The document provides details about locations in northern Iceland including Akureyri and Husavík. It describes Akureyri as Iceland's second largest city located at the head of the Eyjafjörður fjord. It notes that Icelanders have Celtic ancestry from Norse Vikings intermarrying with Celtic people. It also mentions local landmarks like the Akureyrarkirkja church designed by the same architect as Reykjavík's Hallgrímskirkja. The document then shifts to Husavík, a traditional whaling town, and describes going whale watching on the Arctic Ocean where humpback whales were spotted.

1. North Iceland August 2011

2. Flight from the West Fjords to Akureyri

4. Akureyri – population 17,500 Iceland’s second largest city, located at the head of the Eyjafjörður. The city bus system is free!

5. Statue of Helgi the Lean and his wife Þórunn, the first settlers of the Eyjafjörður region in 890 ce. Helgiwas both Norse and Celtic. Many Icelanders have Celtic ancestry, evidenced in an abundance of red hair, as a result of Norse Vikings intermarrying with Celtic women and bringing over Celtic slaves in the early days of settlement.

6. The city looks out over the Eyjafjörður

7. Mt. Súlur

8. Central Akureyri – one of two cinemas. Iceland has been producing films since the 1980s, a small, but vibrant industry.

9. Ráðhústorg – Akureyri’s central town square

12. Hafnarstræti – full of shops and cafes

15. BlaáKannan – favorite café in Akureyri and a local lunch favorite

16. KEA is a local economic cooperative started in 1886 by sheep farmers, which now owns shares in many local businesses, including the bookstore.

18. Akureyrarkirkja Designed by the same architect as Reykjavík’sHallgrímskirkja, GuðjónSamúelsson. The design of both churches is influenced by volcanic basalt column formations. Built 1940.

21. Stained glass windows depict both the life of Christ and important chapters in the history of Christianity in Iceland.

22. The middle window came from Coventry Cathedral in Britain. Someone removed the window at the start of WW2, saving the stained glass from the destruction of the cathedral during the Nazi bombings of London. An Icelandic antiques dealer bought the window in London and installed it here.

24. Icelanders, especially in Akureyri, are incredibly athletic and active. Numerous youth soccer teams were training around the church grounds.

27. Soccer match – Akureyri v. Ísafjörður Ísafjörður won 4-0

28. Local Sundhöll – Icelanders love their community geothermal swimming pool, which usually includes several hot pots. Young and old soak and socialize, several times a week.

29. Sundlaug Etiquette 101 – Always remove shoes before entering changing rooms.

30. Back to school

32. The Outlaw, sculpted by EinarJónsson

35. Botanical Gardens

46. The perfect place to watch planes land at the airport.

47. Nonnahús Statue of Jesuit priest JónSveinsson, known for writing the Nonni children books, popular throughout Europe.

49. Inside Nonnahús – childhood home of JónSveinsson. Built around 1850.

51. Ingenious bed design in a land where wood must be imported from Norway – an expandable bed design. This design was used throughout Iceland.

52. 19th century church

55. Eyjafjörður

58. Arctic Ocean

59. Husavík – population 2340

60. I am dressed for whale watching on the cold Arctic Ocean!

61. Our ship sails away from Husavík. Traditionally a fishing and whaling town, Husavík is now a whale watching hot spot.

63. We spot a humpback whale!

68. Husavík’s Whale Museum Housed in a former slaughterhouse, the museum includes the biology of the world’s whales, as well as exploring Iceland’s relationship with whales, including commercial whaling. Iceland ended whaling with the 1989 worldwide ban on commercial whale hunts until 2002 when they rejoined the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Commercial whaling resumed in 2006, but was terminated after a year due to a lack of markets, only to be resumed in 2008. Strict quotas are followed, but remains controversial.

69. Iceland’s medieval law manuscript – the Jónsbók – detailed who owned the meat of beached whales, when such meat could feed an entire community in lean times. The skeletons in the museum are from beached or drowned whales, not from whale hunts.

72. Early morning in Akureyri