Ice Ice Baby

If you haven't figured it out by now, Iceland is magical. I think some people were confused at why I wanted to come to this rock in the middle of the ocean. Well people, among other awesome sites, finding Superman's Fortress of Solitude will convince anyone that this rock is special.

So my group meandered our way out to the town of Vik in the southern most part of Iceland. The town's population is a rousing 300. And don't call it a village-- that is sure to offend. Vik means "bay" in Icelandic so this picturesque town sits on a bay next to the Atlantic. Look hard enough and you can see Antarctica because there is no land mass in between.

We were in Vik during their yearly festival, and everyone was super friendly and buzzing around. They had many events that we could go to. I just went to some live music, a market, and a hike on Sunday afternoon up a nearby cliff. Most of my time was spent wandering around up to the hill overlooking the city and walking the windy coast.

Our group also had the privilege of visiting a glacial lagoon, Jökulsárlón, that sits below the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. This is what I believe to be Superman's Fortress of Solitude. The photos will speak towards this. We got to go in an amphibious boat (like the duck tour in Seattle). Once in the water we were surrounded by icebergs and even saw a seal. Jökulsárlón has been the setting for four hollywood films-- A View to Kill, Die Another Day, Tomb Raider, and Batman Begins. For Die Another Day they closed off the lagoon so that it froze over for a chase scene apparently. Pretty cool I think. ;)

Oh! We also hiked out to part of the glacier! It was the first glacier I've ever seen. Because of the volcanic activity they are covered in ash. The world is so interesting!

 Chapel in Vik

 Vik

Vik

Cemetery on a hill//Vik

 Hike up to the cliff//Vik

 Antarctica// Vik

 Same beach from previous post//Vik

 Aidan//Cliff/Vik

Aidan//Basalt Stacks[Trolls]//Vik

 Jökulsárlón//Glacial Lagoon

 Jackie//Jökulsárlón

 Skaftafellsjökul//Part of Vatnajökull Glacier

 Skaftafellsjökul

 Skaftafellsjökul//Ice covered in ash

 Skaftafellsjökul

Bless

Stacie Marie