The Chronicle, No. 669, January 2016

19 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

own right but also provided the trip’s biggest challenge: how to pronounce it! Our guide Ragga gave us a tutorial which led to a whole day of constant attempts at the tricky – and lengthy – name. After a quick drive past the volcano, the black beaches of Iceland came into view. Famous for their dangerous waves and black sand thanks to volcanic soil and dust, the erosional platforms formed in the rocks created an ideal opportunity for jumping, photography and enjoying the view. The black glaciers of Iceland, our next stop, were a magnificent sight and even better to climb on. Armed with our snow shoes and ice axes, we took to the glaciers. While our guides seemed to prance effortlessly around the ice, we seemed to struggle ineptly from step to step. Despite this, the satisfaction we all had of chopping blocks of ice with our axes and the fresh

glacier water that we drank ensured an unforgettable experience for all. The Northern Lights are something that many would give much to see. They had proved elusive during the trip owing to bad weather, so we decided to look out for them on the way back to Reykjavik. We were instructed to shout if we saw any bright lights in the enveloping darkness. After a few false calls that turned out to be sightings of the moon, we spotted the Lights. We stopped in a busy car park and waited. An hour later the Lights had all but disappeared. However, as we got back on the bus in lower spirits than usual, we discovered that it had broken down and as we got off to wait for a replacement, the Lights appeared in all their splendour. The moving illuminations produced a spectacular display that was unforgettable – the perfect end to a perfect trip.

Huw was formerly at Wellesley House School, and Fergus and William at The Dragon.