This post features writing from Smithsonian student Katja!

Hey guys! I’m Katja, and I’m also your BLOGGER for the day! For context, our silly Iceland group has traveled to Snæfellsnes, Iceland, thanks to our wonderful driver, Barbara. We’re currently spanned out in rooms across a hotel called Guesthouse Hoff. The owner, Leila, owns 2 cats — everyone has been trying to cart them into the house — and cooks delicious dinners for us.

As we got ready for the day, packing ourselves in 4-5 layers EACH, Venda from two rooms down called us — it was Matthew’s sixteenth birthday call! We sang a beautiful rendition of “Happy Birthday” in groggy morning voices before going down to eat breakfast. After Matthew received many birthday wishes at the skyr table, we all piled into the Barbara-mobile. Our climate Expert Dr. Dan Dixon sat in the back with me, Erin, and Venda, and we went to the nearest horse stable.

The beach wind nipped at our faces as our group attempted to tolt on the horses (“tolt-ing” is a specific way of moving that is unique to Icelandic horses…DON’T CALL THEM PONIES). Everyone noticed that Graham’s horse was beautiful (“Thanks, he thinks so too,” as Graham always said in return) and that Venda’s horse was similar to him in that it loved to stop for a snack!

We piled once more into the Barbara-mobile after checking out a hot spring in the area, and rode to the most photographed mountain in Iceland! Matthew brought out his professional tripod to take thousands of photos as the rest of us attempted to shake the aroma of horse off our clothes.

We rode to the Bjarnarhöfn area for food — Erin, Peter, Venda, Graham, Dan, and I all tried a chili-Dorito-baked kóngurrin (a type of hotdog). Let’s just say it was our last time trying it 🌭.

We followed the food break with the Shark Museum nearby, where we learned about bycatch shark/fishing methods and managed to try small shark cubes. We also met an adorable little kind who we had trouble parting ways with 🐑.

After making numerous pit stops to look at the view, we made it back to a black sand beach with Hook Nosed Sea Pigs, the gray seal’s scientific name. We walked another hour and made it back to Guesthouse Hoff in time for dinner — that is, before the arctic terns could fly at us 🪿! Thank you, Dan for the stick + boot contraption; it really scared them off.

Special thanks to Matthew because it was his 16th birthday today 🎊, and also Dr. Dan because we’re leaving him behind tomorrow 💔

-Katja