Last week the new CMM students went on an exciting two-day excursion to the Southern Westfjords. The group left by bus on Monday September 13, starting off with a drive towards Hrafnseyri, birthplace of Iceland's national hero Jón Sigurðsson, and stopping at Dynjandi waterfall in Arnarfjörður fjord.

While listening to the adventurous Gísli saga, the students approached the small town of Patreksfjörður, which includes a newly built local high school, enabling pupils to stay in their home town for their education. After lunch and a stroll through town, the group got a chance to meet with Ásthildur Sturludóttir, mayor of Vesturbyggð municipality, to discuss rural-regional challenges in coastal areas. The afternoon kicked off with a visit to Tálknafjörður, a fishing village with approximately 300 residents, where everyone enjoyed insights into aquaculture and fisheries research by Jon Örn Pálsson, while experiencing a tour on a fishing boat and a hands-on demonstration in feeding the fish in the pens. After having spent three hours on the boat the students relaxed and warmed up in the hot tubs of Tálknafjörður. As the day came to an end, the students had the chance of visiting the Monster Museum in Bíldudalur, where they read eyewitness reports of sea monsters in the Southern Westfjords, while being offered delicious soup and bread. The first day was thus a great success and the students happily went off to get some rest at the cozy guesthouse accommodation in Bíldudalur.

Expecting bad weather on the second day, the group decided after breakfast to postpone the trip to the outdoor museum in Selárdalur and instead go for a beach walk in the beautiful area of Rauðisandur. On the way, the bus stopped shortly in Hvesta, the proposed location for an oil refinery. With packed lunch and weatherproof clothing, the students then strolled off into the stunning region of Rauðisandur. Facing strong winds but luckily good weather otherwise, some students explored the area by wading through the tidal flats, defying the cold water. After this two-hour walk, everyone welcomed lunch and a rest. The day ended with an interesting visit to the museum at Hnjóti, where exciting stories about shipwrecks were told. The long way home was used by most to doze off while travelling along the gorgeous landscape of the Southern Westfjords, the weather being sunny and clear at last.

All in all, the excursion was a great success and the students were thrilled by such a well-planned trip. Special thanks go to mayor Ásthildur Sturludóttir, for taking time for questions and discussions. Moreover, we would like to thank Jón Örn Pálsson, for offering such an informative and exciting insight into fisheries and aquaculture. Thanks are also in order for the guides of the Monster Museum, for taking us into the world of Iceland's sea monsters, and to Sigurbjörg Ásgeirsdóttir, curator at Hnjóti, for the adventurous narratives of the shipwrecks.