Djupivogur & the Vatnajokull, Iceland
Despite an imposing start, our final day in Iceland proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is an exceptionally dynamic place. Slightly ruffled (but prepared) by the first rain we have seen in the country so far, we set out in different directions this morning to explore the Vatnajokull region, Iceland’s south eastern extremity.
Packed to the gills with camera gear, the photo lovers on the ship set off in small vans – intended to provide maximum flexibility for those unpredictable roadside photo-ops – of which there were more than we could take in.
A second group took to the larger buses and headed to the Vatnajokull ice cap proper. The first half of their day involved a snowmobile excursion across the ice followed by yet another mobile experience in an amphibious vehicle that took them through the grounded icebergs floating at the foot of Breidamerkurjokull glacier.
Finally, a third group took to the sea and made their way by small boat to Papey Island, once populated by Irish monks and now the site of their 1100 year old remains. The island’s only remaining resident is a lone elderly woman!
Of the multitude of options we had today I can only speak for the photo group when I say we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Skipping through cloud bursts and sun streaks we wound our way south along the SE Icelandic coast stopping at will to take in the ever-changing light. Of these stops, the one that prompted the longest stay was a black sand beach separating the Vatnajokull ice cap from the Northern Atlantic. Strewn with crystalline icebergs fed by its upstream source, the coastline looked like a black velvet cloth which somebody sprinkled large salt crystals across. Add to that the pounding surf and sun-streaked clouds and the scene was set.
Winding our way back to the National Geographic Explorer, after nearly 10 hours of constant stimuli, the day finally took its toll on us as nearly everyone dozed off during the final leg. I can’t say what the others dreamt of, but as I daydreamed out the window, a week’s worth of beauty solidified itself into my memory banks.
