Today the day started off slowly as I got ready to depart for Reykjavik. Along the way we stopped to take in some scenery. The horizon met beautifully with the snow ridden ground. My classmates and I went to the top of a building and I noticed Kayla writing out H2P in the snow. My goal for the morning was to appreciate more of the Icelandic landscapes since it varied drastically between the towering mountains, glaciers and cliffs accompanied by the lava fields and the occasional waterfalls.
Our next stop along the coast was Reynisfjara, which was the second black sand beach we visited on the trip. The sand on the beach is intriguing because it is actually basalt fragments formed from volcanic activity. Turning my attention to the waves on the beach which were fierce, untamed and mesmerizing. The waves formed further out in the ocean and the closer they got to the shore the larger they became. The water slowly transformed from blue into white froth as it crashed against the beach. We were warned to not get too close or turn our backs against the ocean as it posed a threat to our lives. Again, it was just a reminder of the amazing power nature can possess.
Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall with a 60 meter drop, was our next stop. I was looking forward to this stop because we could walk behind the water. I enjoyed my time at the waterfall because of the breathtaking scenery. Despite my effort to stay dry using my waterproof gear, I still managed to get drenched.
The last stop before Reykjavik was the Kerid Crater. The crater was a cone-shaped volcano which is believed to have erupted and exhausted its magma reservoir. The eruption caused the volcano to collapse on itself ultimately resulting in the large crater. I enjoyed walking around the crater from above as the scenery was stunning to observe. Dr. Barry started rolling snowballs down the side of the crater and into the frozen lake. I photobombed another tourist’s selfie and when he realized, based on his laughter and excitement, he thought it was really fun. I asked if I could see the photo (unfortunately I forgot to ask for it) and he said it turned out wonderfully. I learned that he was from Holland. He said I should visit the impressive canals throughout the country. We had a lovely conversation about Holland and how I should visit at some point. I promised I would go as soon as I finish my degree.
Once we arrived at the hotel, I was feeling oddly patriotic and missing the United States. Mae and I saluted to the national anthem for a couple of moments as our classmates settled into their rooms. We had a 40 minute walk to downtown Reykjavik so we could get to our restaurant for the night. Once the starters were served, I still could not break my fast so I enjoyed talking to the serving staff and learning more about them. I learned our server, Olafia, Icelandic for Olivia, was going into her last year of junior college before she could proceed to University. At 7:02 PM my fast for the day was complete and I broke it with some dates and shortly after I tried the horse tartar. I have no frame of reference to describe this dish as it was extremely unique. Eating the horse though made me feel sad since the other day I befriended some Icelandic horses. Carson said the horse tartar was his favorite dish and I just had to remind him of the horses we saw the day before. I then followed the puffin, the texture was quite unique resembling that of a soft cheese. Next, I tried the smoked char which was served on traditional Icelandic flat rye, Flatkokur. I enjoyed the depth of flavors on my palette, but my favorite was the lamb dish. I think this was the case because it was the protein I was most familiar with. I enjoyed learning more about Icelandic culture through these new foods as this experience was eye opening and unlike anything I have ever done.
After dinner, Mae, Antoinette, Carson and I decided to decorate a dollar bill for the restaurant’s postcard, polaroid and bill wall. We gave George Washington a mustache which made him look French and what was initially a top hat transformed into a cowboy hat for a bit of southern America representation. I wrote “TO NEW FRIENDSHIP” in the top left corner accompanied by the date on the bill. Antoniette wrote “H2P” on George Washington’s chest. We asked our classmates, Dr. Barry and Nora to sign the dollar along with Olafia and some of her colleagues. We hung up the dollar in hopes that when the programs reruns next spring break, those students can hang their dollar next to ours!
I would like to thank Carson and Mae for taking most of these pictures as my phone was not working too well 🙂
Swanson School of Engineering 