Christmas Comes Early in the Land of Ice and Fire: Akureyri and Stykkishólmur

I came to Stykkishólmur with no expectations and left claiming I found the most beautiful place in Iceland!

It is November 1, so that means it is officially the Christmas season. I actually already went on a bit of a Christmas decorating spree since stores already have decorations!  But nowhere looks more festive than Stykkishólmur, Iceland!  This town was featured in the Secret Life of Walter Mitty film (though in the movie, they use the setting as Greenland). 

This is just me debating if this lighthouse is large enough for me to move in to!

My visit to the town only lasted a couple of hours, but the hike up to the lighthouse for the gorgeous views was alone worth the drive!

Each photo was more beautiful than the next

See what I mean?

This town had a magic about it similar to that of Cesky Krumlov, a Czech town that I visited two years ago and always say is my favourite town (not city) in Europe! I think this entire town belongs under a Christmas tree. 

This house seriously belongs under a Christmas tree!

Last week, temperatures began to drop, creating frost on the windows and yes, even snow. Darkness is coming, as the sun now rises at 9:15 AM and sets at 5 PM. So the Icelandic winter begins once again...

Snow and Christmas lights make me very happy!

This past weekend, I went to Akureyri for a skating competition, but of course we had to stop at the Jólahúsið or Christmas house! With a real life gingerbread house, the world's largest Advent calendar, and snow on the ground, it was impossible not to feel the Christmas spirit!

The Christmas House looks like a real life gingerbread house!

I think this bird was posing for me.

Some other notes:

​November has been one of my favourite months ever since I started participating in National Novel Writing Month.  I am already hard at work on my novel. November is also Type 1 Diabetes awareness month. I am now an ambassador for Beyond Type 1