Reflections

Expectation versus Reality
I was completely ignorant about Iceland prior to our little trip. I had expected Iceland to be frigid and over populated. However, contrary to my preconceptions, it did not snow frequently. In fact, it did not snow at all. Moreover, Iceland - next to areas of New Mexico and South Africa- is probably the most sparsely populated and developed place I have ever visited.

I had imagined eating fresh food, like the picture bellow, every day. However, most of our meals were hardily comprised of fried fish and french fries... I also could not have even comprehended how expensive food would be in Iceland.

Halibut at Heimsendi restaurant 

I had failed to even imagine that there would be a difference in the densities and diverisities of wild life. Pretty much all we saw were: ALOT of birds and a mouse and  domesticated cats, dogs, sheep, and horses.

I addition to knowing nothing about Iceland, I knew nothing about geology, so every bit of information I gleaned about rocks was new information. Initially, my geologic ignorance was terrifying. However, it quickly became a refreshing feat of knowledge acquisition and turning to professors, wikipedia, and peers for explanation.

columnar basalt, featuring Nate 

Geodes- field notebook for scale 

After participating in a semester long field studies program and generally being a fairly calm person, I thought that I could deal with any social situation or field situation; I was wrong. Weighing mostly on my expectations of success, the short and intensive days took their toll along with having to adapt to a less cohesive group- in comparison with my previous group. High expectations led to great personal challenges and the need for even greater patience.

Regardless,  I met 17 very intriguing, dynamic, and amazing people.

Day 8: 17 may : Shark Museum

May 17 Tuesday
Today, We visited the Shark Museum. There, we got a ....delicious taste? ... a taste none the less of fermented Greenland shark..I was fairly unphased by the fishy flavour. However, others were quite disturbed. Maybe my toleration was due to the remnants of a dissipating illness preventing my sense of smell from  adding to the experience.

The museum was filled with interesting specimens of local birds, including Lundi (Puffins) and White tailed Eagle- a rare specimen.

At the museum, an old man conversed with us about the hidden people, Icelandic folklore, through the translation of our bus driver, Thor. The language barrier, though overcome through Thor's assistance, made me wish I spoke the language. After discussion of his family's dealings with the hidden people, he led us outside to give detail on his rock collection and to feed his chickens. At the end of our tours, he bid some of us farewell with a smile, a few words in Icelandic, and a cheerful hug.

From the chicken feeding site, I intently watched as a border collie performed its daily tasks, running swiftly to and fro behind and at the sides of its flock. A sweet fluffy dog joined us. The dog honestly could have been mistaken for a cat; its ears were so pointed and it was so small and furry.

Shark drying facilities outside, featuring Phoebe

I saw cat #6 on the way back....
We had lunch at ru ben and headed back to our hostel.
I explored a coffee shop on the way back to the hostel in side of which was an exhibit replicating a vintage toy store.
After we arrived at our hostel, we prepared for a hike on a trail directly behind the hostel.

Mitchell and Eric attempting to cross a pipeline 

geodes 

more geodes 

along the hike, there were many water falls and even a stray sheep that everyone else seemed to think was a mountain goat... Lauren and I explored a closer waterfall and discovered geodes while the others climbed a mountain.
I returned earlier and helped prepare dinner.

Day 21: May 30: Reykjavik (Final Day in Iceland)

My last full day in Iceland began around 06:45
, with the ring of my alarm. We had our usual sparse breakfast of Skyr and various breads with jam and butter and headed out for Reykjavik.

We attempted to visit the Nordic design center, but discovered that it - like many other things we've encountered on our trip- was closed on Mondays.

After abandoning our luggage at city hostel, we had lunch downtown at Pizzeria. Post-lunch, we were given time to explore Reykjavik...

After getting lost for a short while, Nate and I visited the National Gallery of Iceland... Exhibits visible on: http://www.listasafn.is/english/about-the-museum/
.
After attending the Nordic House, we left to go whale watching. During the course of our voyage, we spotted Minke whales, a Humpback whale, and white beaked dolphin.

Nate and I had dinner at Shalimar, a Pakistani restaurant, and attempted to find our way home. We became lost in a parking lot near the coast line and a friendly Icelandic man redirected us towards our hostel.

Sunset 

The day ended around 0200 the next day with the realization that tomorrow we would all be in a quite hypnotic condition. 

Day 20: May 29: Heimaey

Today,  we took a ferry to Heimaey,  part of the Vestmannaeyja archipelago.  Along the way to the ferry Harbour,  we stopped at....  falls and climbed behind the falls reach.

We left the main land,  or the island as the Vestmannaeyjaers refer to Iceland,  around 0900. The ferry station smelled ripely of fish and stagnation. On Heimaey,  we took two hikes and visited a museum.

The first hike included treks up treacherous ladders and rock faces. At the end,  there was a clear view of the island and surrounding  cliff islands,  some of which were occupied by individual houses.  Before departing for our second hike,  we took a break for ice cream and bathroom stops.

Phoebe, modeling ice cream 

 The second hike was across town and took us up a newly formed crater? .  It was created by the eruption in 1973. The trek up to the hike included traversing through a beautiful field of purple flowers. On top,  we discovered vents, in which suresh warmed his nearly 2 litre bag of French fries.

The museum was directly bellow the second hike. It commemorated the 1973 eruption and detailed it's events and subsequent island recovery. Islanders successful attempts to slow the lavas progression with cool water was the first example of such human intervention in an eruption in recorded history.

We had dinner on the island at Gott....which turned out to be well worth missing out on this adorable puffin's Chinese food...

Day 19 May 28: Vagnasstadir To Skogar

Today,  we left our hostel in Vagnasstadir and headed towards Skógar

Along the way,  we stopped at a beach of black sands and climbed a columnar basalt formation.

After lunch at our hostel in Skógar ,  we hiked up 547 steps to a large waterfall,  Skógafoss,  and continued on down the trail...

After our hike,  we had a nice dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 7: 16 May: Langjokull Glacier

May 16 Monday
Today,  I drank chocolate milk on a Glacier whilst riding in a NATO truck,  previously mounted with a missile launcher.

Langjokull Glacier

Today,  we visited a Glacier. We road in former NATO trucks. We traverses ice and streams with ease.

During our visit on the glacier,  we entered an ice cave with our guide.  Clad in crampons and our warmest layers,  we explored the deep blue and milky white caverns...allthewhile listening to the drip of the glacier melting.

After the glacier,  we went to Hraunfossar Barnafoss waterfalls

Hot Springs
Earlier in the day,  we visited Deildartunguhvev thermal spring; it has the largest output in the world.
At the spring,  there was a lovable black and white sheepdog that appeared to be more closely related to dog than sheep.

We then went to Reykholt and Snori's bathing pool.

We got back very late and had a dinner at midnight.

Day 10: 19 MAY : Latrabajarg Puffins

PUFFINS AT LÁTRABJARG

Today,  we visited Látrabjarg and observed birds.  We saw puffins (Fractecula artica) and Razor-billed Auk (Alca torda),  among other birds. We saw a pair of puffins billing.

unidentified hatched egg 

cliffs at Látrabjarg 

puffin

puffin 

We had dinner at Heimsendi restaurant in Kópavogur. The fish and lamb were locally caught and raised respectively.

 Along our travels today,  we saw US Naval plane. 

We stopped at Hnjotur folk museum.