Day 7: Husavik - Lake Myvatn

What a day! It started with a whale watching trip in Husavik where we spotted five Minke whales. We were able to get up really close to them, and the whales showed equal interest in us; spy-hopping and laying on the surface watching us, which is apparently very rare for Mike whales, who are usually a shy species. Husavik has been one of my favourite towns on the trip; it's so pretty with the mountains in the background, and the air is so crisp and clear (much like the rest of the country). After a look round the whale museum and some lunch, we drove down to Lake Myvatn and explored some of the area; a moon-like landscape of crater lakes, lava fields, steaming land, spluttering mud pots, tectonic plates and magical caves. We spent a while floating around in the Nature Baths, which were an incredible blue and so relaxing.

Our lovely cabins were tucked away in the landscape, located by a farm where you could eat dinner and watch the cows feed in their shed through a glass wall! It was a bit pricey, but really good food. I had hoped (and hoped) that it could be a good location to spot the Northern Lights... and I wasn't wrong! From about 11.45 they put on an amazing show! It was the first time I had ever seen them, and it was strangely emotional. They are just so beautiful; shimmering and dancing across the sky. They were so fluid and moved from bands curving across the atmosphere to showers of light appearing to rain down. The shades of green, and sometimes purple, are something I'll never forget.