I’ve been in northern Iceland for this year’s Christmas break, enjoying plenty of snow and some spectacular skies. The skiing fields above Akureyri have been in full use. Here in Eyjafjördur, the sun disappeared from view around December 12 and will reappear momentarily between two mountain peaks tomorrow, January 1st. A nice way to start the year

This photo shows what they call glitský or mother-of-pearl clouds, which are common this time of year during the short twilight days, and are perhaps the closest thing to a daytime version of northern lights.

You never know when you might spot these colourful clouds, but if you’re in Reykjavík tonight as 2011 ticks over to 2012, you can be more certain of a colourful sky! The best place to see the fireworks is anywhere up high – for example, at Nítjanda (the restaurant on the 19th floor of ‘The Tower’, Turninn) or The Pearl.

But the view is pretty good by the harbour too, where I imagine the fireworks will look spectacular reflected in the multifaceted glass of Harpa.

Am I the first to report this polar bear, seen at a farm in Eyjafjördur this morning?