the sweetest

A quick trip to the Whale Museum is Husavík was in order. We stopped to purchase snacks and did the two minute tour of the town. It was oddly reminiscent of some coastal town in Washington or Oregon. The boats, smell, and atmosphere were fairly Pacific Northwest with the typical Icelandic flair. The museum was filled with enormous whale skeletons and interactive displays. Fun fact: Orca whales have distinct dialects in their language depending on their clan and geographic location. 

Grimsey was worth its weight in gold. We took a three hour ferry ride up to the tiny island in the Arctic Circle. Unfortunately, sea sickness is extremely common and most of our class was ill. I managed to pass out for most of the journey and avoided any upset stomach. 
Once we reached Grimsey we crossed into the Arctic Circle, took the required photos, and then set off to go for a quick swim! Ten of us decided to hike down a ridge down to the waterfront and do a quick Arctic skinny dip,  haha. Definitely a way to get your adrenaline pumping. Plus everything feels extremely warm once you dry off and re-dress. Afterwards we packed into a tiny shop where I purchased my beloved puffin-adorned Icelandic sweater (photos will come soon enough for that). 
We boarded the ferry home, this time with relatively few hiccups.

Geysir at sunrise was an interesting experience. Though its eruptions are few and far between, we did manage to catch a few shows from Strokkur. The park was filled with mud pots, geysers, and hot springs. Epic way to start the day. 

Bless bless,
Hannah