Arriving in Husavik on a foggy morning, we complete our normal activities and disembark a little before 9.  As Husavik is considered the whale watching capital, we have a ship’s whale watching tour booked for this afternoon, so we have the morning free to explore this tiny little town. Our first stop is the Whale Museum – I mean, of course, why not? We’re in Whale watching central – which is filled to the brim with fascinating information, not to mention the adorable Steelers’ fan who is manning the museum ticket desk.  Pretty funny actually!

While really expensive (as is everything in this country), the museum is well worth it.  We learn about the seas and Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (say that 3 times!) that makes the water so perfect for Whale inhabitation as well as reignite our whale knowledge – first known whales were land mammals, close to cows, giraffes and hippos; they took to the water either for food or safety, eventually evolving into the sea mammal creatures they are today.  Tons of information and tons of Whale skeletons, including the massive Blue Whale skeleton that washed ashore near Skagi in 2010 – complete with the baleen inside its massive jaws. 

Of course there is information about the whaling industry, which was illegal from 1915 until 1935 when Icelanders were allowed to hunt whales again as long as they utilized the whale “to the fullest extent.”  Some great photos from the day chronicle the activities, as well as a list of the uses of the captured whales.  A cure for milk fever in cows, no less! 

Skeletons of Minke Whales, Narwhals (so cool with that long, almost spear like feature that is actually a tooth), a baby humpback, an Orca, beaked whales, pilot whales – you name the whale – there’s a skeleton here for you!

Done with Whale skeleton watching, we head over the Husavikurkirkja – the wooden church built in 1907 in the form of a cross with wood imported from Norway – which is pretty and simple with its contrasting blue ceiling and red velvet pews.  Then to the rainbow street a few blocks away and that’s the extent of the town and our wanderings!

We are back on the ship by 11 for a quick lunch before meeting our tour at 12:30 and walking back down the pier to the harbor fronting the city.  We meet our boat captain and guides, who give us insulated wet suits to wear – both for the cold and lifesaving protection should the unthinkable occur (let’s not even go there!) – which most of don as we head out of the harbor for our 3-hour whale watching tour.  (Again, let’s not go there with the 3-hour tour, Gilligan!)

The tour is totally fabulous and wonderful, and freezing!!!! But in our gear it is nice and toasty warm as we make our way out to Puffin Island, one of the largest puffin rookeries in the world.  These little guys are everywhere and so fun to watch. And yeah, you have to really look hard in these photos, because, well, they aren’t so easy to capture on camera!  But look at their cute little red feet when they fly.  And when they take off en masse, there are so many of them in the sky, it’s amazing.  The island has been owned by a local family for years, keeping it protected for the puffins.

Moving further out into the bay, we have the great luck to spot 2 pods of white beaked dolphins –which we actually managed to get on video!  Twice! – and 3 Humpback whales. And so many blows out on the horizon. It was stellar! 

Plus, what was supposed to be a 3-hour total tour on the boat was more like 4 hours total because they kept seeing things and heading out toward them.  It was absolutely fantastic! Back on the ship, we warmed up, relaxed, hung out on the balcony, then did our normal nightly routine – minus the gym as we were so late getting back.  Another great Icelandic port day behind us.