Akureyri, Iceland

Docked at 7am, weather beautiful, sunny although only 12C, perfect for walking around. Akureyri is the second largest town in Iceland, after Reykjavik, and is a very pleasant town. The Lutheran State Church, Akureyrarkirkja) is reached by 112 steps from the town centre, and is most interesting. It has beautiful stained glass windows, and the centre panel came from the old Coventry Cathedral, removed at the start of the Second World War and sold to an Icelandic dealer who stumbled across them in a London antiques yard. (The mystery is why they were in London at all, as they had been removed for safe keeping during the war and were to be re-established afterwards). Of course Coventry Cathedral was completely demolished by a bomb.

We then visited the Botanical Gardens which were very beautiful, and we had coffee in the lovely cafe there. We saw the oldest house in the town, dating from 17o5. Wandered up to the swimming pool, which is heated by natural thermal pools. Then browsed the shops, some lovely things for the people who buy souvenirs.

Sunset was 12.46am, and sunrise the next day 3.12. There is no darkness at all. It is just amazing!

I wish I could show more photographs, it is very difficult to pick just one!