Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)

Woke to grey skies and drizzle.  Also heard Alex in the room next door coughing up a lung at abut 5.30 a.m. so figured he was still alive and hadn't gone into a diabetic coma overnight.  When we got up abut 6.30, Jan suggested going and knocking on his door to make sure he was up and getting ready, but I talked her out of it as I had no intention in being involved in providing a 'first to find' and 'last to hear' statement to local police if he had died since 5.30! anyway, we headed off to breakfast and thankfully Alex was already there (and no, it wasn't like the movie 'Weekend at Bernie's" where someone had propped the body up in a chair!!!
After breakfast time to get on the coach and Bjorn our driver had bought large black plastic bags especially to put my suitcase in so that it didn't get wet.  How kind was that?  He was still very apologetic abut my case getting wet before. So on the coach we all get and in most overcast and damp weather we head off to the south coast to Landeyjarhofn harbour about an hour away to get the ferry from Bakkafjara to the Westman Islands. As I have been paying attention when Bjornee tells us about the places we are going to, I can impart my new found knowledge to you that the reason they are called the Westman Islands is because they are west of Scotland (and some Scot dude named them).  makes it hard to work out directions when the Westmand Islands are off the south coast. So a 45 minute reasonably smooth ferry trip later we arrive in Heimaey which is  the main island for the group (consisting of 15). It is still raining slightly and cold winds so no one is too keen for much walking in the open at this stage, however we bravely head up to the Eldborg volcano which is still warm from its latest eruption 40 years ago. It is an amazing sight.  First stop is Landakirkja church which is the oldest building in the islands and survived the last volcano. It was a relly pretty little chapel.We also visit Storhofoi which is where the lighthouse is and is the windiest place in Iceland and possibly the whole of Europe, where four calm days are the the limit in an average years (wind speed can pass 30m/sec!)  Pretty impressive views there, if you don't get blown off the cliffs... Then we went looking for Puffins but I am very disappointed to say that we didn't see a single one and apparently we shouldn't have expected to see them as they have all left the nest before mid-September each year ... bugga!
Beltie was especially disappointed and was even wearing her specially designed puffin hunting glasses - but she did manage to find a troll!

Back on the coach and off to have a wander around Skansinn which is where the lava flow stopped in 1973.  Pretty little Norse timber church near the site, which is the only one of its kind in Iceland.  Apparently was a gift from the people of Norway.  Next to it was Landlyst, which is the 2nd oldest building in the islands. Nearby was this tiny little cannon which apparently was placed on a hill by the locals to fortify their little town should invaders' come into the harbour.  If it had been me I'd put up the welcome flag and they could have taken over the entire island. why any one would want ot live here is beyond me.  It is a fishing village that has grown beyond it's needs - and why you would stay in a place that has such potential to see further volcanic activity is a mystery.  Anyway a few wanted to climb to the top o the 'new' volcano (including Princess Shiny Bright) so they were promptly sent off to climb the volcano whereas 5 of us wanted to keep warm and dry so were taken to the nearby and very new (only opened in June this year and they are still doing a lot of work on it - didn't even have a sign up with the name of the place) 'Pompei of the North' museum.  This houses a great display of one of the homes as it was left devastated after the last volcano.  The whole thing is quite interactive and had a thoroughly interesting audio track to follow as you wandered around the exhibition.  I was really impressed with it. eventually the volcano climbers arrived down at the museum and Princess SB was like a drowned rat - so wet was she that she had to get her suitcase out of the coach to find a dry pair of trousers to wear.  There were similar very wet apparitions from the rest of that group. We then went into the main streets where everyone went their separate ways for lunch.  Jan and I found a delightful little restaurant had a really lovely lunch - she had an African vegetable curry and I had a chicken wrap that is the best one I've every had!!! Mind you we didn't get to have lunch till almost 3 p.m. as we'd been all over the island checking out anything of the slightest interest. Back on the ferry for a 5.30 departure and it was bit more choppy in the waters on the ride back to the mainland.  Then to our new hotel for the night which meant dinner wasn't till 8 p.m.  Sat with the other 4 Aussies and the guy from Glasgow and an American woman for dinner.  It was a really nice meal and they were good company.  We Aussies know how to enjoy ourselves and find humour in everything!  After dinner Jan and I traipsed outside and wandered about in the cool and bit damp conditions until we found an ATM to get some Kroner.  That done it was back to our rooms and being well and truly time for bed bundled ourselves in for the night.  This missive to you tonight is a bit rushed as it is past 11.30 p.m.and I'm pooped.  Still no time to download photos to add to items but I have the best intentions for that to occur eventually.
Another good day had by all even if the weather wasn't in our favour.