Borgarnes: the Land of the Icelandic Sagas

Borgarnes is the land of Egil's Saga, one of the most famous sagas in Icelandic literature. Despite a degree in English literature, with a special interest in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval literature, it wasn't until I actually moved to Iceland that I began to read their literature.  

Reykjavik is a lovely city, but the real magic of Iceland happens just as soon as you leave the city and enter the beautiful countryside.  

The first stop was The Settlement Center to visit the audio-guide narrated Saga Exhibition, which gives a great introduction to the setting of the medieval Icelandic world and also to the saga itself.  

After reading about it in my Lonely Planet guidebook and hearing stellar reviews, we stopped at the Settlement Center restaurant for their all-vegetarian lunch buffet, which lived up to the hype.  Our last stop in Borgarnes was the Ljómalind Farmers Market, where I was happy to find sugar free chocolate.

Well, no wonder! There are no other coffee shops around for miles!

From there, we headed north to Snæfellsnes peninsula without any particular destination in mind, just enjoying the gorgeous scenery. 

These Icelandic horses were surprised to see a car on the lonely roads.

And also making some friends with Icelandic horses and some rebel sheep who had escaped from their fences.

Just a sheep outside of its pen

A sunset as we neared the tunnel to Reykjavik