Our volcano bear dance didn’t do anything to wake the volcano. Onto plan B – look for the elves, otherwise known as Huldufólk.

According to a National Geographic survey in 2017, over 50% still believe in Huldufólk! As a spirit bear, I support the Huldufólk!

So we went to look for them at Strandakirkja, which is located on the south coast of Iceland.

This church is creepy. I immediately felt like I was in a scene right out of Diablo. But it’s creepier when I’m not in a game. Originally built in the 12th century, I found out later it’s known as the Miracle church, known for its divine powers. Maybe that’s what I felt.

We found the elf houses around the back. Better make an offering!

I like these bear size elf homes!

The next place we picked out made no sense at all. Apparently we were going to Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River.

And turns out you can’t just drive to the hot springs. You needed to hike 40 minutes to one hour uphill.

No one actually was actually ready to go into the hotsprings, but up the trail we went, only to be pounded in the face by wind the entire walk up.

“Are you enjoying this?” I make a point of asking my bud every few steps against the wind.

We get there eventually, look at a lot of people sitting in the water and turn around.

Then it was back towards Reykjavik, where my bud tells me he got me a hot cocoa.

I took a sniff. Yep. Not hot cocoa. It was a hot coffee spiked with Brennivín. Tricked. I smack my bud. Adam drinks it instead. I smack my bud again.

And then Anna and Adam took off to a bubble hotel, and we drove to the last stop of the night, Garður a small fishing town located close to the Keflavik airport.

“Set your expectations low,” Pokin tells us.

Turned out not to be that bad at all! “Better wood panelling than at Ranga,” said my bud.

I agreed. We were all pleasantly surprised. Then we went to bed.

The next morning I took one last glance at the lighthouse –

Homeward bound!

And concludes my account of our 3rd trip to Iceland, where no volcano erupted.