I awakened and opened the two sets of drapes as we sailed though the beautiful fiords. I viewed the mountains with their waterfalls and caves. It was another glorious cool day with no rain in sight. When we docked, we boarded a coach and drove into the Herjolfsdalur Valley with a beautiful view of the outer islands of the archipelago.
Our tour guide told us of the Vikings who had landed with slaves from Ireland, who came to a bloody end when they escaped to Heimaey Island. The first settlers then arrived in 900ad. We were then taken to a site of the largest colony of Atlantic Puffins who come to breed and feed. We saw them from a distance flying very fast and very wobbly, and then they kind-of nose dived into the ground at the side of a mountain when landing. Not too smart, but fun to watch. We were told that the baby Pufflings sometimes get confused when they see the lights of the town of Heimaey Iceland, and end up in people’s yards instead of the ocean. So, at night entire neighborhoods go out to collect the Pufflings and take the hundreds of little birds to the ocean.
Before going to the town of Heimaey we saw Surtsey Island in the distance. It is a newly formed volcanic island that rose out of the sea with an eruption from 1963-1967. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is one of the newest volcanic islands on the planet. No one is allowed to go there because it is a natural laboratory, free from human interference, and gives scientists the opportunity to study the process of how plant and animal life colonize virgin land.
The town of Heimaey was considered volcanically dormant until January 23,1973 when the most famous volcanic eruption in modern times took place. A vast fissure burst open, and Eldfell Volcano emerged from the sea swallowing much of the town. It turned the rest into a “modern day Pompeii.” 5000 inhabitants were evacuated by fishing boats.
Our guide told us that one woman begged the captain of a fishing boat to return, because she had forgotten something extremely valuable. She did have three children with her, but he thought it might be a fourth child so he turned around. She saved her new dress because “I might be invited to a party.”
The town folk, with the help of the fishermen saved the harbor by spraying the lava with sea water causing it to solidify and divert. The town of Heimaey now has 4500 residents, and is a popular tourist attraction, and they probably like to party.
Next we sail to Seydisfjordur
Esther Blumenfeld