Today was easily my favorite day of the trip so far! We were able to see some of the most incredible landscapes I’ve ever experienced, and it felt like every stop somehow topped the last one.
Our first stop was Seljalandsfoss,I have never been to a waterfall from that height before. There were pretty white birds that flew around the falls and sat all along the cliffs.
Next we went to Skógafoss, which was even bigger and more powerful. The closer you got, the stronger the spray became, almost like standing in rain. The best part was that there were double rainbows at the base of the waterfall, which was honestly one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever seen. Most of us climbed the long staircase to the top of the falls, which was definitely a workout, but the view from above made it worth it.
After the waterfalls we visited the Skógar Museum. One of the most interesting things the museum guide talked about was the Icelandic Yule Lads, which are part of Christmas traditions here. Instead of one Santa Claus, Icelandic tradition includes thirteen different Yule Lads, each with their own personality. They mentioned that these yule lads each have a different punishment for kids during the Christmas season if they are badly behaved. One of them is known for licking spoons, while another is famous for slamming doors in the middle of the night. Hearing about these stories made it fun to hear about Iceland’s Christmas traditions.
Later in the afternoon we stopped at Sólheimajökull Glacier. Seeing a glacier up close was incredible. The ice had deep cracks and streaks of dark volcanic ash running through it, which made it look really unique.
Our last stop was Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach near the town of Vík. The black volcanic sand and HUGE waves made the whole beach feel a little intimidating.
Before heading to our next hotel, we grabbed pizza at Black Crust Pizza in Vík, and it was so delicious after a long day of hiking. After such a full day of exploring, it was the perfect way to end my favorite day in Iceland yet.
Swanson School of Engineering 