Mr. Drywa, Ms. Lenihan, and Mr. Poling took an 18-student mix of juniors and seniors on an unforgettable trip to Iceland. The students spent copious amounts of time learning about the geography of the beautiful country and about the unique Icelandic culture. Students had the chance to try Icelandic foods as well as go on a variety of hikes touring the beautiful landscape.
Senior Liz MacRae looked back fondly: “Overall, the trip was really fun, and it brought me and so many other people I would have never thought to talk to together by the end of it.”
The first day was filled with fighting jet lag, traversing the barren but expansive landscape, learning, and trying Icelandic food. The students began their day with breakfast and appreciated the sunrise over the Viking museum and crashing waves. Following the sunrise, students found their way to where the North American and European plates meet, viewing the tectonic divide. A smell of rotten eggs filled the air as the students looked at the mud pits with above-boiling water and high levels of sulfur leading to their odor. Venturing further south, a beautiful rocky shore awaited, along with thundering waves and a stunning lighthouse. All beauty has a balance, and the group saw the devastation that lava had caused to towns, being able to claim a few pieces of frozen lava and eating lunch in a recently opened restaurant in a town ravaged by lava but on the come up. All of this was followed by a trip to Iceland’s largest power plant and learning that water and geothermal energy power the nation. The crew concluded day one with shopping in Reykjavík and a lovely steak dinner before turning in for the night.
Day two was spent on a long drive and short walk to Iceland’s bright blue waterfalls, the color caused by the mineral-rich land. Following seeing the impossibly blue falls, students found their way to an ice cave at the Langjökull glacier, which translates to “long glacier.” The group observed stunning views and strong winds inside a manmade ice cave. Through their ice cave excursion, they learned about how lava, ash, dust, and wind all affect the glacial walls. Lucking out, the group had a clear day with lower wind speeds and had the chance to venture to the summit of the glacier, seeing mountains, more glaciers, and tens of miles of Icelandic beauty. Thordis, the Icelandic guide the students had, is featured in The New York Times and is also a professional photographer. Through her, the travelers gained great insight into Icelandic culture and the nation itself. She was joined by an English guide, Dominic, who used humor to keep everyone’s spirits up through the cold. His influence was evident due to his past trip experiences with River Dell. After a long drive and an even longer day, the group was greeted by an authentic Icelandic dinner of chicken, potatoes, and vegetables, with dessert being rich sherbet and fresh fruit. Before turning in for the night, students explored the city a little more, and four of them were lucky enough to catch the northern lights as they searched for fish oil — an Icelandic delicacy made from cod liver that is said to help eyesight, gut health, joint health, and more.
Catching a stunning sunrise on day three over Iceland’s largest lake, students learned how it was the location of the old Icelandic parliament. The group saw a frozen waterfall before hitting the road. Taking a quick stop at an overlook, they were met with miles of Icelandic mountains and terrain. Following this, the group watched a geyser erupt seven feet into the air and looked on at the steam it released. Their lunch was special hot spring bread, Rúgbrauð, with cream cheese and smoked fish on top. Shortly after, the students ventured to the windiest part of their trip to see more crashing waterfalls. The winds at these falls were so strong that if someone tripped, it would have been an exceptional challenge to find their footing again. They followed nearly getting blown away by heading to a tomato farm, where students had delicious tomato soup and bread. The farm also had Icelandic horses, which are unique due to their five gaits. On top of this, the horses have been isolated for over 1,000 years, and with strict laws on their import and export, they have been largely protected. The group found their way back to the hotel, and later that night a massive light show was put on by Mother Nature. The sky erupted in deep reds and greens.
Entering their last full day, the students woke up to the northern lights again. Following the light show, they trekked up another glacier, overlooking a gorgeous frozen lake as well as volcanic ash. They also had the opportunity to peer into a ninety-foot-deep crevasse echoing deep blues and blacks from the stains of time. Venturing to the black sand beaches, they observed waves violently crashing against the coast. These waves were so dangerous that they could pull someone twenty feet out to sea and cause serious harm. The group proceeded to see more waterfalls, with one trip to the top involving a more than 430-foot climb. Following that, they viewed additional waterfalls along a path that didn’t require such an intense cardio workout.
When Ms. Lenihan reflected on the trip, she summed up the country in two words: “beautiful landscapes.”
On their final day, the students and teachers relaxed in the Blue Lagoon, which is known for helping the skin of those who step into it. After their time in the lagoon, the group experienced a delay and made it to the airport with little time to spare. Icelandic customs took time, and the cohort arrived at their gate with just five minutes before it closed, barely making it.
Senior Edy Dimitru reflected, “I’ve been to Iceland before, but going a second time with the school was amazing. The weather was perfect; the experience was amazing. It was all thanks to Mr. Drywa for making every experience fun, educational, and engaging. No one else could have done it better than him.”
The memories made on the Iceland trip will last a lifetime for everyone. For the most part, students stayed warm, and by listening carefully to the clearly illustrated instructions, they had an unforgettable time. Mr. Drywa is eager to possibly bring the trip back next year, pending approval.