I’m not sure I will ever get over what I saw today, but I’m okay with that. I cannot describe the level of awe that I have been filled with today, it is truly something you must experience to understand. Every sight we saw today, every drive, and even the city we stopped on was filled with sights that made me never want to look away.
We spent today at the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which was North of were we are staying. We drove around two hours to get there, stopping at a lava field first. This field had a river running through it, with glacier runoff streaming into it from countless waterfalls. This was beautiful but just a taste of what we would see later.
My favorite stop was our first stop on the peninsula, where we walked along a cliffs edge, seeing the rocky coast surrounded by mountains. The weather was insane, with over 50 mph wind and snow blowing onto us, but it didn’t dampen the groups’ spirits at all. We had fun in the wind, laughing and leaning into it, letting it hold us up as it blew around us. When the sun came out, we could see the true beauty around us. Iceland had one of the most unique landscapes I’ve ever seen. Carved out over millions of years by the nearby glacier and constantly changing and growing from the divergent fault lines that run through the country. The coast was black from the volcanic rock, with huge cliffs and formations meeting the sea. Snowy mountains surrounded the tiny coastal town. The powerful sea was crashing into the cliffs, throwing water all the way up to us. I’ll put as many pictures as I can, because I don’t have the words to describe what I saw in a way that does it justice.
We finished the Peninsula with a stop at a lighthouse on black sand beaches, but the main reason I found this stop so memorable was because of the wind. We were all gathered on the beach, laughing and trying to stay upright as 50 mph winds fought against us. This may sound miserable to some, but with the right people it was truly a fun experience that I will never forget.
Swanson School of Engineering 