An island with two mountains

The alarm clock rang at 9 o'clock. The view out of the window was very sobering. It was raining cats and dogs, the wind was picking up, and the clouds were hanging so low that you could only see two rows of houses. Definitely not ideal weather for our planned hike to the summit of Eldfell (the smaller of the two volcanoes).

However, this did not stop us from getting delicious cinnamon buns from the bakery around the corner for breakfast and exploring Heimaey on foot (we had left the car on the mainland). Our tour ended - completely drenched - at the volcano museum, which vividly brought us closer to the history of a devastating natural catastrophe:

In late January 1973, Eldfell, which is located in close proximity to the city center, erupted. Fortunately, due to a storm the day before, the entire fishing fleet of the island was still anchored. This allowed for a quick evacuation. No one was harmed. Over the next five months, the remaining helpers fought for their homeland. Numerous buildings were overwhelmed by the lava flow. The harbor was also at risk of damage, which would have meant financial ruin for the islanders. However, it was saved, ensuring the main source of income for those who returned (two-thirds of the original population).

Well-informed, we once again plunged into the waves at a brisk pace. Arriving at the hostel, we hung up our soaking clothes to dry and had lunch. After chilling for a bit, we took what felt like 10 steps diagonally across the street to cheer on our national team against Sweden at the "Grillhús" restaurant. What truly brought our team the victory? Yvonne, who went to the restroom at the decisive moment and missed the winning goal. A tried and tested method :D

After the game, the rain finally stopped. We decided to take a short detour to the path towards Eldfell. After about 10 minutes, we found ourselves at a place that is also called the Pompeii of the North. The lava field covers a variety of streets and houses that were lost forever during the eruption. The end of the evening walk was the cemetery of the small island. During the eruption, only the upper part of the cemetery gate was visible above the ash. The inscription gave the islanders courage in their fight against the volcano: 'I am alive and you will live' (*goosebumps*)

Now we are ending the day with a beer in the hotel lobby. Cheers!