Iceland Reflections

Well, our Icelandic journey has officially ended and I have had a couple days at home to collect my thoughts and reflect on the trip. I can’t believe it has already been three weeks…

When I think of Iceland, I first think of the smells–the smell of sulphur, fried food, fish, toast with butter in the mornings, coffee, pizza, tea and veggie burgers. I also think of the sounds–the howling of the brisk winds, the cracking and melting of glacial moraines, basaltic rocks crunching under our hiking boots, “Country Roads” by John Denver, and Icelandic accents from the locals. I also envision winding narrow dirt roads, our huge golden bus, and our group of geologists wandering around and observing rocks with our hand lenses, taking detailed notes in our little orange field books. What I also picture is the endless landscapes of mountains, glaciers, beaches, craters and moss-covered rocks for miles.

It is hard to summarize my experience in just a few words on a page, however, I think this trip was a perfect balance of geology, sustainability, good times, and growing friendships. I learned more about geomorphology, building on my knowledge from Surficial Processes. I also got to visit an ecovillage (Solheimar) and I could compare it to the other two ecovillages I have visited–Earthaven in North Carolina and Auroville in India. I also thought about how vastly different my two study abroad trips with Furman have been–India and Iceland. I don’t think you can get much more contrast than that–bustling, busy over-populated streets with bright colors and sounds and very flavorful food compared to quiet desolation with miles of majestic, untouched land and a house every once in a while. Both beautiful and intriguing in their own right. We also learned extensively about geothermal energy production and its use in sustainability heating homes and buildings in Iceland. We took full part in the swimming culture–jumping from hot spring to hot spring, floating around Blue Lagoon, and frequenting neighborhood pools wherever we went. This was one of my favorite aspects of the trip.

I also loved exploring rural Iceland. It was really neat to be in tiny cabins in the middle of nowhere and road trip to our field sites, such as waterfalls and glaciers 30 minutes-1 hour away from home. Looking out the window was always my favorite thing–I observed the diversity of the landscapes, the streamlined and traditional architecture, the small towns and the people (every once in a while…) I think there are many more sheep than people in Iceland, at least that was my impression. The sheep and their lambs would frolic around in the fields as we drove past, the young ones clinging to their mothers’ sides. We saw many wild horses as well. I loved the tiny hobbit houses, built into the Earth and the sides of cliffs. They made me feel like I was in the Hobbit.

Group travel is definitely a learning experience. While it was challenging sometimes to locate everybody and figure out logistics, I think I gained so many things through traveling with my University and knowledgable professors. The trip was so much more personal and catered to our interests and our field, since most of us were Sustainability or Earth and Environmental Studies majors. I think I saw many more sites and special places than I would have if I had first traveled to Iceland on my own. I saw it in a different perspective, through a geologist’s lens, rather than viewing the scenery without that background knowledge. It was also great to be able to engage in have intellectual dialogue with one another as well as joke around and bond together in a foreign country. I also loved getting to know the local people, especially Thorleifur and his wife Thora, who kindly welcomed us into their home and their culture. We were greeted with genuine respect and open arms, which made the trip so much more enjoyable and special.

Iceland surprised me in many ways (the food, the desolateness, the beauty) and made me want to continue traveling around the world and learning about other cultures and landscapes. I am so thankful I got to be a part of this journey and I look forward to all the adventures to come!

Below is a link to a video I put together from our trip:

~Kristina

Terminal Moraines and Volcanic Eruptions

(Stories from May 27th and May 29th)

One of the greatest hikes from our trip was our hike in Skaftafell/Vatnajokull National Park. Characteristic of Iceland, we had to change Clothes and layer up and down many times to adjust to the temperamental weather. We began up a steep incline, stopping at a waterfall with lots of columnar jointing and cascading falls. We studied the rock formations, took some field notes, then ate our sandwiches and cookies for lunch with a view.
Along the trail we saw lots of low lying shrubs and small patches of wild flowers clusters together. The weather was rainy and misty for the majority of the hike, creating a layer of fog overhead which covered up the glacier for a while. When we finally reached the end, the sky began to clear so that we got a great view of the glacier and the terminal moraine. There were many crevasses within the ice below and we looked through the binoculars for a closer view. We spent a few minutes in silence to listen for the glacier cracking, moving and melting below which was pretty surreal. 

There is something so peaceful about the fog rolling in along the mountains as we hike along the trail. Although we saw other hikers it felt like we were walking along the edge of the earth, forgetting momentarily about obligations, responsibilities and life in the states. After the hike we went to a truck stop restaurant with a buffet. I got a veggie burger and they actually had really good hot chocolate. When we got back to our little hostel I’m the middle of nowhere, we played banana grams, read our books and relaxed before bedtime in the hobbit hole. 

Another noteworthy day was May 29 when we explored the Vestmannaeyjar islands!
We took a 9:45 ferry from Landeyjanofn to Vestmannaeyjar Islands. When we walked off the boat we smelled lots of fish and experienced brisk winds and beautiful views of the harbor and fishing towns. 

We did two different hikes on Heimaey, a town with between 4 and 5,000 inhabitants. The first hike was a very steep climb up ladders and slopes, covered in sheep along with sheep dung. Going up the ladders was a little scary but mostly just exhilarating and an exciting aspect of our first hike of the day. We all made it up to the summit, welcomed by 360 views of the islands, harbor, and glaciers off in the distance. We signed the guestbook where other hikers had left their marks and gathered around (trying to avoid sheep droppings) for a geology lesson and some lunch. 

After our intense hike we grabbed ice cream at the gas station which made the day. I got a dark chocolate dipped cone with coconut flakes! We fueled up for the next hike will a giant bag of French fries for the group. Trekking through the town, we navigated towards the next hike–the site where the volcano erupted in Heimaey back in 1973. The eruption began on Tuesday January 3rd, 1973, lasting just over five months and covering most of the town with tephra and ash. 1/4 (417 homes destroyed) of the town was buried in lava and many homes got destroyed as a result of the eruption. It was a fissure eruption with a fountain curtain. There was a bad storm right before the eruption which was helpful for the fishermen to be able to transport people to the mainland for safety. 

The town installed pumps to pump seawater in to cool down the lava flow. The lava was harnessed for geothermal heat used to heat homes and buildings in the town. We learned in the museum that this particular eruption is said to be the biggest threat to a population that Iceland has ever experienced. When we hiked up to the site, we climbed up layers of basaltic rocks, colored in bright hues of reds, Browns and oranges. The ground was shifty and we saw lots of lupin fields and the remains of old houses destroyed in the eruption in the way up. At the top we discovered huge volcanic rocks and hotspots radiating heat waves where we warmed our hands (and our French fries!). We used the orange clay rocks to paint our faces also. 
Exploring the volcanic and geologic history of the Vestmannaeyjar is,ands was one of the most interesting things we have done on this trip! It was intriguing to learn about the history of the town and observe remnants and eery reminders of the eruption that challenged the community of Heimaey. 
Warm from geothermal heat,
~Kristina

Lupin, Legumes & Lagoons

(Stories from May 25th-26th)

On Wednesday our road trip from Bergheimar to Vagnastadir was about 7.5 hours with some cool stops along the way. We stopped in Vik, a small town with about two streets and lots of character. It was fun to explore it and envision Ellie working at a bed and breakfast there later in the summer! The liquor store, police station, and the bank are all in one building. We ate lunch at a cozy little restaurant in town. Our lunch included veggie burgers, lots of French fries and a few intense arm wrestling matches across the table. Elly beat us every time. We bought lots of groceries because the next hostel is pretty rural and we will be cooking our meals! Outside the stores we discovered mystical foggy fields abundant with Lupin flowers. 

We then ventured to the wool shop because Vik is known to be the wool capital of Iceland. We shopped around and also got to watch them make some wool products in the workshop below. We walked around and saw waves crashing on the shoreline in the distance. I think Ellie will really enjoy the atmosphere of the quaint town, cozy restaurants, beautiful cliffs to explore, and the close proximity to the ocean. 

After Vik we loaded back into the bus and set off for the hostel in Vagnastadir. I slept on and off, listened to folksy road trip tunes, and ate almost an entire bar of milka chocolate with Oreos inside. When we arrived at our hostel in the middle of nowhere, we saw wild horses and the ocean waves crashing in the distance. My roommates are Whitney, Jessie, Sarina and Lettie–a lovely crew to live with in cabin #3 for the next few days here. We are staying in tiny hobbit homes with near wood paneling inside and bunk beds. Climbing up to the top bunk was a struggle because there were no ladders, but Whitney and I hoisted ourselves up into the “cribs” fairly gracefully for a warm winter’s slumber. 

The third cabin is our home!

We made lentil soup for dinner, had lots of cookies for dessert, wrote postcards to friends and family, and caught up on journaling and blogging in the common room. Tomorrow we head to the glacial lagoon for some hiking!

On Tuesday we took a trip to a glacial lagoon called Jokulsarlon, part of the larger glacier known as Vatnajokull. Vatnajokull is the largest glacier in Iceland! According to the sign, the war. Period from 1920-1965 in Iceland caused great changes in the glacier. It retreated quickly, leaving a lagoon up to 190 meters deep where the glacial snout had been. Several kilometers of glacial moraines were exposed and the lagoon grew from 8 square kilometers in 1975 to near 15 square kilometers in 1998. 

As the glacier melts, a moraine holds back water and creates a lake. The icebergs are constantly changing and slowly making their way into the ocean. We saw huge icebergs floating in the water, ranging from clear ice to bright aqua blue in color. 
We hiked along the rocky beach amidst lots and lots of wind and dust. The view was absolutely incredible–crystal clear blue water carrying massive icebergs with the glacier in the background. We saw lots of seals playing with each other and they came pretty close to the shore. Huge chunks of ice would float up on the beach and create reflections.

 We hiked for about three hours and then turned around into the strongest winds I have ever experienced! Elly and Phoebe and I felt like we were going into battle. We had our sunglasses on, hoods up, and our extra pants on as we trekked forward into the wind. We veered left into the grassy highlands to try to avoid some of the wind from the waterfront. 
We somehow emerged without being blown away and then we got to eat lunch in the warmth of the bus and roam around th beach on the other side of the bridge as well. It was an awesome feeling of accomplishment and successful adventuring.

The shower and 3 hour nap afterwards really made my day. We had an awesome noodle and vegetable stir fry for dinner followed by writing and reading together in our common. It was magnificent. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s hike!

~Song of the day: “While the Grass Grows” by Forlorn Strangers 

~Emerging from the hobbit home,

Kristina 

Sustainable Solheimar

(Stories from May 22-24)

We arrived at Solheimar Ecovillage in Bergheimar around dinner time on Sunday. We were greeted by “Queen Kolla,” the kindest host who owns the guesthouse. She welcomed us home with warm embraced and kisses and a home cooked Icelandic meal. Kolla made us creamy cauliflower soup and sandwiches with salmon, cheese and cucumbers on them. She told us about the history of the house and how it has shaped the course of her life. She said she raised funds and gathered support to build the home and it has been a safe haven for individuals with cancer to come spend time resting and recovering with their families at zero cost. Kolla told us about how the chairs at the table were originally in the dumpster when she rescued them and refurbished them. She showed us her wonderfully made Christmas cards, displaying her craft, China painting. They glimmered gold and you could see a sparkle in her eyes as she talked about her passion. She also showed us a creative artwork on the wall behind the table made by a blind man. The canvas was covered in layered oil paints, with shimmering jewels attached in certain places. The colors were intertwined so vibrantly, instantly eye catching as you walked into the room. The artist could not see the colors with his eyes but he could feel their essence, she said, as he held the paint in his fingers.

Our welcome dinner with Queen Kolla (photo by Dr. Suresh)

After dinner and coffee, we ventured out to the grassy field behind our guest house and played a game of soccer. I played goalie which I hadn’t done in a while. It was a blast to have a little fun competition as we looked out at the sunset. We also saw the bright orange moon hanging in the sky. At first it was just our crew then we made a new friend Anna, from Germany, who joined our game. She is volunteering at Solheimar this summer and living in the international house with a few other young volunteers. Elly is my roommate here which is only fitting because we went to an Ecovillage (Earthaven in Black Mountain, NC) together earlier this year! Our room is cozy with a warm atmosphere and yellow bed spreads. I think I’ll sleep very well here.

On Monday we had a big day of exploring including Pingvellir and the Law Rock where Icelandic parliament originally met, the massive Gulfoss waterfall, and Geysirs (the name Geysir originated in Iceland). We had a bus singalong and dance party after dinner, closing out another amazing day.

On Tuesday we got the opportunity to learn more about Solheimar Ecovillage! Solheimar, established in 1930, is the oldest intentional living community in the world. It began as a home for disabled children in Iceland, later transforming into an Ecovillage where adults with and without disabilities live and work together. They welcome in 5-10 volunteers from around the world to help keep things running smoothly and for the volunteers to learn about sustainability. 100 people live in Solheimar, including 45 people with disabilities. Their long term plan is to become a community of 150 individuals. Everyone is given a job in one of the different areas–the greenhouse, organic bakery, cafes, art studio, wood shop, and herbal products. They are a nonprofit organization which values inclusivity, art and sustainability. They even own the first home in Iceland built for disabled people. 


The construction is very sustainable at Solheimar. Most of the buildings are created using driftwood, sheep wool for insulation, and grass roofing. The grass roofing is helpful for drainage and insulation, and it also creates a habitat for local wildlife. These buildings also have natural ventilation systems inside. We got to tour the wood shop, art studio, main meeting center and the greenhouses.

(Photos of the Solheimar greenhouses, both taken by Dr. Suresh)

 Solheimar seems to operate very smoothly, which could be due to the fact that it began as a children’s home and morphed into an Ecovillage later on. From my experiences visiting Earthaven in North Carolina and Auroville in Southern India, I have learned that many ecovillages have difficulties with governance because community members have different goals and ideas about how a sustainable community should operate. The issue usually lies in top-down governance, because in order for a community to have equal representation, a bottom-up system is potentially more sustainable and sustainable. Grassroots governance educates and empowers stakeholders across the board, including those often excluded because of social structures, demographics, and Income levels. 

I loved walking around the Ecovillage and pondering sustainable communities and what it takes to achieve a healthy balance between humans and the environment. 

~Song of the day: “Have You Ever” by Brandi Carlile (always a classic)

Sustainably yours,

~Kristina

Sea Monsters and Soup on Saturday

(Stories from May 21st)

This morning we woke up with homemade eggs with peppers and onions, along with the usual toast and strong black coffee–the best start to a big day exploring.
I really wanted to see the coastline of the Westfjords past Byldadular so I opted to join Dr. Suresh’s crew for the day! Our crew was Sarina, Emily R, Elly, Dr. Suresh, and myself. We wandered along a dirt road four for four miles, stumbling upon lots of animals–both alive and dead. We were eagerly hoping to find whales but instead we were pleasantly surprised by lots of seals, Dolphins, and fish skeletons washed up on the shore. We saw a sign that said “Beware of Sea Monsters” and “No towns for many miles.” Most of the terrain below was basaltic rocks covering the shoreline until we reached the golden beach. It was wonderful–golden sand covers in large rocks, slippery with bright green algae and clumps of cascading seaweed. 

We climbed on rocks, ran along the beach and skipped stones into the water. It was so quiet despite the large gusts of wind and our occasional comments about wildlife or analysis of rocks we had looked at with our hand lenses. The bright blue water, crashing waves, and towering fjords in the distance made up for the brisk winds and cold air. 

The head of a dead catfish we discovered on he shoreline (photo by Elly Gay)

At one point during our hike, Dr. Suresh looked out of binoculars and commented “I see two people and a child.” Which pretty much sums up Iceland in a nutshell–lots of nature and very few people in sight. We stopped in the grass to find the perfect lunch spot where we enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and some trail mix. Emily also really enjoyed her Apple, as pictured below in this sequence of National Geographic-worthy images. 

On our walk back a dolphin followed us all the way to the harbor in Byldadular! One of the highlights of the hike was this massive dike we found. In geology, a dike or dyke, is a sheet of rock that formed in a fracture in a pre-existing rock body. They can be magmatic or sedimentary in origin. Dr. Suresh said it was the tallest and most beautiful dike he had ever laid eyes on. 

Standing by the dike with Elly, Sarina, and Emily! (Photo by Dr. Suresh)

Upon returning from our grand adventure along the coast, we ran up to the small town market to buy chips and cold drinks. The lady who works there recognized us from dinner and our desperate ice cream endeavors and kindly welcomed us in. We have become quite well versed in Icelandic snacks these past couple weeks. We eat cookies at almost every meal and we really enjoy the Thai Red Curry chips from the gas station. I took a nice nap on the hostel couch, we made vegetable soup for dinner, then we watched How to Train Your Dragon in the common room. It was a great Saturday in Iceland!

~Song of the day: “Josh McBride” by the Head and the Heart
Dreaming about seals and sea monsters,
~Kristina

A Wild Puffin in the Distance

The past two days have been filled with excitement and lots of picturesque landscapes including rugged cliffs covered in little puffins, grand cascading waterfalls and incredible U-shaped valleys right outside our hostel. It’s basically a geologist’s dream. 
Yesterday’s first stop was Latrabjarg–the western most point of Europe and some of the biggest bird cliffs in the world. Green grassy cliffs with scattered rocks, bright turquoise water below and assorted bird species happily frolicking in their natural habitat. There are 10 species of Seabirds and an estimated 1 million birds live on these cliffs. The main bird we sought was the Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula artica, as they are mainly found in Iceland. A member of the guillemot family, the puffin’s unique characteristic feature is its colorful, flat-sided bill. The rest of its body is mainly black and white with yellow and red around the eyes. The puffin flies straight, usually low over the ocean surface, and has fast wing beats. As we observed, the puffin is a very quiet bird. While other birds inhabiting the cliffs were continually flying and squawking, the puffin seemed quite content resting isolated and silent in the sun. We had to lay on the edge of the cliff to photograph the birds because it was super windy by the edge, there was some soil erosion, and we had to watch out for puffin holes. 

(Photo by Jessie Wheeler)

The puffins were so cute and curious. They were not easily spooked so we were able to get pretty close to them on the edge of the cliff. They were hopping around the cliffs with their bright orange beaks and cheerful demeanor. The way the puffins’ eyes are shaped makes them look sad. 

We also saw lots of razorbill auks (another bird species) along the cliffs. The razorbill is a colonial seabird that only comes to the land for breeding. This bird is a medium-sized member of the auk family. The species is a seabird found in both shallow and deep seas. In summer plumage, a razorbill has black head, neck and back, and white breast and belly. The upper wing is black with a white rear margin, and the underwing is predominantly white. In winter, chin, throat, and ear coverts are white. The Razorbilled Auk flies fast and straight with extended neck, low over the surface of the water. The razorbill only has one partner throughout its entire life. Latrabjarg is the largest colony of razorbills in the world! 

(Photo from google images)

Today we took a fun road trip to the Dynjandi waterfall about 50 kilometers from out hostel. We rode on the bus through winding dirt roads, looking out across the fjords and snow-covered terrain. In typical geologist fashion, we made a few stops to collect soil samples, observe eggs in a nest on the shoreline, and classify glacial features in the vicinity. 

Dr. Suresh and Dr. Ranson scoping out the coastal wildlife this morning!

When you’re driving on narrow Icelandic roads in a huge bus, oncoming traffic can be a tricky obstacle. We have had some close encounters but our bus driver somehow always makes it work. 

Snowy scenery en route to the waterfall!

When we reached the waterfall at Dynjandi, there was a chill in the air that was refreshing and crisp. We learned that the first records of the farms at Dyjandi date back to the Middle Ages when the land was used for grazing year round. Landslides could easily damage the livelihood and flooding occurred frequently. The bay has a rich bird life also with 35 recorded species. The most common migratory bird in Spring and Autumn is the Knot. 

We climbed to the base of the giant waterfall, stopping at the small falls on the way up. It was a dirt path lined with stones and small shrubs. At the top of the hike we reached the base of the largest waterfall. Elly and I climbed up a large snow bank to get a closer view of the falls and explore some neat ice caves. It was super cool to see the waterfall from a few different perspectives throughout our journey today. 

Dynjandi waterfall view from the bottom 

It’s wild to think that these landscape features came to be through geological processes. Seeing things like this makes me want to continue exploring new places and learning more about geomorphology. The Earth is a pretty special place.

The past two days have been amazing and I can’t wait for our local exploration day tomorrow. We are wandering around the coast of Byldudalur and maybe we will get to see some new wildlife!

Song of the day: “Hoppipolla” by Sigur Ros (Icelandic Artist)

The highlight of today was racing up the hill to buy chocolate ice cream and sharing it with many spoons. 

Until the next puffin,

~Kristina 

Meet my Crew!

Hallo! Today we arrived in the little coastal town of  Byldudalur after a 6 hour road trip through the Western Fjords. This town is traditionally known for its of green peas, however its algae has recently surpassed it and become the most abundant export from Byldadular.

Tim Cahill once said that “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” I love this sentiment because I think travel is the most authentic way to learn about people–you discover their passions, personality quirks, daily habits, strengths, and weaknesses. Most importantly, you find out what makes them feel alive. 
Since we have been traveling together in Iceland for a week now I figure it’s a good time to introduce my friends and fellow explorers. We are a motley crew made up of 2 professors, 18 students, and our friendly Icelandic bus driver named Thor. We will continue traveling around Iceland throughout the month of May studying geology and Sustainability in the field! We spend most of our time examining rocks, climbing snow-covered mountains, eating lots of French Fries, headstanding anywhere and everywhere, and trying to keep up with Suresh. Here’s a glimpse at the wonderful people I get to travel with!
~Thor Gudmundsson (our bus driver!) from Reykjavik, Iceland 

“If I could travel anywhere in the world I would stay on Route 66 in Iceland. My spirit animal is a spider because you rarely know where I am.”

~Dr. Suresh Muthukrishnan (EES Department) from Chennai, India

“My favorite mineral is labradorite. I like highs and lows–I have been skydiving and scuba diving!”
~Dr. Bill Ranson (EES Department) from Charlotte, North Carolina

“Here’s a joke: Geologists get high on mountains.”
~Brightin Blanton: senior, EES and Econ major from Seneca, South Carolina 
“I play the violin and I am an Eagle Scout.”
~Emily Ritz, sophomore, EES major from St Petersburg, Florida 

“I was baptized by Harry Styles. (Well, he spit on me at a concert)”
~Tindall Ouverson: junior, SUS major from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina 

“My spirit animal is a swallow-tailed kite, it’s a bird of prey.” 
~Sarina Basile: junior, EES major from Columbia, South Carolima 

“I am deaf in my left ear.”
~Camille Lasley: junior, EES major from Nashville, Tennessee

“When I was 7 I was in a hearing-aid commercial.”
~Elly Gay: senior, SUS major from Birmingham, Alabama

“I am an alpha female.”
~Phoebe Ferguson: senior, EES major from Lakeland, Florida 

“You don’t know me. I’m an introvert, an excavator, I’m duck in’ out for now. A face in dodgy elevators, Creep up and suddenly I found myself an innovator.”~Santigold
~Eric Soffronoff: junior, SUS and Poverty Studies major from Hilton Head, South Carolina
“My favorite word is ‘cute’and I have 9 pairs of vans.”
~Mitchell Freyermuth: junior, EES major from Macon, Georgia

“I was raised by domestic cats and i look like a ‘Kevin’.”
~Emily Anderson: junior, EES or Biology major, from Greevnille, South Carolina

“I can speak Chinese and I once pet a mountain lion I’m New Mexico.”
~Whitney Ranson: just graduated from Architecture school at Clemson! 

“I lived in Australia when I was nine.”
~Harmony Thomas: sophomore (major undecided), from Greer, South Carolina 

“I was traveling around in Sweden on 9-11.”
~Amanda Richey: senior EES major, from Baton Rouge, Lousiana

“I interviewed prison inmates about a rodeo at age 16.”
~Nate Vogt: junior Bio major from Pacifica, California

“My favorite animal is a prairie dog.”
~Lettie Woods: junior SUS major from Columbia, South Carolina
“I feel like a mermaid when I swim in the ocean.”
~Lauren Prunkl: junior SUS major from Marietta, Georgia 

“I can wiggle my ears.”
~Jessie Wheeler: sophomore EES and Chinese major from Greenville, South Carolina

“I have a freckle on the bottom of my foot.”

~Group blog page: http://fireandiceland.blogspot.is

~Song of the day: “Hold On” by Rivvrs 

With good vibes from the Western Fjords,
~Kristina 

First impressions

We have been in the land of Fire and Ice for 6 days now and it is even more beautiful than I had imagined.

Flying into the Reykjavik airport, I saw majestic mountains and a vast green and brown landscape with very few houses or developments, the first taste of the refreshing Icelandic simplicity.

Swimming is a major part of Icelandic culture. We went swimming the first day and we were surprised by the fact that you rinse off naked in a community shower before putting on your bathing suit and entering the pool. While it seemed weird at first, it’s somewhat freeing and it makes sense. People are just more open and practical here. Something I really appreciate about the Icelandic way of life is  the balance between work and relaxation. I think we tend to complicate our lives with technology and distractions, but they’ve got a solid philosophy over here–work hard, rest well, love the Earth and only use what you need.

The main foods we have encountered so far in Iceland are hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, bread and butter, and seafood. The veggie burgers are quite good and they have my favorite type of cookies from India here (Bourbon cookies)–chocolate wafers with a layer of chocolate icing inside! We made a big pot of chili for dinner tonight which was perfect after our hike today.

Icelandic culture is minimalistic in the sense that people use natural resources wisely, the environment is preserved and valued, and the architecture is streamlined and efficient. Geothermal energy is used to heat pools and homes, creating a sustainable power source. We visited the largest geothermal power plant in Iceland called Orka Naturunnar where we learned about the process of sustainable energy production. They drill boreholes into the ground to extract the hot water that is heated from magma underground.

Land is well-protected and fairly untouched here in Iceland. It helps that the entire country’s population is 300,000 and 250,000 of the people live in Reykjavik. The coolest part about the nature is that you may feel like you’re on Mars one moment and in the alps of Switzerland the next. Meaning that you may see miles of mossy rocks and craters or you may see magnificent snow covered mountains and turquoise lakes. Or fields of sheep and Shetland ponies with red barns and small quaint houses. The diversity of the landscape also brings an array of weather patterns. In a given day it could be anywhere from windy and misty to sunny and clear. Layering clothes is key! The daylight lasts from about 4:30am to 12:30 am, so the days are long and full of grand adventures. My favorite thing about this is the sunsets here–they are painted in bright hues and they last for about three hours. Last night we drive along the mountains amidst the setting sun listening to John Denver.

The most incredible thing we have done so far is exploring the Langjokull Glacier! Our guide Thor even lent Elly and I his traditional wool sweaters that his grandmother made him. We drove up the glacier in a huge jeep that fit all 20 of us. When we arrived at the top the air was crisp and clear. We frolicked around in the snow gazing out at the mountains in the distance. It felt like we were top of the world. We entered the ice cave and wandered through walls lit up by the golden glow of string lights. We hiked through the ice cave and looked at crevasses, the ice chapel, and the winding hobbit tunnels inside. After the cave we had diners and chocolate milk. We ended the day with waterfalls and golden hour adventures amidst abounding fields of mossy rocks.  So far we have also hiked to the top of a crater, seen several geothermal hot springs, gone to a shark museum, and examined many shapes and sizes of rocks with our hand lenses.

Iceland’s nature is so spectacular that it doesn’t quite feel real. And there’s so much left to discover. Tomorrow we embark on an 8 hour road trip through the Western Fjords! I’ve got my playlist (full of folksy acoustic tunes) ready to roll.

~Song of the day: “King of the World” by First Aid Kit

From the ice,

~Kristina

Airport Update

(May 11th)

~Travels: Greenville–> Atlanta–> JFK–>Reykjavik, Iceland

Hey, friends! We are currently hanging out in the JFK airport in New York. Last night we had a sleepover in Plyler complete with some pub subs, 3D movies and spending the night in our favorite study room. We gathered our hand lenses, field guides and orange notebooks to prepare for the trip! We woke up at 3am to pack into the department vans and head to GSP airport. It was weird to be awake at that hour and to know that I’ll soon be across the world frolicking around some majestic glaciers. Elly brought her John Denver CD along for the ride. The crew has already noticed my weird sleeping habits and my ability to slumber in any situation.

Strolling through the airport with 20 people is quite an adventure–we are like one big dysfunctional, outdoorsy family. We made it through the check in and security and took our first two plane rides smoothly. We looked like sleepwalking geologists. Slept some and listened to my Iceland playlist on Spotify. We had a big brunch in JFK–lots of veggie burgers and fries to tide us over for our 10 hour layover here. Elly and Phoebe and I explored around the terminal, grabbed some strong coffee and posted up for an afternoon of journaling, reading and relaxation.We played cards games (BS and spit), people-watched and set up our blogs & journals for the next three weeks of traveling…

I can’t wait to finally arrive in Iceland and discover its natural beauty, people and culture. I’m super stoked to hike on glaciers, swim in geothermal hot springs and crawl through some Icelandic caves. It doesn’t feel real yet but I know it will hit me when I step off the plane in Reykavik so soon! 

See ya across the pond,

Kristina

Packed and Ready!

Here’s my stuff. One duffel to check and my hiking pack for a carry on. I’m ready for ya, Iceland!