Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum — 2019 Iceland, Canada & Cuba

A very clear night out of the bedroom window last night.

Set off with no real plan. As we headed towards a church seen from the road we came across the Shark museum that had eluded us for a couple of days. There was the offer to trying some putrefied shark but I don’t eat fish (yes, it’s a fish and not a mammal) and Jane wasn’t keen either. Also, who wants to have to explain to the car hire people why the car is quite so full of sick.

Then outside to see the shark drying. If you can imagine how it smells, then you’re probably right.

The woman in the shark museum said the church was the oldest in Iceland. Google doesn’t agree. (Google: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/grafarkirkja)

“This church belongs to the Stykkisholmur benefice in the Snaefellsnes- and Dalir Deanery. During the Catholic period, the churches were dedicated to St. Nicolas. The present church was consecrated in 1857.

It is a little, wooden church, the pride possession of the farmer at Bjarnarhofn. It is the home chapel of Bjarnarhofn and has no other parishioners.”

— https://www.nat.is/bjarnarhofn-church/

Talking of churches. After heading back to Stykkishólmur to look for bookmarks and grab a coffee we found the road that lead to Stykkishólmur church. The church had a Steinway grand piano which sounded wonderful, even if my playing didn’t.

“This church belongs to the Stykkisholmur benefice in the Snaefell- and Dalir Deanery. Until 1878 the hamlet belonged to the Helgafell benefice, when a new parish for the people there was established. The old church of the small town has been renovated and still protrudes into the main street. It was built in 1879.

The new church is a concrete architectural adventure with seats for 300 people. It was consecrated in 1980 and has been used as a concert hall as well from the beginning. Its stands rather high and is very prominent from land and sea.”

— https://www.nat.is/Churches/stykkisholmur_church.htm

Down to the harbour and bought a little model of a viking boat for the back room.

Took more photos on the way back. The wind was so strong it was hard to open the car doors (even taking into account my well-renowned upper body strength).

An early night as we’re up at 3am to drive to the airport for the flight to Canada.

The plan was the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum (as we’d past the sign a few times) the on to Snæfellsjökull National Park. The sign was at the end of the long gravel road that linked where we were staying to the main road. It helpfully said it was open from 9-6pm but sadly chose not to say where it was. We tried in vain to find it, but nope. Had we found it there was the opportunity to try putrefied shark meat. To be honest that sounds like a hard no from me.

The sun hit this mountain in a pleasing way which made me think of a Turner painting (though probably not if you’re looking on a tiny phone screen).

Into Olakfsvik (Sker restaurant) for lunch and a look at the church. The church was consecrated on November 10th 1967. It’s the first modern church in Iceland.

A sculpture by Jon Gunnar Amason (b. 15 May 1931). “The Ship": We all have our dream boat and we all dream of sailing deep into our dreams. These boats reflect my own imagination, my precision and my knowledge about simple boat builders of the past centuries."