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Iceland Travel Blogs

Settled by Norwegian and Celtic immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway, then Denmark, achieving full independence in 1944.

Iceland experiences a rather mild climate for a country on such a northern latitude, yet weather patterns are known to be volatile, conditions changing frequently. During the summer months, Iceland never reaches full darkness, and in northern areas a Midnight Sun can be seen. Iceland's stunning landscape provides areas of geothermal activity, mountains, waterfalls and glaciers. It's cities although small, provide both a taste of traditional culture and the chance to experience the Icelandic way of life.

Highlights

• Gullfoss (The Golden Falls)
• The Jökulsár Lagoon
• Dettifoss
• Vestmannaeyjar
• The Culture House museum - holding a large collection of medieval manuscripts.
• The Blue Lagoon
• Reykjavík

Tips and Hints

Best to travel in the summer months - winter offers near permanent darkness and freezing weather conditions.

Iceland

Map of Iceland

Iceland's Flag

Hostels in Iceland
Latest Iceland Blog Entries
Iceland Photos

By KMyshrall
July 12th 2009

Baaaa Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Reykjavík

I can now say that I have eaten at all of the best restaurants in Iceland. However, I haven't eaten much at any of them. Just got back from one of the top restaurants and ate 2 carrot sticks, the piece of potato and dessert. The rest? Smoked salmon for appetizer and what else, but lamb for dinner. Seriously? I realize that the organizer of this course likes to eat well and doesn't like "typical" foods but when you are ordering for 50 people for 2 1/2 weeks straight, you order some variety. If I never see lamb again, I'd be [View Full Entry]

By KMyshrall
July 11th 2009

Please no more lamb! Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Reykjavík

Thingvellir, the old parliament site

It has been a long couple of days! Yesterday we boarded the bus early to travel back to Reykjavik. We traveled north through a mountain pass (another bumpy, rocky road...I'm pretty sure my brain has dislodged by now!) and following the western coast, stopping at various historical and cultural sites along the way. I'm exhausted right now and can barely remember half of the places so I really can't do them justice in this blog tonight! We focused a lot on the Icelandic Sagas which you're best off looking here for an explanation o [View Full Entry]

Stopping at the top of the mountain pass to place a rock

By KMyshrall
July 11th 2009

Sleep!! Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Reykjavík

Videy Island

Today was great! We continued our lab work starting at 8:30, running some geochemical analyses in the morning. My group finished early so we had over 4 hrs before our next lab session due to the 1 1/2 hour lunch break. I went back to the hotel and took a wonderful 2 hr nap and then stopped to get some quick lunch while walking back to campus. Our next lab session was not quite as successful since our DNA extraction showed no results but based on our other experiments, it wasn't necessarily unexpected due to the environmental conditions. Our last lab [View Full Entry]

By KMyshrall
July 8th 2009

Science out of control Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Landmannalaugar

Today we had a bunch of lectures in the morning on glaciers and the origins of life. After they were over we were having lunch and talking about how we were disappointed that we haven't had any time for real discussions. We've been lectured at but we're not talking! So we began planning a meeting for this evening to have a round table discussion. Before we could do that we went on an excursion to Landmannalaugar to sample from some hot springs, hike a bit on the lava fields, and we could go swimming in the geothermal river. It was another [View Full Entry]

By KMyshrall
July 8th 2009

On the road again... Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Hrauneyjar

Not a lot to write about tonight but I'm not sure I'll be able to post tomorrow so I thought I'd put a quick note up. Today was our last day in Hrauneyjar and we were able to sleep in a bit which was glorious! I slept until 10 and then took a shower and made my way over to the main hotel. The manager here is so incredibly nice and even though breakfast ends at 9, they held it for all of us late risers. We had 2 lectures before lunch about life in ice, rocks and where it may, [View Full Entry]

By KMyshrall
July 6th 2009

Glaciers, Volcanoes, Waterfalls and more! Europe » Iceland » South » Vestmannaeyjar

Midnight sunset behind hotel

Today was amazing! First, I was able to catch the midnight sunset last night which was beautiful right behind our building. We started early and had left the hotel area by 9:00. After driving about 30 minutes on paved roads we turn off of into the inland roads. These are only accessible 2-3 months out of the year and can be closed down at any time depending on volcanic, tectonic, glacial or weather events. We lucked out and they were all open (that usually doesn't happen until late July). We were on our green bus which looks similar to any coach [View Full Entry]

By Bothan Taistil
July 6th 2009

Iceland 2 Europe » Iceland

Gullfoss Waterfalls

Sorry it has been so long we have been busy having fun Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe. ~Anatole France July 6, 2009, Monday, The Farm, to Kerw Crater. to Icelandic Ponies, to Skalholt Church, to Geysir, to Gulfoss, to Pinavellis, NP, to Reykjavik, to Hertz, to our apartment in Reykjavik, Iceland. Breakfast at the farm is 8 to 9, we are awake at 5 AM, so we decide to eat our banana and begin our tour of Iceland. Our first stop along 35 is Krew Crater, a 55 meter deep volcanic crater, about [View Full Entry]

By KMyshrall
July 5th 2009

The End of the World Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Reykjavík

Geysir area

I actually wrote this last night but am just getting a chance to upload it! Hi everyone, Well today was a long, fun and interesting day. After my last post we innoculated our samples. After the past week of feeling like an idiot, it felt great to watch the astrophysicists have no clue what was going on during the microbiology lecture and lab and have to ask us questions!! After that we had lunch and headed back to the hotel to get our bags (they were very nice to let us leave one small thing each behind so they can enjoy [View Full Entry]

By KMyshrall
July 5th 2009

Yay for geology! Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Reykjavík

View from Hotel Highland

Today was actually a lot of fun even though we only had lectures. The bugs from hell got way worse and the hotel was incredibly smart and started selling us mosquito netting headcovers for 500 Krona. Totally worth the $4!! We had lectures throughout the day on glaciers, volcanoes, and climate change. It is so nice to have geology lectures and know what is going on. We were quite enjoying when the astrophysicists were asking questions such as "What's ENSO mean" and "Why is Iceland even here" (geologically speaking of course). After a week of barely understanding, it's great to be [View Full Entry]

By KMyshrall
July 4th 2009

Moving on Europe » Iceland » Southwest » Reykjavík

Feeling much better today. Not 100% but good enough to get moving this morning. I was sick until about 2PM yesterday and finally got smart and opened the windows to let some air in, and then ran to the store to get some crackers and stuff, packed and slept all afternoon and night. I vaguely remember waking up when my roommate got back around midnight, fell back asleep, and didn´t wake up until it was just about time to head to breakfast. They had to split the groups for lab work this morning so I´m in the computer lab playing on [View Full Entry]

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