Day 2 - Thingviller National Park and Vaxa Farm

June 20, 2023 We started out the day by going to Thingvellir National Park, where our Icelandic tour guide led us on a 8 km hike and talked about Iceland (how Iceland was in the past, how it is today, etc..) along the way. We walked along the western part of the North American tectonic plate throughout our trip and saw some cool rock formations as well.

Before starting our hike, we stopped at a high point to view Iceland's largest lake:

Once we finished looking at the serene lake, we walked towards and entered the church where the Icelandic people used to go to. The church was built in mind to fit everyone living in that village. The materials used to make anything was reused if it could be, because the materials did not come from Iceland and it would be a waste to just throw them away. For example, in 1880 (correct if wrong), they took down the churches that were not needed, and reused the materials to build the church we visited today and the Guest House farther down. [insert sent photo of church interior] The painting in the far right was painted by a farmer living in the village at the time, showing the work of Jesus and his 12 disciples. After visiting the church, we walked for a while and stopped to try glacier water that is 25-500 years old. Many of us tried it, and Lauren rated it a 9/10, saying that it is, in fact, "good water!" Beth, our host, agrees and remarks that it "tastes watery".

Things died down for a while, with the fast hikers such as Jackson up front and the slower, casual hikers who talked to each other or tired leg hikers bringing up the rear. Once an hour or so has passed, we stopped and looked at the remains of a farm that used to be there.

We then briefly walked to our lunch point, the highest point on the hill/mountain we were on, and enjoyed our meal as the cold wind continously blew on our backs or faces. Some people were fast eaters, and decided to go further ahead, vanishing through some thickets. We eventually asked Alex to find them and have them return. [insert photos, ask for more, and ask if anyone has picture of Lukas sitting on some rocks like it's a lounge chair] We then descended, walking on a horse trail and crossing a street before we stopped and relaxed for a while at the waterfall.

After walking for a little longer, we stopped again and our tour guide [insert name] explained to us a brief history of Iceland, such as how they drowned convicted woman and beheaded convicted men, and how once someone is given a step up in power, that can lead to them testing that power out which would then result in a constant cycle of violence and bloodshed. This domino effect of violence continued on until [date], in which the Iceland people gradually adopted the Danish system and the government started regulating justicee/punishments for crimes. After the hike we visited Vaxa farm, and learned the sustainibilty the farm has on the planet. They use vertical farming systems, LEDs that are powered by green energy, 90% less water consumption, and longer shelf time in grocery stores compared to imported vegetables (greens such as lettuce, in this case), or vegetables grown on traditional farmland.

We will head off to participate in a Folk/Saga tour of Reykjavik that starts at 7:30 pm (GMT), but because the information we learn there will be way more complicated, it would be best to save the details for later and ask your child all about it once they return home :) By Jane Li