not offered on Tues. So, i'll just go there and see whats available.

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