And now...the 100 best things in Iceland.
Oct 4th, 2001, 10:30 AM
#41
Guest
Posts: n/a
Gullfoss is part of the Golden Circle - kind of near Pingvellir (I'm sure I'm spelling that wrong) National Park. Ask anyone when you are there - not a far drive from Reykjavik. <BR> <BR>There are plenty of tour itineraries that you could go on, or replicate on Sunday. I'd take a rest if you'll be busy other days and hang out at the Blue Lagoon. Though it might be a bit warm now, I gotta say that sitting in 100 degree water in March in -10 degree weather was pretty cool. Never thought I'd wear both a bathing suit and my ski hat together...quite a site! They also have a lovely looking restaurant there.
Oct 11th, 2001, 06:17 PM
#45
Guest
Posts: n/a
Okay, Escritora, you've got number 64! Jen, thanks for your glowing contributions. (By the way, the beginning of the parliament place is an Icelandic letter that looks like {according to one guide} a "pregnant i", but it's pronounced like the th in "thing" and is usually spelled like that for the non-Icelandic) <BR> I've got a few more to add after a renewing visit, October 5th to 10th. <BR>65. Rainbows!!! <BR>66. the view from Hallgrim's church bell tower--especially at noon with the carillon going wild above your head <BR>67. the kid's park and zoo at Laugardalur <BR>68. an official city guide that includes how to say the phrase "you're cute" in Icelandic, English, and German <BR>69. black sand beaches, with cliffs and caves <BR>70. soup, soup, beautiful soup <BR>71. the tapestry that autumn makes of the low growing plants <BR>72. "Our only army is the Salvation Army" <BR>73. dogsledding available! <BR>74. tap water that's better than most bottled water <BR>75. the puffiest, fluffiest sheep ever-- they're so cute! <BR>76. skyr--sorta like yogurt, only a lot better <BR>77. sculpture in many public places <BR>78. greenhouses that grow tropical plants and flowers, just a few degrees below the Arctic Circle <BR>79. a special glowing quality to the light--but it's not there for too long this time of year! <BR>80. waterfalls of all kinds--including one you can walk behind <BR>81. a glacier that is black due to volcanic ash--land of fire and ice incarnate! <BR>82. the little steam engine that could, sitting at the harbor <BR>83. extremely exhilarating wind (and even rain--but do wear something to cover your ears) <BR>This is just off the top of my jet-lagged head--maybe I'll make it to a hundred this time. Or maybe I'll just go back sometime, and actually get to the north!
Oct 12th, 2001, 05:38 AM
#51
Guest
Posts: n/a
<BR>61:have afternoon tea in the tiny cafe by candle light on the top of towering spire of Hallgrimskirkja church,overview miles of miles of Reykjavik. <BR> <BR>62:riding Icelandic horse on purple Lupins covered meadows or lava fields. <BR> <BR>63:catching trouts in the crystal clear glacier stream. <BR> <BR>64:hiking on black sand deserts with giantic black and white glaciers by the skyline. <BR> <BR>65. visiting tiny fishing ports along the picturesque fjords on the east coast. <BR> <BR>BTilke: Iceland is for all seasons, but if you really like to appreciate the magnificient sceneries ,summer will be a better choice for the long daylight and open roads. <BR> <BR>
Oct 12th, 2001, 03:35 PM
#53
Guest
Posts: n/a
Just reminded of one for #90 by an e-mail I received... <BR>90. low population density! (oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above; don't fence me in) <BR>91. And speaking of starry skies, aurora borealis can be seen here--but alas, not when I was there (the nights weren't clear or cold enough) <BR>For a one-time deal, I'd choose summer, I think, because it's only then that Thor's Woods (Thorsmork) is accessible, plus you get all those lovely long sunlit days. On the other hand, I do agree that any time would be great!
Oct 14th, 2001, 07:33 PM
#55
Guest
Posts: n/a
Escritora's comment piqued my interest and so had to go surfin'. Yup, there really is an Icelandic Phallological Museum. <BR> <BR>http://www.ismennt.is/not/phallus/ens.htm <BR>See for yourself !!!
Oct 17th, 2001, 06:53 PM
#57
Guest
Posts: n/a
Catching up on a few of the questions... <BR>I don't actually have a list of my top 10 seafood places, as some of the best were in farmhouses and little spots in the fishing villages. Hotel Island's restaurant was good five years ago (haven't been since) and Laederbrekker and Caruso in the downtown area of Reykjavik were very good. One of the top-ranked restaurants in the world is in one of the hotels there-- Siggi Hall's Odinsve, I believe it's called--but I haven't had the luck to get there yet! <BR>Mo, it's a five hour flight from the east coast. Icelandair and Amtrak do a codeshare to BWI that works really well from my area, and they also fly out of New York. <BR>And... <BR>95. Hot chocolate with whipped cream and a flakey pastry from the bakery along the main street while you're waiting for your hotel...and then being able to check in at 9:30AM! Calloo, callay!! (Of course, this was probably due to it being off-season, but still!) Also, hotel breakfasts are pretty good and sustaining. <BR>
Oct 29th, 2001, 03:45 PM
#58
Guest
Posts: n/a
95.) One the of the Government web pages (I forget which one) actually advised tourists that Icelandic women can be "dangerously friendly". <BR> <BR>96.) The Irish pub, where you can sit at any table, speak to anyone, and no one buys individual drinks... everyone offers to get the next round for the whole table. <BR> <BR>97.) The sheep round ups. Oh man... best part of our trip! <BR> <BR>It was great, they really don't have a lot of fences there in Iceland, so the farmers jump on their horses, and just start rounding up sheep that are roaming the country side. Many of the locals show up to help round up sheep into a central area and start grabbing them in this big cement circle where they all are sorted by ear tags. If you find one that's yours, you grab it by the horn and drag it to your pen. I'll never forget seeing a tall, beuatiful icelandic woman who, at 9:00AM had a tall can of beer in one hand and a sheep by the horns in her other hand! <BR>
Oct 30th, 2001, 04:58 AM
#60
Guest
Posts: n/a
99. The low crime rate - we left our camera in the taxi from the airport to Reykjavik, told our hotel of this, and they replied 'oh, there's only 1 taxi company that services the airport - what kind of car did you drive in, and was it a male or female driver?' Once we had given those facts, a phone call was made to the taxi company, and our camera was returned an hour later. Unreal!
