On arrival we had our first opportunity to take in the distintive Icelandic landscape: the endless mountains in the distance, the mesmerising sea thrashing against rocks, and the barren lava fields and outwash plains that form the coastal strip.  

From the airport we travelled to the Reykjavik, where we get some free time to eat food and take in the scenery. Then we visited the famous Blue Lagoon, dubbed one of 25 modern Wonders of the World.  We rushed into the changing rooms full of excitement, only to have our smiles wiped off.  This is because whilst we English people like to change in private, the Icelandic folk seem to do it a bit more openly.  As we tried to hide our eyes from the scenes around us we made our way to the lagoon.  As we ventured out we admired a jaw-dropping view worthy of us taking time to stand still.  For we saw in front of us the steam that is emitted from the surface of the bright blue water with ice-capped mountains in the distance.

However this amazement is short-lived once we are embraced with the bitter cold Icelandic air.  The boys, who are without shirts, start screaming and shivering as they desperately run towards the water seeking its warmth!  Once out of the cold and in the perfect heat of the water, we begin to explore the comfort of the lagoon.  Most of us slapped on white masks of silica mud that is reportedly good for your skin.  However, it just made us look like a bunch of teenage ghosts!  

A new day begins with a beautiful sunrise in a clear blue sky.  It's a relatively normal wakeup call with breakfast being at 7.00am but it's clear not everyone is wide awake.  After putting on some layers we head to the coach and travel to Hellisheidi Power Station. As we step out of the bus we are instantly hit with the pungent smell of sulphur, akin to rotten egg.  Here we are told about how the geothermal power is generated and distributed across the country.  After the presentation we had a bit of time to finish our notes and work, before returning to the hotel for dinner.

On day three our first stop is Solheimajokull, a glacial tongue where we can see evidence of global warming as the glacier has retreated.  We then travel to our final destination, the mid-Atlantic ridge.  Here we walk over a bridge that connects the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.  We take pictures and take in the view of the two tectonic plates on either side of us.

That evening we saw a display of the  aurora borealis (or northern lights). A line of green danced across the deep darkness above us.  All of us stood in awe as the northern lights, a sight most people never see, danced its way across the sky. Then, after being told earlier on in the day that red northern lights are very rare, we are gifted with the flicker of red hid amongst the green in the sky.  Unfortunately, good things can't last forever and so the lights hide away. We continue to the hotel dazed at the amazing sight we just witnessed.  

This trip to Iceland was an experience that we all enjoyed greatly.  It gave us the ability to explore a fascinating country whilst learning lots of new things.  I'm sure all of us can agree that the trip was one that none of us will ever forget and it gave us the opportunity to see the breath-taking geography that we learn in school first hand.  We would all like to thank the teachers that helped run this trip as well as a special thank you to Mr Mace who organised and led the trips.