We love being here!

In the hostel of the Hafaldan , often referred to as the Old Hospital in Seyðisfjörður, two Polish women, Maria Pilecka and Anna Kobierowska, work. Pilecka is now in Seyðisfjörður for the fifth consecutive summer, but at home in Poland she has been in university. She also says that she travels a lot and works only during the summer. Kobierowska has been around Iceland, but likes Seyðisfjörður the best. The friends, who met in Iceland, work in booking, delivering and cleaning, but say their work is fun enough to make them feel they are on vacation.

Good atmosphere in Seyðisfjörður

The friends offer a reporter coffee in the large, pleasant kitchen of the Hafaldan, where everything is done the old-fashioned way, in the style of the house that was once a hospital, known daily as the Old Hospital. The two women are now in Seyðisfjörður.

“We love being here! There’s such a good atmosphere here,” says Pilecka, and Kobierowska agrees. Both of them say that the staff is unique.

“It’s like one big family that works here,” Kobierowska says.

"Here's a lot of fun," Pilecka says, saying she loves the town.

Friendly and diverse community

Life here feels like a vacation. It’s a completely different atmosphere here than other towns in Iceland, and I have been to many towns. The people in Seyðisfjörður are very friendly and here is an international environment because there are people from different countries here. Then there are so many artists here and the energy in town is so good,” Kobierowska says.

“It’s quiet during the winter and there are few visitors. I liked to experience Icelandic winter. There’s something magical about winter here,” she says, saying that the locals have welcomed her with open arms.

“I felt like I was part of the community here, and that’s what many people say, because people come here summer after summer,” she say s.