2010 ICELAND DIARY
Monday
We had to get up early to be at school for 5am so Andy and Sid could drive us down to Heathrow Airport for our flight to Iceland. We got to the airport for 10am, checked in and had a rest in the airport before we got on the plane at 1pm. Just before we landed we saw the mushroom cloud from the volcano! We landed in Iceland at 3pm, where we met our guide and driver. We got on the coach and drove for 30 minutes into Reykjavik. It was a lovely day, very clear and very cold. Our guide, Arni, showed us around Reykjavik. We had a hot dog in the same place where Bill Clinton has his whenever he goes to Iceland.After our hot dog we got the coach for the 90 minute drive to our log cabins at Hellisholar in South Iceland. When we got close to Hellisholar we could see the cloud from the volcano. It was very close to where we stayed.
We got unpacked, had a lovely tea and then went to the hot tub by the log cabins. Later on in the night, when it was really dark, we could see the orange glow from the lava dancing high in the sky.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, we woke up and went over for our breakfast at 8 o’clock.
We then got on the coach with our guide, Arni, and our driver, Si, and drove to the first of three waterfalls. We climbed up to the top of the mountain to see that waterfall from above. We then drove to another mountain to take a small hike to the glacier which we were going to climb. When we finally arrived at the glacier we took turns in groups of four to climb up the ice on the glacier with help from Mr Mason. We then walked back to the coach where Ami and Si drove us to the Black Beach. This beach was from a scene off “The Goonies”. After the Black Beach we drove to an outside swimming pool where we relaxed in the many hot tubs.We finally drove back to our cabins where we then had our tea at about 8 o’clock. We found out that we were going to see the volcano that had recently erupted, so we met at the coach for 9 o’clock.
It was very dark and as we were approaching the volcano we had to drive over several frozen rivers and everyone on the coach was screaming. It was very exciting as we got to 3km away from the volcano. We couldn’t get any closer to the volcano as our coach was too big to fit through the small roads. The colours from the volcano were brilliant. When we got back to our cabins we also saw the Northern Lights! It was a very exciting day.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, we got up and dressed and went to breakfast at 8 am. We had our breakfast, which was cereal, toast, waffles etc...... After breakfast we went on the bus and drove for about half an hour then arrived at a mountain. We climbed the mountain and then climbed back down. Once we finished climbing, we got back on the coach and headed towards Thingvellir National Park.After visiting the park, we got back on the coach and headed to a rift valley. At the valley we had a short walk and sat down to have our lunch. We sat on the divide between Europe and North America. After lunch we started walking, we arrived at the Golden Waterfalls and climbed up rocks to get a better view. The water was very icy and we were able to drink the water from the river. We then walked some more. Then we saw the wishing well in the rift valley and made wishes. On the coach Arni told us about the axe story whilst we headed to Geysir to see the world’s original geyser. The geyser erupted 5 times in about 2 minutes, which is very rare. Again we were very lucky to see it!
When we got back to our cabins at Hellisholar we had tea and saw the Northern Lights again!
Thursday
We were meant to be going to see a glacial lagoon near to where the volcano was erupting. But because a new volcano had opened up overnight we had to wait until 12 to see if the Icelandic Authorities would allow us to get that close. Whilst we were waiting Bethany made everyone bacon butties. Fortunately it was safe, so we left the cabins at 12.We had a long long drive over uneven roads and rivers and stopped at a river. We again crossed a frozen river in the bus, but this time Si smashed the headlights. He got into trouble for that! We crossed a wooden bridge over the lagoon whilst Si drove the bus through the river. Arni then took us on a hike by the frozen lake and then up the mountain. We had a group photo in front of the moraine. It was here we could see the place where the volcano which stopped all of the planes from flying erupted. It is weird to think we were so close to that much lava!!!!
Later on in the day some of the girls went back to Hellisholar and made Si and Arni a card, while the others went swimming and relaxed in some more hot tubs. It was that cold that people’s hair outside the warm water was freezing up!
Everyone went over for dinner and then we went on the karaoke. We gave Si and Arni the card. They are really nice people and we were lucky to have such a knowledgeable guide and such a good driver.
Josh and Brooke put their Morph suits on and ‘presented’ an evening of Karaoke. Everyone sang “We will rock you”.
Friday
On Friday, we got up at 6:30 am, went and had our breakfast, and then we loaded the coach as we were going home that day, and then we set off for the Blue Lagoon at 9:15 am.The bus ride to the Blue Lagoon took 2 hours; whilst we were on the bus we saw lots of snow. As we arrived at the Blue Lagoon, it was freezing but sunny. Whilst we were at the Blue Lagoon, we went in the steam room, sauna and geothermic water, which as a different but lovely experience. We also put lots of silica on our faces. Apparently it makes you look better! When we had been in the water we went to have something to eat, and then got ready to go the airport. At the airport we said goodbye to Si and Arnie, then checked in for our flight. We had a good flight home and got to see all the football grounds in London, including the London Bridge and the London Eye.
At Heathrow airport we collected our suitcases then got on a minibus for our four hour journey home, we stopped off at Burger King, and then continued travelling home. We arrived safely at school at 1 am, and then went home.
We all thought that Iceland was a once in a lifetime experience. We walked on a glacier, saw an erupting volcano, saw a geyser erupt 5 times in 2 minutes, had temperatures as low as -20oC and stood with one foot in Europe and one in North America. Lots of us said it was the best trip we had ever been on.
Contributions by: Chloe Crozier, Lauren Coyle, Georgia Connolly and Rebecca Leigh.
Last modified: Friday, 14 May 2010, 10:36 AM
