How does Axel describe Iceland in Journey to the Center of the Earth?

Axel leaves
for Iceland on the 2nd of June on the Danish Schooner Valkyrie. On the 11th
of June, with sharks and whales circling the boat (page 46), he catches his first glimpse of the
Iceland coast, seeing the Portland Cape and behind it the famous ice cap
Myrdels-jokull.

48 hours later, the schooner stops at Faxa Bay and Axel
makes his way to Reykjavik. After being greeted by a few...