stubsadventures

Grimsey Island is a three-hour ferry ride from Dalvik. The ferry is a passenger ferry that also carries cargo to the remote island where you cross the arctic circle. Also, located on this island is a colony of puffins. I have loved puffins as long as I can remember.

I don’t know what it about those birds. I think they are one of the most magical creatures on the planet. The love the cold, live in some of the most extreme conditions on exposed ocean cliffs. They fly funny, they walk funny and they look funny. They are beautiful when they’re standing still but as soon as they start moving, I get a smile on my face.

The ferry landed on Grimsey and we went for lunch right away. With the restaurants throughout Iceland, you would never know what you were going to find when you sat down. Some of places served some of the best food I have ever eaten. Other places, would be the most basic meal you could ever imagine. On Grimsey, we loaded up with Irish Coffees, and went walking along the coast.

It wasn’t long before my wonderous eyes did I see a PUFFIN! I was so pumped, I couldn’t believe how close they were. And the colony was right there, just waiting for me to take pictures of! I couldn’t take more than a step without snapping a ton of pics. At one point, I had to just sit and watch and once again wonder, what I ever did to be so lucky in life. What a moment, I never would have thought I would have such an experience with these birds and I honestly enjoyed every last second of it.

From the puffins, we headed toward the lighthouse, which brought us past an 800 year old church. Once we got past that, we noticed that the bird activity was really picking up and the Arctic Turns that were in the area were getting closer and closer to us. It wasn’t long before they start swooping and attacking. After two close calls, we turned and started running back from where we had come from, laughing the entire time, shreeking when one would come too close to our heads. One even grabbed my hood! In the safe zone, we decided that we would not let a flock of birds get the better of us, so we headed back into the danger bird zone. Their bark was worse than their bite, and although they would come close, they didn’t inflict any wounds.

To finish off the perfect day with puffins, I was granted my second certificate celebrating the crossing of the arctic circle. Grimsey is one of those places on earth that shows you that life can be simple. Small children were running around, with no parents in sight, actually playing. In this part of the world, people don’t expect tips, not only that, you have to explain to them what one is. They took the time to explain to me who made the wool products I was buying and wished me a good trip, and they really meant it.

Stubs.