When we first traveled to Iceland in 2007, a day excursion to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) would have been very time consuming. Until recently the only ferry that ran to the islands departed from Þorlákshöfn. This small port is close to Reykjavík but quite distant from Vík, a picturesque fishing village from which on a clear day, the islands can be seen.  I remember them appearing tantalizing close, but wondering why there was no closer ferry, especially since the main land comes within 11 km.

The Icelandic gods must have read my thoughts for in 2010 they built a ferry at the closest tongue of land and rather than taking the almost 3 hours from the original port, the journey across from Landeyjahöfn is a mere 30 minutes. This coupled with the relatively short (~1 hour) drive from Vík (where we choose to stay a second time) meant that a day trip to the Westman’s was eminently doable.

Vestmannaeyjar (“Islands of the West Men”) is named for early Irish slaves brought by the Norsemen. (Never mind that Ireland is actually east of Iceland….the early Norse had very rudimentary GPS.) As in most saga-esque stories from the Settlement Days (Iceland was first settled in the 9th century by migrating Norsemen), somebody got pissed and killed someone else and then someone else’s family took revenge and killed the original somebodies. (Though many of the Icelandic Sagas can be reduced thusly, the joy in reading them lies with the twists and turns of the modi operandi.) In this case, around 875 A.D., the Irish slaves of one Hjörleifr Hródmarsson, reacted strongly to being mistreated (as is wont to happen), revolted and killed him. They then fled to Vestmannaeyjar. No happy ending here, of course, as Ingólfr Arnarson, is both the first reported Norse settler of Iceland, and, unfortunately for the self-freed Irish, also the blood brother of Hjörleifr. You can see how this would be played out, no? Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Norseman, and indeed Ingólfr and his troop set sail for the islands and proceeded to slaughter the West Men. From then on, the small island chain became Vestmannaeyjar.

Comprised of 15 proper islands and an assortment of sea stacks and skerries, the islands were created relatively recently by the combined efforts of some 70-80 volcanoes, both above and below the sea. Indeed the newest island, Surtsey, was birthed in 1963, whilst the main, largest, and only inhibited island of Heimaey (“Home Island”), had its last eruption in front of the world’s cameras in 1973. The inhabitants of the island — all 5000 of them — were evacuated as the lava flow consumed about half of the main and only town on the island. Our goal today, once we arrived, was to wander the port town, climb the volcano that caused such mischief and perhaps even a second, older, but taller one next to it. First we had to get there.

If you want to take your vehicle to Heimaey you may, though it costs much more than if you pay as a pedestrian. Also, with the island being merely 5.2 square miles in size, a car seemed unnecessary. The 30 minute voyage was both pleasant and for a photographer, a visual treat. The ferry skirts two small islands, Elliðaey and Bjarnarey, both featuring improbably located lodges high above cliffs but on sprawls of vivid green turf. Approaching the harbor of Heimaey, from the port side you can see just how close the 1973 eruption of Eldfell came to closing the port, thereby stranding the townspeople. The lava flow actually reduced the harbor neck quite significantly, as evidenced by the blocks of encroaching black basalt. I was more enamored with the view of the starboard side, however. We came quite close to the mass of high cliffs that make up the low but very steep mountains of Heimaklettur and Yztiklettur. The rock has been weirdly eroded and you can spot sea caves. They make great photographic subjects, as does the port itself, with its multi-hued ships and boats.

We have arrived…

Next post: Cold Lunch on a Warm Volcano

Eyjafjallajökull, still brooding after its 2010 eruptions

The Westman’s, 11 kilometers away from Landeyjahöfn ferry

Elliðaey and Eyjafjallajökull beyond

Elliðaey

Heimaey: Rock and water

Cliff Walls of Heimaklettur in Heimaey Harbour

Passing through the narrow gap between Yztiklettur and the 1973 lava flows

Heimaey Port

Heimaey Port