Iceland Part 2: Look Pa, I'm outdoorsy!

Sadly, words like "an hour and a half hike to hot springs" aren't super tempting. Had they never said it would take only 35 minutes I probably wouldn't have gone. BUT, I'm SO glad we went. Really, this was one of the most terrific things I've ever done. Let me tell you how it all started. You're going to want to read it all, I promise, so click at the bottom for the rest of the story and an overabundance of pictures. I'll be putting the rest of the pics on Facebook soon. 

Our plan for the day was to go to the Vestmannaeyjar Islands (after seeing this picture, we just HAD to go, you know?) So we drove to the ferry only to find out that we could get there, but we probably couldn't get a ferry ride back due to the weather. Rats! So, we drove around a bit and then our host thought we might like to visit the hot springs. Hmmm, sure. I'm not an enthused swimwear user in the freezing cold, you see. Well, we drove out only to find that the road was blocked by ice and rocks like this:

Not good. So, the Icelanders explain the infamous 35 min. hike and we get going. We set off with these adorable little one. (Notice the use of Icelandic sweaters--they really do wear them!)

We pass scenes like this, which keeps me a happy camper.

Then I feel like we're going through that scene in Elf when he explains his magical trip Candy Cane forest. We keep going and going and going when and hour and half later...

...we land on THIS. Wha?!?! Are you kidding me? 

I shed my coat because we'd worked up some heat and it was surprisingly mild outside and reveal that I, too, had become Icelandic and was sporting a newly purchased sweater. Surprise!

We see a whole valley of steaming hot water, much too hot to actually touch so we keep on traveling down the valley to hopefully tamer temperatures when...

...when we spot this...you know, a sheep's skeleton. Cuz that's what happens in Iceland.

Oh, hey Paul!

We traverse the waters. Everyone does it with ease, but I'm a little frightened at the thought that this could potentially be boiling water and I could die. But, I do it without a hitch and I feel like I could conquer the world.

We finally find a moderate temperature and take a dip and soak for a bit. It was heavenly.

Afterwards we must document our moment with the waters. We get out the automatic timer because the only thing around here are us the sheep's skeletons.

Now we must decide to go back up the way we came or head down the valley to the nearby village and call someone they know to take us back up to our car. We opt for the later. But we have a very tired boy on our hands who's missed his nap time so people take turns carrying him. Minus me, I guess my only duty was taking pictures. Muhahaha.

Heading down the valley 

We finally make it down to the base of the mountain a couple of hours later and have some friends save us. Was it worth it? You better believe it. It was nuts! So surreal. 

Now, if this doesn't make you want to schedule a trip, I don't know what else will.