Day 8 Seydisfjordur

Early this morning we pulled into the delightful and sheltered Seydisfjordur on Iceland’s east coast. The whole area was so beautiful, tranquil and remote with spectacular lush, terraced cliffs sprinkled with pretty wildflowers as well as fungi and ferns. Woven in amongst that lushness were clumps of wool shed by the ‘wild’ sheep.  After breakfast we piled into zodiacs and tootled up the fjord to narrow ravines where water hurtled down craggy cliff faces. There are 20 odd waterfalls in the area and a number of walks we could have chosen to explore them - we chose one of the gentler excursions giving ourselves time to loll back in the rich and succulent flora and simply soak in the peace and tranquility. 

Busy black beetles scurrying across the surface of the water

Calm and tranquility

The tranquility and enjoyment of the day was shattered when at our pre-dinner briefing, the Expedition leader announced that due to a storm brewing to the west we could not continue our circumnavigation of Iceland and would be turning back missing what for many would have been highlights on the itinerary - me included! But the Captain made the call I understand and that was the end of it. What I had really wanted to see (and left off our self-drive because  ....!) were the Westman Islands off the south coast; these were formed by volcanic eruptions around 10,000 years ago. They are considered to have the largest Atlantic puffin colony in the world.  One island in particular, Surtsey Island, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that emerged from the sea in 1963 and is one the youngest land masses on earth.  C'est la expensive vie!