Saturday we flew into Keflavik and drove to Vik. We drove on the famous Ring Road, which is essentially an Icelandic Blue Ridge Parkway. There are cute towns and hikes and waterfalls and sites all along the drive. The locals get annoyed at us tourists gawking and aggressively pass.

We stayed close to Vik today after a late start. First up, the sea caves along Black Sand Beach. The area is prone to “sneaker waves,” which are sudden and unpredictable waves that wash ashore. The undertow here is strong, and swimming is prohibited. The water is also very cold, and paralysis from hypothermia sets in quickly. Death soon follows. The locals call these waves Chinese Takeaways because Chinese tourists keep getting swept up in them and then need to be rescued.

Our first stop was the well-known black sand beach and sea caves, which are adjacent to Vik.

You would be forgiven for thinking the entire country is a REI clothing commercial. Everyone here is wearing the same basic outdoor gear. Seems like we all read the same Top Ten Clothing Items to Pack in Iceland.

In this REI ad, I think the kids are now protesting fast fashion and how it leads to waste, which hurts the next generation because the planet is worse off. The kids are blinded and suffocated by our current environmental practices.

I jest. Mom is trying to get a family photo and the kids are being jerks.

It is suddenly clear to me why there is a National Phallus Museum. Rock formations like this are common.

We’re still at the black sand beach, looking towards the lighthouse. It’s walkable but we drove.

The “sand” here is ground volcanic rock and not silica. It feels very different, and doesn’t stick to everything. I find it odd seeing stretches of beach with no humans. The North Atlantic, however, is not known for its inviting waters.

I took this on the plateau where the lighthouse is stationed. It’s a lonely vigil up here.

The last stop was a brief walk to a glacier spur. You can hike on it. Guides will take you, as well as provide the appropriate gear. The black is volcanic ash.

Yes, the glacier is retreating. All of them in Iceland are.

You can see the tiny humans walking! It looks too steep to climb, but I think it’s just a trick of light and lensing. Some pretty unfit people were geared up, so it must be more accessible than it appears.

We opted for happy hour cocktails back in Vik instead of ice hiking.

More tiny humans. Their safety helmets help spot them. The scale of this place continually plays with my senses.