Day 8 - Akureyri & Engimyri Lodge
Akureyri
(Icelandic pronunciation: ([ˈaːkʏrˌeiːrɪ])
Akureyri, ‘The Capital of the North’ is a lively and energetic town in the fjord Eyjafjörður. Akureyri is surrounded by mountains, the highest one being Kerling at 1,538 metres (5,064 feet). The area around it has rich agriculture and a beautiful mountain ring.
Lystigardurinn, Akureyri's botanical garden is a perfect place for a leisurely walk, learning about Arctic plant life, and listening to the birds sing as they fly from tree to tree.
The iconic Akureyri Church is considered one of the must-see Akureyri attractions. It's conveniently easy to spot as it towers over the center of the city and dominates the town's skyline.
It was consecrated in 1940 and, since then, has always been the most significant trademark symbol of the 'Capital in the North.'
The stairs leading up to the church are no less iconic than the church itself, and Icelanders commonly challenge each other to race up the stairs. There is even an annual 'church stair race' event in July, where locals compete in multiple categories of who is fastest racing up the stairs.
The sound of the gong has been used for healing and relaxing purposes for centuries. The gong artist (Arnbjörg) tunes into stillness and lets the deep peace of nature come through for the best possible effect for the listener. The whole body enjoys the vibration of the gongs, every cell is rejuvenated and the mind comes to a stillpoint.
Arnbjörg Kristín is a yoga teacher and has trained playing the gong with teachers both in the US and Europe. The best teacher however is a simple one: practice and stillness while serving the sacred sound current. A sacred truthful space is valuable during transitions in ones life and it brings her great pleasure in serving at those occasions. She has worked for the city of Reykjavik as a teacher and sound healer for employees and in public events in Videy. This year she also participated in the LennonOno Peace grant award ceremony by playing gong while Yoko Ono honored the participants. She also played every year in Reykjavik Peace Festival where many international choirs come together to sing Lennon's song: Love.
Just outside of Akureyri, lies a Labyrinth built by the local people in Kjarnaskógur Forest. A beautiful forest walk leads us to this sacred space and allows us time for reflection and connection. You won’t find the Labyrinth online- we received the inside scoop on our last visit!
Gong Sound Bath
Engimyri Lodge
Located at the valley Öxnadalur at the base of Trollaskagi, Ring Road c Engimyri Lodge is a beautifully situated guesthouse with a spacious restaurant, and a patio with an amazing view overlooking the valley and surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery and lava.
