Today I had the pleasure of visiting Latrabjarag, the westernmost part of Europe known for its high cliffs and massive bird populations. On the way over, I ate my fourth double chocolate muffin of the trip, a tasty treat that I have gradually become addicted to. We arrived a little after 11:00. At the height of migration, the cliffs can be occupied by over a million birds. The cliffs are the perfect nesting grounds for migratory birds, offering protection and access to the sea for hunting. As I walked along the cliff's edge, I saw many egg shells and lots of bird droppings.
Puffins, in my opinion, are the cutest things ever. It was so much fun to see them up close in their natural habit. They did not even seem to be nervous that I was there. They seemed to be more curious than anything. If I were afraid of heights, this experience would be truly terrifying. As it was, I felt very comfortable on the cliffs, simply observing the antics of the birds. I took the time to do a detailed sketch of a puffin in my field notebook after thoroughly exploring the cliffs and taking lots of photos.
Towards the end of our visit, Mitchell told me about some seals that he had spotted on some distant rocks. I took my time observing them through the binoculars until it was time to depart.
We stopped at an aircraft museum around 1:45 to use the WC and shop for souvenirs. I purchased a decorative wooden ship for my mother (spoiler alert) and some other gifts for friends.
We stopped at the small fishing village of Patreksfjördur to stock up on groceries and to grab some dinner. To our dismay, the restaurant did not officially open until later in the evening. While we were grocery shopping, our bus driver, Thor came across the owner of Heimsendi Bistro. After talking it over, the owner (who was also the chef) said that he would open the restaurant early for us. All he had to do was run a few errands, including picking up fresh fish from the harbor and purchasing some fresh lamb meat from a nearby farm.
The bistro was tastefully decorated with bright colors and wall art. Most of the group ordered the halibut, but I decided to be adventurous and try out the lamb. This has been the most appetizing meal of the trip by far. The presentation was excellent and the cuisine was a true work of art. The lamb was tender, juicy, and flavorful. The mushroom sauce was a welcome addition to the already perfect pallet. Always the sustainable one, Brightin prevented food waste by eating half of my vegetables. Towards the end of the meal the chef served us coffee "on the house."
We got back to the hostel a little after 7:30, so I took the opportunity to take a much needed shower and fill in my field notebook.
-HET
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