My first 24 hours in Iceland were already an adventure before we even landed!
Our flight ended up getting delayed, which wasn’t the best start BUT we made it! As soon as we arrived at the airport, the first thing I did was grab a hot latte, fully convinced that the caffeine would magically keep me awake for the whole day. (It did not.)
Within minutes of getting on the bus, I completely knocked out. Jet lag: 1. Me: 0.
But don’t worry, I redeemed myself later because I stayed awake for the ride back and got to take in the scenery outside the window.
Our first big stop was the Perlan museum. It’s an interactive museum that mixes science, nature, and storytelling, which made it a really cool way to start learning about Iceland. We started with some food, I got the lamb soup which came with some sourdough bread. 10/10! After that, I was ready to explore.
One of the highlights was the Áróra Northern Lights Show in the planetarium. The show explained both the science and the myths behind the northern lights. We also explored the Ice Cave, which was so cool! (see what I did there). The cave is made from real ice and kept below freezing, so it actually feels like stepping inside a glacier.
Another exhibit we saw was about the Geldingadalir volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which began on March 19, 2021. It was the first eruption in that region in over 800 years, and the show gave us an up-close look at the lava flows and the science behind Iceland’s volcanic activity.
On the drive back, I noticed something: Iceland has so many roundabouts. I felt like we passed one every few minutes.
We ended the night with a welcome dinner, which was the perfect way to wrap up the first day with everyone. BIG SPOONS always for dessert!
More Iceland adventures coming soon.
PEACE OUT!
Swanson School of Engineering 