Akureyri, Iceland 阿克雷里

June 21: We bid farewell to the Svalbard islands two days ago, leaving the Arctic behind as we said goodbye to Norway. After two days at sea, our ship arrived in Akureyri, a city in northern Iceland and the second-largest city in the country.

For Connie, this was a return visit to a familiar place as she spent almost three weeks circling the entire island two years ago. It was a new country for Chenggang, so in the morning, he joined a shore excursion organized by the ship to visit the famous Godafoss waterfall, one of the most popular tourist attractions.

Connie skipped the tour since she had already seen the place. Instead, she took a local bus, free of charge for everyone, to visit the museums and the Botanical Garden by herself.

After a quick 45-minute stop at the waterfall, the excursion tour bus came to the botanical garden. Instead of returning to the ship with the tour bus, Chenggang chose to stay in the park, where he enjoyed a cup of coffee and delicious sweets with Connie at the garden's cafe. We shared the table with a couple from Washington State, our fellow cruise passengers, and had a delightful chat and exchanged travel stories for over an hour.

After some rest on the ship, we got off the ship again in the afternoon and walked over five kilometers to explore the old town. Akureyri's Old Town is a charming historic district near the city center. It is characterized by its well-preserved wooden buildings, colorful houses, and cobblestone streets, giving visitors a glimpse into the city's past. The old seafront houses, once situated on the coast, have now recessed away from the water due to coastal land reclamation. The changes have been quite significant over the past one or two centuries. Posts with old pictures illustrated the changes over the years installed at several locations in front of the historic buildings. We thought those were informative and interesting. Walking through this area, visitors can admire the unique architecture and learn about the city's rich history.

The city center exudes a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, with a mix of boutique shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants lining its narrow streets. It is a delightful place to explore, offering a blend of culture, tradition, and modernity.

After dinner, the ship slowly departed from Akureyri. We then attended a singing and dancing show. As the show concluded, the ship's crew and officers graced the stage to greet the passengers. When the "washing, washing" girl, armed with her sanitizing bottle, took to the stage, the audience erupted in laughter and heartfelt applause, appreciating her dedicated and meticulous efforts to ensure our health and safety. Undoubtedly, she was the ship's most famous and funniest crew member.

The improved weather conditions led to clear skies, and the sea was relatively calm, with no significant roughness. Whales frequently appeared in the area, so we spent some time on our balcony, hoping for a sighting.

Deep in the night, the radiant sun clung to the horizon, defying its descent, creating the illusion that the Earth stood still. It was a breathtaking sight. To our amazement, numerous whales frolicked gracefully in the sea bathed in golden sunlight, and we beheld the spectacle of whales spouting what seemed like "fire." We eagerly observed and captured photographs from our balcony for almost two awe-inspiring hours until half past one in the morning before eventually retiring to sleep.

6/21: 离开北极的Svalbard岛屿，也和挪威说再见。经过二天的海上航行，我们的船来到冰岛北部的Akureyri市。因为佩民二年前来过此地，对她来说算是故地重游。早晨成刚一人就跟团去了著名的众神瀑布，瀑布那里游客特别多，待了四十五分钟大巴就匆匆离开来到植物园。 成刚正好与独自一人自由行也来到植物园的佩民会合。

回船稍微休息之后，下午我们再次下船，走了五公里多，主要看看老城区。以前的海景房因为填海造地现在都远离海岸，看来一，二百年来变化还是很大的。总的感觉是城市虽小，博物馆，花园，老城区，新市区都不大，但环境优美。城市还有免费的环城公交，为游客提供方便。

晚餐后船慢慢离开Akureyri市，天气逐渐变晴，浪也不大。听说鲸鱼常常出没这个海域，整个晚上我们时而在房间的阳台上碰碰运气，希望能有收获。

半夜时分，金灿灿的太阳停留在海平面上不会消失，就像地球停止转动一样，漂亮极了。更为惊喜的是在金色阳光下，无数鲸鱼游戏在海上，我们目睹了鲸鱼喷"火”的壮观景象。二人在阳台上忙活了二个小时到早上一点半才睡下。