Iceland

I have found a research project that runs during the summer… perhaps this summer!

It’s amazing.
Definately one of the best must see places in the world.

Stunning landscapes of glaciers, waterfalls and lava flows. This is one of my all time favourite countries to visit.

I’m intrigued by all of the geological processes and experiencing life in a place that seems to live with nature.

When I visit next month (August) I envision minimal darkness – around 11pm to 4am. I’m slightly disappointed that I will most likely miss the aurora borealis, but it should be nice to experience this country with plenty of light.

They love their stories here, for the week i was here, i herd story after story, but its all prety interesting and amazing!
Probably one of the most beautiful places, the mountains, undescribale!

i think iceland is the place which suits my spiritual and social life best. but whoever i talk to who visited iceland says same thing: never go there coz they hate turkish ppl.
one of my wishes in the future is to live in iceland, but im really confused bout that. pls can anyone tell me why ppl may feel such a thing?

thx for ur kindly help o/

Like most places on the northern hemisphere Iceland is most visited in late summer when it is the warmest. Apart from the relatively good weather visiting during the summer has a few other advantages such as that outdoors museums (such as Árbæjarsafn), the summer hotels (i.e. Edda Hotels) and the central highland will be open. Due to how close Iceland is to the arctic circle you’ll also have an endless amount of daylight to do your exploring in. ¹

The closeness to the arctic circle also makes the northern lights quite common in Iceland. These you can theoretically see anywhere, the city included, but your chances will be much higher on clear and frosty winter nights, far away from the city’s light pollution. A new and rather pretty source of this light pollution, Yoko Ono’s Peace Tower, can however be seen in the city instead during winter (and on a few other occasions).

The arctic circle does not intersect Iceland proper though. It only intersects the island of Grímsey just north of Iceland. Getting there is relatively painless though, as a ferry goes there every other day from Dalvík just north of Akureyri, “Iceland’s capital of the north”.

Some specific festivities could also be of interest: On the 17th of June Iceland celebrates it’s Independence day, with family oriented festivites all around the country and as with other holidays; downtown Reykjavík becoming totally swamped by people. Those other holidays include amongst others Gay Pride, Women’s Day, May Day, and the excellent Reykjavík Culture Night. In spring there is another excellent festival; the Reykjavík Arts Festival and in winter there are the Airwaves, Jazz, RIFF festivals amongst others. The rather extravagant new-years celebrations are also certainly worth seeing ;-)

The only time which I really can’t recommend for a visit is the first weekend of August. This is a three day weekend called “merchants weekend” or “verslunarmannahelgi” set up by merchants and the service industry as their own “May Day”. All roads, hostels and parking places will fill up on this national exodus towards somewhere unembarrassing to get stone drunk and on the other hand away from the drunks..!

^{1 – Because of this seasonal difference there is no summer and winter time in Iceland and Iceland is in fact always on GMT (Universal Standard) though we’re actually one belt west. Noon and midnight are therefore at 1 o’ clock in most parts of the country and not at 12. The famous midnight sun is therefore the twilight at one}

Having ample hot geothermal water and plenty of long winter nights two of the greatest mainstays in Icelandic culture are the reading and writing of books and bathing and lingering in hot pots (/tubs).

Though a number of other activities have gotten people through the long nights, such as singing and the making of music, the reading and telling of stories and histories (sagas) has had a great place through Icelandic history. This is thankfully still alive and well, with Icelandic literacy at a hundred percent and with Icelanders giving books for any and all imaginable occasions. This for example results in an annual book flood around Christmas and a popular activity during the Christmas holidays is staying in bed reading “the Christmas books”.

Bathing is another popular pasttime and cultural mainstay. As an affirmation of this Saturday is named Laugardagur or Pool-Day in Icelandic. One of the oldest and most notable of pools in Iceland is Snorralaug at Reykholt. Which is also a place to learn about the Sagas, since the lord Snorri Sturluson of Reykholt is likely to have collected and written some of the main ones. Those sagas which are on display however would have to be seen at the Saga exhibition at the national Culture House in Reykjavík.

If you’d like to get involved with this part of Icelandic culture however; whether it is to go to the Blue Lagoon, the swimming pools, gyms or spas, you have to be aware that in all of these places there are shared locker rooms and showers and one is required to strip naked and wash properly before using the facilities. This has, needless to say, created some problems with the cultural descendants of the Victorians..

I can assure you however that the locker rooms are a completely non-sexual environment and that no one will pay the least bit of attention too you in there unless you start doing something strange there such as trying to sneak to the pool without washing or even more ridiculously – try to bathe with your kit on! If anything these are probably the most assured ways to arouse some strange looks and comments.. :P

-If you mange to get to the pools though you shouldn’t be disappointed. Top quality pools with bubbling massage pots, steambaths and saunas are pretty much in every small village and neighborhood these days :-)

There you’ll also find a nice and relaxed atmosphere with locals sitting in the hot pots and chatting, going for their swim, kids playing and even people trying to sunbathe :D

This of course mostly replaces the beach life of warmer places. A small geothermally heated beach with facilities is still available in Nauthólsvík bay in Reykjavik. Reykjavik’s other pools are still more popular :D

Either way a dip in the geothermal waters is a must for the “Icelandic Experience”. Of course for those with less time a single stop at the Blue Lagoon might well do the trick ;-)

I am going on exchange for 8 months there! I was going to choose The Netherlands (which I’ve been to) or Norway or anywhere else but I chose Iceland!

Glaciers, geysers, icebergs, volcanos, geothermal pools… This is definitely one of the most amazing places I’ve been. We rented a car a saw as much of the country as we could – I would recommend it completely! (did I mention the northern lights?)