We kicked off our Iceland adventure in the quaint fishing village of Eskifjördur, nestled between dramatic mountains in East Iceland’s fjords. One perk of being on a medium-sized cruise ship is docking right in town. Within minutes, we were off the ship and ready to explore.
Our morning mission: hike to the top of Bleiksárfoss, a cascading series of waterfalls just a few blocks from the harbor. The trail started out gently, winding its way through the landscape, but soon gave way to steeper, more rugged terrain. Undeterred, our family pressed on, determined to reach the top. And we did, or so we thought we did.
The view from the top of the falls was breathtaking… until the clouds parted and the sun revealed even higher peaks above us. Turns out, we had only climbed to the top of the waterfall, not the summit of the mountain.
The falls were beautiful, with clear water gently cascading over mossy rocks – a peaceful reward after the uphill climb. We paused to take in the sweeping views of the fjord and the town below. It was well worth the effort.
After our hike, we walked back to the ship for lunch and a quick change of clothes (a luxury when the ship is just a short walk away). Recharged, we set off to explore the rest of the town.
With a population of just over 1,000, it didn’t take long to walk from one end of Eskifjördur to the other. Along the way, we discovered a fun surprise in the town park: a giant inflatable “pillow.” Inspired by a local girl gleefully bouncing on it, we kicked off our shoes and joined in. Who says the kids get to have all the fun?
After our impromptu jump session, most of us wandered into the local grocery store, which is always a fun cultural adventure, while Ed opted for the East Iceland Maritime Museum, diving into the village’s seafaring history.
As the ship set sail once again, we couldn’t help but reflect on what a perfect introduction Eskifjördur had been to Iceland. An enjoyable, scenic, and beautiful day. We are looking forward to the next stop in our journey.
Hammond Adventures 