Northern Europe & British Isles Cruise: Reykjavik To New York, Ny

You can thank Olav Kyrre.

He’s the Viking king who founded Bergen in 1070. During the Middle Ages, the city became Scandinavia’s primary port, and today, against all odds, you can still see buildings and other relics of this long period. There’s the medieval fortress of Bergenhus, as well as the summer home of composer Edvard Grieg. Bergen, Norway is also a jumping off point for excursions to some of Norway’s wonders, such as Sorfjord, Samnangerfjord, Tokagjel Gorge and Steindalsfjoss Waterfall. After you’ve visited all of these, there will be a short spelling quiz.

Edinburgh, (èd´n-bûr´e) capital city (1991 pop. 421,213) of Scotland and royal burgh. The city is divided into two sections: the Old Town, on the slope of Castle Rock, dates from the 11th century; the New Town spread to the north in the late 18th cent. Edinburgh is a government, finance, and tourist center. Most industry, which includes brewing and distilling, publishing, and paper milling, is situated near the city’s port, Leith. Edinburgh grew up around its 11th-century castle and became Scotland’s capital in 1437. It blossomed as a cultural center in the 18th and 19th century, with such figures as David Hume, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott. It remains a cultural and educational hub and hosts an annual international arts festival.

This is the town where north was invented. That’s right no village in the entire world is further north than Honningsvag, Norway. How far north is it? It is so far north the sun doesn’t even think of setting from mid-May until the end of July-which seems like an awful lot of work, and that could explain its need to set and stay set from late November to late January. (This period is especially difficult if you have a night job.) Honningsvag is the gateway to the North Cape, but hey, if you want to head that direction, you’re on your own.

Main industries in Húsavík are fishing and fish processing but also different service industries, both public and private, agriculture in Reykjahverfi, and tourism. Tourism has been growing very rapidly in the last few years, especially in connection with Whale Watching tours on Skjálfandi-bay from Húsavík harbour on traditional renovated fishing boats. Tourism has grown to the point that Húsavík is now well known as “The Whale Watching Capital of Europe.”North of Husavik, the Tjörnes peninsula is known for fossilised seashells from pre-historic times some of which are on display at Hallbjarnarstaðir fossil Museum.The National Park in Jökulsárgljúfur is about 65 km northeast of Húsavík, with it’s many fantastic rock and earth formations. Nearby in Jökulsá á Fjöllum is Europe´s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss.Less than half day drive from Húsavík, in the wilderness of the interior are some well known places of interest: Askja, a huge volcanic caldera in the Dyngjufjöll mountains; and Kverkfjöll, a geothermal area in the northern edge of Vatnajökull glacier.

From the northernmost point of Scotland, either at Dunnet Head or John O’Groats, board a boat to the Orkney Islands, and the capital of Kirkwall. Its a picturesque little town with a distinct Viking flavor and impressive red sandstone cathedral.

Shetland Islands, archipelago, 552 sq mi (1,427 sq km), off N Scotland. They consist of c.100 islands c.70 mi (110 km) long, about a fourth of which are inhabited. The largest are Mainland (where Lerwick, the main town, is located), Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Whalsey, and Bressay. Oil, produced offshore in the North Sea since the 1970s, supplements income from traditional sheep, cattle, and knitware industries. Tourism is also important. The hardy Shetland pony and the Shetland sheepdog originated there. Occupied by Norsemen by the 9th cent., the islands were annexed to Scotland in 1472. Fishing is plentiful here, and the rocky cliffs offset by vast colonies of gannets and gulls make for breathtaking scenery.

Reykjavik, is the capital of Iceland. It is the country’s chief port and center of its cod fishing industry.

Founded in 874 A.D., it is the home of the Althing, or Icelandic parliament, the oldest in Europe. The city’s heating system uses nearby hot springs. Reykjavik was the site of 1986 disarmament talks between the U.S. and USSR.

The world’s northernmost university – only one institute of higher learning may boast of that distinction, and at the moment anyway, that institution is the University of Norway at Tromso. Situated about 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromso has continuous sunshine from late May to mid-July. Nearby is the city of Narvik, known for mysterious lightning that occurs every August.