In reality, the SIT program of 2011 is nearing its end. With only a week left of festivities and only three days left in the Westfjords, we are all immersed in a hovering state of denial, gloom, and giddiness. However that's possible.
In Blogotopia, however, the SIT program of 2011 is only just getting started! Thanks to the magic of internet/laziness, I'm a full 2 months behind my actual life! And through this logic, I am doomed/privileged to relive the past 7 weeks of my time in Iceland.
Join me, won't you!
The first place we visited with the students was the geothermal plant, Reykjanesvirkjun. This was a delight, as Reykjanesvirkjun had transformed an entire floor into a kid-friendly knowledge emporium. So, here's what science looks like!
In order to teach children (us) about the reality of living on a geologically active island, they had a nifty little earthquake simulator (though it'd probably be more accurate to describe it as a Jiggle Generator)
After we played with science we were given a short tour of the geothermal facilities
And were then taken to the effluent discharge location, where steamy water is pumped out into the ocean
Before heading to the Blue Lagoon, we checked out a geothermal field near Keflavík and got lost in the smoke
We had dinner at Duus Hús, a restaurant and museum which features an entire fleet of model ships, an exhibit on the old US Army Base in Keflavík, and a gallery of modern art
In the modern art gallery was this charming fellow. The image is Eyjafjallajökull. And he's quite snarky.
Outside of Duus Hús
Across the harbor was, what looked like, a small shack...but further exploration proved an inhabitance of a much more daunting scale. Within this large abode sat a lonely troll, breathing heavily and farting in the isolation of his home (the sound effects scared the bejesus out of us).
After our time in Keflavík, we did the obligatory Golden Circle tour. Here is an interrupted scenic photograph of Gullfoss.
Planking is the hottest new thing in Iceland (even respected news anchors and political figures are getting in on it). Here, one of the students, Cohen, does the first of what eventually becomes a very regular occurrence.
While Geysir gets a little old after the first visit, Gullfoss remains a mesmerizing asset to Iceland's natural splendor. It's hard not to get lost in the falling water.
When we reached Djúpalónssandur, it was necessary that I acquire the proper attire (rhyme!) for exploring the beach...that I had been to just one week before.
Here's a student, Edwin, proving his strength to all of Iceland
And surprise, yet another planking success
The bravest of our students, Andrew, rambles through the lava field behind the beach
Here's the view from our hostel in Ósar, where our old friend Hvítserkur resides
No comments:
Post a Comment