Once off the boat from Vigur Island tank at Isafjordur, it was on a bus for another land tour which began just outside the village at a nine-hole golf course in Tunguskogur. Tunguskogur is a beautiful valley with many hiking/walking trails and I was itching to walk one…sigh, but the tour guide spent much time here insisting people taste the clear river water, sang to the group and then went into details about Swamp Soccer played by locals each year, us. Swamp soccer is a unique “sport” played by adventuresome people all over the world. I read there are swamp soccer events in Beijing, Istanbul, Mumbai, Belgium, Finland, and Sweden as well as Iceland, along with a World Championship every year.
A field is flooded and let the games begin. Visit the Swamp Soccer link for all the “swampy” details.
Click here to view the embedded video.
map of Isafjordur harbor, Iceland
Isafjordur golf course, Iceland
Swamp Soccer field in Isafjordur, Iceland
information about Tunguskogur Valley, Iceland
Isafjordur has a gas station, shops, accommodation, indoor swimming pool and a sports center. A popular visit is to the top of Bolafjall Mountain with gorgeous views and a radar station. All three roads leading out of town go through tunnels. The oldest connects to neighboring Suoavík, the newest connects to Bolungarvík (our next stop after tours in town) and the longest connects to both Suoureyri and Flateyri.
maritime museum photo in Isafjordur, Iceland
deep sea diving outfit in Isafjordur Maritime Museum building, Iceland
The Westfjord Heritage Museum is located within walking distance from the ship. The museum building is one of four, Eighteenth Century houses that have been renovated into a Maritime History Museum. In the museum and the area around it, are all kinds of fishing and fish production equipment, old photographs and ships. A young traditionally dressed woman sang two songs to the Tauck group. The first was a depressing story about a women who puts her baby out to die in the cold, the baby comes back to haunt her and she then goes mad and dies! Cheery, isn’t it? I couldn’t bear to listen to her second song and walked upstairs to see a big accordion collection.
Isafjordur Maritime Museum building, Iceland
accordion collection in Isafjordur Maritime Museum building, Iceland
magnificent old accordion in Isafjordur Maritime Museum building, Iceland
I had no idea how intricate and beautiful accordions can be and would have spent time talking to the owner and listing to music but it was time to move along to Osvor Fishing Outpost…