We awoke to blue skies and sunshine! After a windy, rocky sail from Grimsey, everyone was excited for a day of land-based adventure as we split up into a few different groups.
Some adventurers opted for the long day explorations, which went to the famous Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon; others chose the Superjeep ride, which went off-roading into the mountains to see impressive landscapes and waterfalls.
Those of us on the coastal walk were treated to amazing views of Djupivogur and the island of Papey from a lookout point. Then we walked down to the gorgeous black-sand beaches that the south coast of Iceland is famous for. Flowers were still in bloom—Alaskan lupine, bluebells, thrift, arctic thyme, and Iceland’s national flower, mountain avens. After a walk among the dunes, we made our way past a freshwater marsh to a sweet spot, protected from the wind, where we were snacked on crowberry juice and traditional Icelandic donuts called kleinur.
After a delicious lunch in the ship’s dining room, many of us joined the cultural tour which included a visit to an amazing rock collector’s workshop that was transformed into a small museum. The exhibit included an incredible sample of local rocks, each one cut and polished to expose a cross section of the beautiful patterning hidden under the surface. The grand finale of the tour was an a cappella concert by a singer who invited us to sit in an old oil drum, lit by candlelight, and listen to her Icelandic folk songs bouncing around the space with the most amazing acoustics.
