Winter Visit
It was a great pleasure to make the short trip north to visit the Reykjavik office and the Aurora Lodge team this week. We arrived to a grey Keflavik with a light drizzle. Getting through passport control and baggage claim was easy. We picked up a hire car that just happened to be the same old white disco sport from the summer. As we cruised towards the Reykjavik office the sun cast a stunning light across the hills beside Mosfellsbaer.
We arrived through the old docks to a very cosmopolitan area that has made the old docks it’s home. Cool shops and cafes line the old cold storage units. The Aurora Sporting/Kolskeggur offices are housed in a very modern glass clad office structure with communal areas and shared facilities. Johann David had been busy preparing for our arrival with a plethora of Christmas decorations and the whole office looked both cool and festive.
After a quick coffee and a catch up Alex and I took the regrettable decision to skip supper at Apotek and brave the sudden heavy snow fall and drive to the lodge. We drove into the dark with falling snow and sub zero conditions leaving Pete to catch up on local matters with JD. Unlike snowfall in the UK nothing stops the Icelanders from getting about and snow ploughs and gritters were out in force as we made our way cautiously towards the lodge.
It was great to be treated by the beaming faces of Julita, Marta, Alicja and Lenka at the lodge (Not to mention Eystri the dog). We had a poke around and everything felt very festive and cosy. A very different view all covered in snow. The lodge remains open as a hotel once the last of the fishers have been and with green list status and a strong chance of seeing the Northern lights it has been a busy time in October and November.
Due to our early and unannounced arrival I volunteered to head to Hvolsvöllur to get Pizza. At this point it was starting to become clear that wearing shorts was not the most sensible move. Armed with way too much pizza we tucked into supper with a few drinks and caught up on all the rest of the gossip as well as plans for improvements and repairs to consider before next season.
Whilst Alex had been to Iceland once before we took the opportunity to explore some of the local attractions. It’s very easy whilst the fishing season is in full swing to spend all our time on the river and forget that the lodge is located close to some spectacular black sand beaches and waterfalls. We drew the line at a ferry to the Westmann Islands and took a walk down through the drifting snow to the river beside Sindri’s pool.
By the time we returned the sky was clear as clear and the tiny slice of cloud that remained created the most stunning sunset and backset on the hills. On our return we found Gunnar, Pete, JD and the girls opening up a new edition to the lodge art collection. A stunning sculpture by the very talented Sam McDonald. Stay tuned for an update once safely hung in the lodge.
That evening Lenka produced a truly sublime dinner topped off with a stunning piece of Icelandic lamb complimented with Johann’s world famous mushroom sauce. As if to show the true splendour of southern Iceland the Northen lights decided to come out to play on a grand scale over the lodge. It was truly lovely to sit down and enjoy a lovely meal with our team. We so rarely get a moment to do so during the season and so I think we will make this an annual event.
