thePULSEIceland
The Hottest Place You Never Thought to Visit
January 2006 –
Hiking, great food, partying, amazing scenery, beautiful people, partying, cheap flights, the Blue Lagoon, partying, architecture, four wheeling through amazing outback locations, bathing suits in February, partying and…oh yeah, did I mention partying? Am I talking about Fort Lauderdale? Nope. Vegas? No again. Daytona, London, New Hampshire or Maine? Not even close.
No kids, we’re talking ICELAND. That’s right, Iceland. Do people actually go there, you ask? Aren’t there Eskimos, penguins, and igloos? Isn’t that where Santa Claus lives? Take my word for it, Iceland is not what you think and most importantly, yes, you will be wearing your bathing suit OUTSIDE in the winter. And guess what, you’ll probably have a beer in your hand (FYI, the locals prefer Heineken for lagoon swimming, so when in Rome…)
Okay, let’s start getting specific. Iceland has quickly become one of the hippest international destinations thanks to smart marketing, fabulous location, (halfway from here to Europe), cheap non-stop flights on a cool European airline (right out of Boston) and a range of activities and nightlife more unique than just about anywhere on the planet. And if you think that the weather matches the country’s name, think again. There are no Eskimos to be found ~ Here’s a weird fact about our two of our island neighbors to the north east – Iceland is actually green and Greenland is actually the land of ice. There’s a lot of speculation as to why Iceland got “stuck” with such a cold name ~ maybe it was an “anti-marketing” scheme to preserve its great beauty by discouraging heavy immigration ~ but regardless, remember that its name is misleading.
So, what’s there to do? Well, if taking in the spectacular architecture reminiscent of a Russian city complete with onion-domed roofs, the winding streets and a backdrop of huge mountains pouring into the sea isn’t enough for you, you’re in luck, starting with the club scene ~ with a cool and compact downtown, the capitol of Reykjavík (Ray-kyah-vik) attracts a huge international crowd and is legendary for its nightlife. Plan on spending a whole weekend just having fun ~ partying at one of the city’s nightclubs, hanging with a cool and stylish crowd (there are no wallflowers here – everyone is up and dancing their asses off!) and then walking outside to a carnival-like atmosphere of the streets. The visitors’ guide warns incoming tourists that Icelanders and their friends take enjoying their evening libations very seriously, and it isn’t kidding (just try a little something called Black Death at your first bar and you’ll see what I mean)!
Now that you have a plan for you nighttime hours, you can take advantage of the other Icelandic marvels ~ like riding a Jeep (for rent throughout Reykjavik) through lava fields or swimming in steaming volcanic pools.
One of the must-see spots is The Blue Lagoon, halfway between Reykjavik and the airport at Keflavik. It’s more than a hot spring ~ it’s a surreal experience, a spa where you’ll plunge into a pool of geothermally heated 100-degree waters and steam so thick you can’t see more than a foot (or the person) in front of you. The Lagoon is an indulgence for all the senses, an outdoor dream where you can relax with friends (old or new!) in the steaming, bubbling water while holding your Heineken and floating in peace. This is not an experience you’re likely to repeat soon, and definitely not here in the US. Words can’t really do it justice, so hit www.bluelagoon.com/ and check it out.
Another must do is the Golden Circle, a two hour drive from the capital that takes in many of the island’s other natural wonders: Gullfoss, Geysir, and Thingvellir. Gullfoss is a huge waterfall with a perpetual rainbow hovering above it; Geysir (source of the word geyser) is a high-pressure hot spring that shoots 50 feet into the air every 10 minutes. Thingvellir, though less active than the first two members of the trio, is the most dramatic: It’s the actual line separating Europe from America, a series of rifts in the earth along which Iceland is growing (it’s also the site of the ancient Viking parliament, complete with a crystal-blue lake surrounded by lava fields). Speaking of the lava fields, heading out just about anywhere in Iceland is a truly surreal experience, really only duplicated on the big island of Hawaii in the South Pacific. Iceland is so volcanic that much of the land-mass is actually jet-black, dried lava flows, making it feel as though you’re on another planet or on the moon.
Be sure to make time in between your outdoor adventures and your club time to appreciate the local culture. With museums, music, and culinary options at one of Europe’s highest percentages per capita (there are only about 250,000 people on the island), there is something for everyone. And since during most of the year the sun really doesn’t set here (and even in the winter it basically just dims for a few hours), it would be a shame not to fill up every possible hour of the day exploring, tasting, experiencing, and enjoying everything that this amazing country has to offer.
With great fares and a short non-stop ride from the US, Iceland is one destination worth getting hot over (sorry, I couldn’t resist). These websites will help get you started: The Tourist Board at www.goiceland.org will give you recreation info, the nightlife info, maps and all the rest and www.icelandair.com will hook you up with air and hotel packages starting under $400.
So, grab your swimsuit (any month of the year ~ the colder the better) and your more adventurous friends ~ and head off for a one-of-a-kind vacation in a one-of-a-kind place!
