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- MattyTheDog
So, last July the Geography Department at my school sent a letter around advertising a trip to Iceland. I thought that would be a great trip, so I badgered my patents for a bit and they eventually gave in. I was pretty excited about it, and then I realised I had two terms of school to get through first. Ah well, good things come to those who wait.
Wednesday 11th- Day I
So, the day of the trip finally dawned. I had to meet at school at 8 (in the holidays too! That was a bit early) and then we set of to LHR at 9. We checked in, got through security, sat around, and got onto the plane (I was cutting a long story short there
).
We eventually came into decent, in the worst conditions I've ever seen. Huge winds, horizontal snow, basically no visibility. And so the landing was frankly, crap. And quite scary, considering we dropped through the cloud, around 50-60m up, and suddenly the pilot banked left, just as we landed.
The fact that the plane seemed to skid too didn't help my nerves.
After taking some deep breaths we got through security and headed for the coach, in 0°C and a blizzard. I was just in a hoodie and a polo shirt, so I was a tad cold. Then, we headed off to the Blue Lagoon, an amazing run off from a geothermal powerstation, where the water is at 50-60°C all year round, whatever the outside temperature, which in my case had dropped to -2°C. 
But it was a great experience, even if it was freezing.
So after that, we headed to a hotel, and the adventure would continue tomorrow.
Thursday 12th- Day II
So, after an early start we piled onto the coach and set off. After around an hours drive (seeing some amazing scenery along the way) we arrived in a small town. Here, we saw some hot springs (not very exciting) and our guide boiled some eggs in one of them. They were pretty good, if a bit sulfury. Then we headed off to an earthquake simulator, which was pretty scary. It was set at 6 on the Richter Scale, but it felt horrible. Imagine cycling over a cattle grid for 5 minutes at 45mph, and you'll be someone close. Glad I live in an area with very few earthquakes...
Then, after a long drive we arrived at a mound, just in the middle of nowhere. Of course, we all rushed up it, only to realise it was a lot higher and steeper than we had thought. After a long hike, we reached the top and the views were stunning. I 🤬 up my knee though, pretty painful. 
Then we headed of to a waterfall which you can walk behind (Famine will recognise this one). It was pretty cool, if a little wet. Happily it was only a short walk round, so I didn't hurt my knee any more.
Then, after a lunch stop we visited a glacier, and walked right up to it too. I forget how big they are, until you're touching it. It was pretty awesome, and I could just about hear it creak, amazing to think such a huge thing was actually moving!
Then, it was back to the hotel.
Friday 13th- Day III
So, after waking to a rather dismal looking sky, we set off, and as it was Friday 13th, keeping our eyes out for horrible monsters or exploding volcanoes.
So, we drove through a dried-up lava flow, which was huge. We must have been travelling through it for about 45 minutes, and it was never-ending. Our game of I-spy didn't last very long!
Then, after heading down a track which was probably a bit too small for a 12 tonne coach, we had a walk alongside a gorge, which was pretty cool. It was also snowing, which made it very pretty but lethal underfoot. Didn't do my knee any good...
Then we drove into what was basically a desert, to view some glaciers from far off, and a bridge that had been destroyed in a flood. Though we quickly realised that it was like a slide, and messed around on that for a bit.
After we'd been dragged away from our new source of entertainment, we drove onwards to a glacial lake, without doubt the most amazing place I've ever been. It was simply stunning! I could've sat there for hours, but sadly we had to move on to see some columnar basalt formations.
But that view will stay with me forever, and it's the one place I must go back to before I die.
After seeing some amazing (read dull) columnar basalt, we headed on a long drive back to the hotel, stopping off at a clifftop, to everyone's immense excitement.
And the end of another loooong day...
Saturday 14th- Day IV
The day I was most looking forward to, the day we went out in an 8-wheel-drive 'Ice Explorer', into a valley to do some exploring.
First thing we saw was a glacier (I know, another one. There are lots in Iceland, evidently). We went up close to it, and this one had the famous (deep breath) Eyjafjallajokull volcano under it, the one that caused all the flight problems in 2010. It was a lot steeper than any other glaciers we'd seen so far too.
Then, after a lunch break, we Wales into a high-walled gorge, ending in an incredible cave with a waterfall. It was a bit of a climb to get there, but it was an incredible place.
After that, it was a long and bumpy drive back to meet the coach, and go back to the hotel we'd stayed at on the first night. This night however we went out to a resteraunt in Reykjavik for dinner, which was very nice, only I want wearing enough layers, so I froze. And also the sad realisation that we only had 1 day left hit me hard...
Sunday 15th- Day V
So, the last day of Geographical sightseeing.
But it was a good one.
Firstly, we visited a Geothermal powerstation, and most of the explanation of how it worked went straight over my head, so don't ask how it works. All I know is energy is created from steam turning a turbine. Somehow...
Then, we drove off to an extinct volcano, which was now filled with water. It wasn't very big, but it was pretty cool nonetheless. We waked down a very muddy and slippy path, and laughed at lots of people nearly falling over.
Then, on to the geysers. They were amazing, lots of bubbling pools and of course the main attraction, the exploding geyser, which I missed getting a bloody photo of every time!
Really cheesed me off, but at least I've got a mental image of it...
After a quick lunch break, we walked down a path to a massive waterfall, which was hugely big. It was triple layered, and it sparkled in the sunlight. It also gave us lots of scope for suicide jokes, and someone even made a paper boat and chucked it in. That was the last we ever saw of it...
Then, to end the day and the final piece of geography we'd see on the trip, we went to the join between the American and the Eurasian plates. It was amazing, though we saw it where they were around 5-10 miles apart. It gave a good view of how the land drops away between the plates, and also meant we visited America.
So that was it, the last thing we saw on the trip. Though we had a nice dinner at a resteraunt again, and went to an incredible ice cream shop. The ice creams must've been 6 inches high, and topped with whatever you wanted. I had Vanilla ice cream, a chocolate syrup and M&M's on top. I didn't sleep very well that night...
Monday 16th- Day VI
So, the last day. A sad atmosphere at breakfast, though at least everything had been put an hour later. After a casual and slow wake up and packing, we piled onto the coach, bound for Reykjavik. First we went into a church, which was pretty cool, for a church. Then, we were let loose in town for 90 minutes, and I can report that's there's sod all in Reykjavik! Took me an hour to find a pizza place, then I had to head straight back to the meeting point.
So, the journey to the airport was sad, filled with reflection of the past 5 days. We presented our presents to the teachers, for which we'd all out 500 IKr into the kitty. Then it was the usual airport stuff, check in, security and sitting around. I'm pleaded to report I found all the artwork and pointless coordinates that Famine found in his trip. That took up a bit of time.
Then, it was an uneventful flight, watched a film, then touchdown at LHR. Passport control and baggage were surprisingly quick, so I was back home around 45 minutes before what was originally planned. As I had school the next morning, and this was 10.30PM, I was very happy. And that concludes my trip to Iceland.
So, Iceland then. Simply A-MA-ZING! If you ever get the chance to go there, do it! It has some of the best scenery of any place I've ever been, all the people there are lovely, 90% of them speak good English too. I can't think of a better place to go, and as you could probably tell there aren't enough adjectives to describe some of the things there. But remember, it is very cold, so wrap up warm!
GO TO ICELAND!
Finally, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to read this, and sorry for going on a bit.
Wednesday 11th- Day I
So, the day of the trip finally dawned. I had to meet at school at 8 (in the holidays too! That was a bit early) and then we set of to LHR at 9. We checked in, got through security, sat around, and got onto the plane (I was cutting a long story short there
). We eventually came into decent, in the worst conditions I've ever seen. Huge winds, horizontal snow, basically no visibility. And so the landing was frankly, crap. And quite scary, considering we dropped through the cloud, around 50-60m up, and suddenly the pilot banked left, just as we landed.
The fact that the plane seemed to skid too didn't help my nerves. After taking some deep breaths we got through security and headed for the coach, in 0°C and a blizzard. I was just in a hoodie and a polo shirt, so I was a tad cold.
Then, we headed off to the Blue Lagoon, an amazing run off from a geothermal powerstation, where the water is at 50-60°C all year round, whatever the outside temperature, which in my case had dropped to -2°C. But it was a great experience, even if it was freezing. So after that, we headed to a hotel, and the adventure would continue tomorrow.
A rather wet Blue Lagoon, though still amazingly blue
Another pic of the Blue Lagoon
What I saw out of the window for the entire 90 minute trip to the hotel. *yawn*
Thursday 12th- Day II
So, after an early start we piled onto the coach and set off. After around an hours drive (seeing some amazing scenery along the way) we arrived in a small town. Here, we saw some hot springs (not very exciting
) and our guide boiled some eggs in one of them. They were pretty good, if a bit sulfury. Then we headed off to an earthquake simulator, which was pretty scary. It was set at 6 on the Richter Scale, but it felt horrible. Imagine cycling over a cattle grid for 5 minutes at 45mph, and you'll be someone close. Glad I live in an area with very few earthquakes...Then, after a long drive we arrived at a mound, just in the middle of nowhere. Of course, we all rushed up it, only to realise it was a lot higher and steeper than we had thought.
After a long hike, we reached the top and the views were stunning. I 🤬 up my knee though, pretty painful. Then we headed of to a waterfall which you can walk behind (Famine will recognise this one). It was pretty cool, if a little wet. Happily it was only a short walk round, so I didn't hurt my knee any more.
Then, after a lunch stop we visited a glacier, and walked right up to it too. I forget how big they are, until you're touching it. It was pretty awesome, and I could just about hear it creak, amazing to think such a huge thing was actually moving!
Then, it was back to the hotel.
View from the top of the 'mound'
The waterfall from behind
The waterfall from behind, again
The glacier from a distance
Glacier from close up
Me attempting to be arty, and failing.
Friday 13th- Day III
So, after waking to a rather dismal looking sky, we set off, and as it was Friday 13th, keeping our eyes out for horrible monsters or exploding volcanoes.
So, we drove through a dried-up lava flow, which was huge. We must have been travelling through it for about 45 minutes, and it was never-ending. Our game of I-spy didn't last very long!
Then, after heading down a track which was probably a bit too small for a 12 tonne coach, we had a walk alongside a gorge, which was pretty cool. It was also snowing, which made it very pretty but lethal underfoot. Didn't do my knee any good...
Then we drove into what was basically a desert, to view some glaciers from far off, and a bridge that had been destroyed in a flood. Though we quickly realised that it was like a slide, and messed around on that for a bit.
After we'd been dragged away from our new source of entertainment, we drove onwards to a glacial lake, without doubt the most amazing place I've ever been. It was simply stunning! I could've sat there for hours, but sadly we had to move on to see some columnar basalt formations.
But that view will stay with me forever, and it's the one place I must go back to before I die. After seeing some amazing (read dull) columnar basalt, we headed on a long drive back to the hotel, stopping off at a clifftop, to everyone's immense excitement.
And the end of another loooong day...
Dried lava flow. Gets old after about 15 minutes...
Road that the coach somehow got down. Our driver had balls of steel!
Snowy gorge that we walked alongside
Remains of a flood-destroyed bridge. Told you it looks like a slide...
Glacier...
Glacial lagoon. 'nuff said!
See what I mean..?
Saturday 14th- Day IV
The day I was most looking forward to, the day we went out in an 8-wheel-drive 'Ice Explorer', into a valley to do some exploring.
First thing we saw was a glacier (I know, another one. There are lots in Iceland, evidently). We went up close to it, and this one had the famous (deep breath) Eyjafjallajokull volcano under it, the one that caused all the flight problems in 2010. It was a lot steeper than any other glaciers we'd seen so far too.
Then, after a lunch break, we Wales into a high-walled gorge, ending in an incredible cave with a waterfall. It was a bit of a climb to get there, but it was an incredible place.
After that, it was a long and bumpy drive back to meet the coach, and go back to the hotel we'd stayed at on the first night. This night however we went out to a resteraunt in Reykjavik for dinner, which was very nice, only I want wearing enough layers, so I froze. And also the sad realisation that we only had 1 day left hit me hard...
The 'Ice Explorer', a converted missile transporter.
The glacier, with a volcano hiding somewhere in there...
The glacier, only a bit closer up.
The gorge, and the guy in the red coat was our guide.
The out-of-focus (sorry) waterfall in the cave.
Sunday 15th- Day V
So, the last day of Geographical sightseeing.
But it was a good one.Firstly, we visited a Geothermal powerstation, and most of the explanation of how it worked went straight over my head, so don't ask how it works. All I know is energy is created from steam turning a turbine. Somehow...
Then, we drove off to an extinct volcano, which was now filled with water. It wasn't very big, but it was pretty cool nonetheless. We waked down a very muddy and slippy path, and laughed at lots of people nearly falling over.
Then, on to the geysers. They were amazing, lots of bubbling pools and of course the main attraction, the exploding geyser, which I missed getting a bloody photo of every time!
Really cheesed me off, but at least I've got a mental image of it...After a quick lunch break, we walked down a path to a massive waterfall, which was hugely big. It was triple layered, and it sparkled in the sunlight. It also gave us lots of scope for suicide jokes, and someone even made a paper boat and chucked it in. That was the last we ever saw of it...
Then, to end the day and the final piece of geography we'd see on the trip, we went to the join between the American and the Eurasian plates. It was amazing, though we saw it where they were around 5-10 miles apart. It gave a good view of how the land drops away between the plates, and also meant we visited America.
So that was it, the last thing we saw on the trip. Though we had a nice dinner at a resteraunt again, and went to an incredible ice cream shop. The ice creams must've been 6 inches high, and topped with whatever you wanted. I had Vanilla ice cream, a chocolate syrup and M&M's on top. I didn't sleep very well that night...
The inside of the power station. Isn't it fascinating?!
The volcano crater
The geyser, not erupting...
Made me laugh.
The waterfall, even more amazing close up.
The American plate on the left, some random rock on the right.
Monday 16th- Day VI
So, the last day. A sad atmosphere at breakfast, though at least everything had been put an hour later. After a casual and slow wake up and packing, we piled onto the coach, bound for Reykjavik. First we went into a church, which was pretty cool, for a church. Then, we were let loose in town for 90 minutes, and I can report that's there's sod all in Reykjavik! Took me an hour to find a pizza place, then I had to head straight back to the meeting point.
So, the journey to the airport was sad, filled with reflection of the past 5 days. We presented our presents to the teachers, for which we'd all out 500 IKr into the kitty. Then it was the usual airport stuff, check in, security and sitting around. I'm pleaded to report I found all the artwork and pointless coordinates that Famine found in his trip.
That took up a bit of time. Then, it was an uneventful flight, watched a film, then touchdown at LHR. Passport control and baggage were surprisingly quick, so I was back home around 45 minutes before what was originally planned. As I had school the next morning, and this was 10.30PM, I was very happy. And that concludes my trip to Iceland.
Waiting at Keflavik Airport.
Some sky...
Home, sweet home!
So, Iceland then. Simply A-MA-ZING! If you ever get the chance to go there, do it! It has some of the best scenery of any place I've ever been, all the people there are lovely, 90% of them speak good English too. I can't think of a better place to go, and as you could probably tell there aren't enough adjectives to describe some of the things there. But remember, it is very cold, so wrap up warm!
GO TO ICELAND!
Finally, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to read this, and sorry for going on a bit.
