Iceland Day 3
The main event for our third day in Iceland was to leave the mainland and go to Vestmannaeyjar, an archipelago off the south coast. The largest puffin colony in Iceland lives there, and we couldn't wait to see them. But first, in the morning, we checked out another couple waterfalls.
Seljalandsfoss is fun and easy to get to. It is a bit crowded, though.
You can go behind Seljalandsfoss, but beware that you'll be soaked (rain pants are a must). Sadly, it was so bright behind and so dark inside that you can't see any faces.
Molly was happy to get drenched, so ventured out onto this rock where the water was pouring down.
Seljalandsfoss was a lovely waterfall.
Gljufrabui is a short walk from Seljalandsfoss, and hidden inside a cave. It's a challenge getting into the cave, but once in there it's beautiful.
We then hopped on the Herjólfur ferry to go to Vestmannaeyjar.
There are lots of small islands surrounding the main island in Vestmannaeyjar, and each one has a single house on it. These are members only clubhouses (think like the Elks Lodge in America).
On the ferry as we were getting close to the island, I saw some sheep from afar and decided to photograph them. Turns out they were surrounded by puffins! I thought we were going to have to venture to the furthest corner of the island to see them, but there were all over the hillside as we approached!
Once we got to Heimaey, the big island of Vestmannaeyjar, we took a tour of the island. Our tour guide showed us Spranga, the local sport involving climing, rapelling, ans swinging from the cliffs. This is not just for fun, but also a source of food as residents gather eggs from nests along the islands (not puffin eggs).
Surtsey Island is the newest of the islands of Vestmannaeyjar. It was created by a submarine volcanic eruption from 1963 to 1967. Humans are not allowed on the island yet, as scientists are studying how long it takes for plants and animals to colonize it.
We saw a bunch of puffins right next to the golf course on the island.
We learned that it is easy to identify puffins in flight because they are really bad at it. They flap their wings very quickly to remain aloft, and often take multiple passes before landing as they keep missing their desired location.
Also near the golf course were turf houses made to replicate the early Viking houses here. We even got to go inside them.
The four of us, up high on Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar.
We saw a lot more puffins at the south end of Heimaey.
The hillside was covered in puffins.
Leah had fun watching puffins, and patiently waiting on her dad photographing them.
There was a seal hanging out in the water near the puffins.
Here we are on Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar where the eruption of the 1973 Eldfell volcano started. We're in the crater, surrounded by lava rocks and standing on volcanic ash. This eruption caused the island to be evacuated for months, and buried 400 homes in lava. As the lave kept approaching the center of town, they sprayed it with sea water to cool the edges and create a wall to keep the flow back, saving the rest of the town.
A view of the mainland of Iceland as the ferry approaches it.
Two kids on a boat, headed back to the mainland to drive on to our second lodging in the small town of Vík.
Table of contents for the whole trip
