Iceland bargains

[jonogmun]

It has been interesting to read the comments from you all about the situation in Iceland. There is no question that the situation is precarious here. Some say that we are on the brink of collapse but that is being pessimistic. We are getting help from friends abroad, especially from our good cousins in Scandinavia.
I went for a walk in Reykjavik earlier this afternoon and found out that the light was not depressed, the cold was just as before and the people were exactly the same. We have noticed that tourists are coming to visit and I have seen that many of them carry a camera.
Windscale, I can assure you that there is absolutely no risk of rioting or violence here. Visitors are welcome and even your prime minister, bless his soul, would be safe.

Jon

 

[Fintan]

I went for a walk in Reykjavik earlier this afternoon and found out that the light was not depressed, the cold was just as before and the people were exactly the same.

Jon

You have our best wishes Jon, thanks for posting.

Fintan

 

[Windscale]

It has been interesting to read the comments from you all about the situation in Iceland. There is no question that the situation is precarious here. Some say that we are on the brink of collapse but that is being pessimistic. We are getting help from friends abroad, especially from our good cousins in Scandinavia.
I went for a walk in Reykjavik earlier this afternoon and found out that the light was not depressed, the cold was just as before and the people were exactly the same. We have noticed that tourists are coming to visit and I have seen that many of them carry a camera.
Windscale, I can assure you that there is absolutely no risk of rioting or violence here. Visitors are welcome and even your prime minister, bless his soul, would be safe.

Jon

I have wanted to visit for the past 10 years or so, if just to soak myself in the famous Blue Lagoon. But somehow we ended up in other places, many in Scandinavia. It was just a combination of circumstances as we were not able to come during your holiday season. I don't think I can quite stand up to your winter. I hope all will go well and you chaps get all your money back. Such words as "rioting" and "violence" have not been used by me in this thread. Just that I have always avoided going to places where the tensions are high. I am sure things will improve and one (summer) day soon you will see me there - wearing my little camera and my walking stick!

 

[Antje]

Windscale, I can assure you that there is absolutely no risk of rioting or violence here. Visitors are welcome and even your prime minister, bless his soul, would be safe.

LOL Great to read you haven't lost your humour.

I know you'll pull through - you have the resources and the ingeniousness.

Antje

 

[benjiboy]

So I should postpone my trip to the UK & USA until things improve?

LOL, I really like your wry sense of humour goldie

 

[Bob F.]

<snip> Visitors are welcome and even your prime minister, bless his soul, would be safe.

Jon

Probably a lot safer than he is here, at the moment!

 

[keithwms]

Iceland reservations.... Jan1-9 2009

Well, I have gone ahead with my Iceland reservations; I'll be in Reykjavik from 1-9 January, 2009. I'll be accompanied by family, friends and maybe also some students. I guess I'll schlep some cameras

Anyone interested in meeting there: the airfare from Boston is about $650 roundtrip, and by the looks of it ~12-15 seats were still available when I reserved.

Very affordable and comfortable accomodation can be had at the hostel on Sundlaugavegur in Reykjavik. Private rooms are available.

Attractions:

Northern lights
Geysir
Gullfoss waterfall, likely frozen
Blue lagoon & spa
American/European tectonic plate divide
Daily earthquakes to entertain...
Reykjavik night life...
...and much more.

Avg. daily high temps: ~35F. Balmy. But 100F+ is likely in several parts of the lagoon

 

[johnnywalker]

But beware. A country that is economically unstable may soon be socially and politically unstable. Poverty may bring forth public disorder. I have wanted to go there for a long time and never went. Now I think I will think twice. Imagine going to a place where all the local residents have lost their money!!!

I guess you don't travel much.

 

[tim_walls]

Visitors are welcome and even your prime minister, bless his soul, would be safe.

In fairness to our prime minister - who I despise - there are two sides to every story. I have a friend whose savings were on deposit in an Icelandic bank; he transferred some money out before the collapse of the banks - the Icelandic bank in question actually reversed the transaction to re-appropriate the money, went silent, and then the Icelandic government came out and said "the guarantees we gave overseas investors will not be honoured, we're looking after number 1 first." Fair enough, but it is a bit rich to then complain if the response is "fair enough, we're looking after number 1 as well then."


Anyway, Iceland is a beautiful country, and my experience was also that the people are wonderful and friendly. If there's one thing we should all learn, the acts of our governments - whatever country you're from - are rarely a reflection on the populace...

 

[Steve Smith]

Brown obviously can't tell the difference in pronounciation between Terrorism and Tourism.

Judging by your spelling, you can't pronounce pronunciation either! (Sorry, My ironic, pedantic gene took over).

But beware. A country that is economically unstable may soon be socially and politically unstable. Poverty may bring forth public disorder. I have wanted to go there for a long time and never went. Now I think I will think twice. Imagine going to a place where all the local residents have lost their money!!!

Hilarious!



Steve.

 

[hughitb]

Hilarious!

Steve.

I know! I thought it was a wind-up at first ...

Anyway, what's a guy going to do now that the whole world is "economically unstable"?? Jet off into space??

 

[bill schwab]

Well, I have gone ahead with my Iceland reservations; I'll be in Reykjavik from 1-9 January, 2009.

Have a great time Kieth! I'm sure you're aware that you'll have only about 4 hours of daylight per day while there, so plan your day trips accordingly. It is a beautiful time to go, but much of your stay will be in the dark.

Have fun!

 

[keithwms]

Thanks Bill. Yes, I've been twice before in the midwinter... and I love the low, dramatic light. Even when it's dark, there are wonderful things to photograph: illuminated graves (an icelandic tradition), frequent fireworks (also a tradition, to scare away the darkness), the auroras, the nightlife.

Unfortunately, the times that I was there before, I had naught more than a digital p&s. This time I'll do it right

 

[bill schwab]

Thanks Bill. Yes, I've been twice before in the midwinter... and I love the low, dramatic light.

You must be even more excited then! Yes... the light is very strange and wonderful to those of us here in the south. Last time I was there in winter, I actually got Spring Fever! Coming from Michigan I was surprised by the balmy weather and lack of snow in the south. Different story out on Snaefellsnes though! Lots of snow and really cccooold.

Have fun and be safe!!

 

[Windscale]

Just saw in today's news that the Icelanders have again taken to the streets in protest. Hope they will keep calm.

 

[Antje]

Just saw in today's news that the Icelanders have again taken to the streets in protest. Hope they will keep calm.

Did they bring axes? Or get any fairly flat looking ships with one big sail on ready? *That* is the time when we should start worrying...

Antje, planning to stay clear of the north coast until economy settles

 

[Shangheye]

Keith, Something to do with staying over a saturday night. I have never understood it, but it is a consistent feature of airfares. If your flight includes a weekend, it's cheaper...maybe because the assumption is then that you are not a business traveller...I would love to go to Iceland, but already have commitments in Scotland (minus northern lights or geisers) ;-)K

 

[xtolsniffer]

Last time I was there in June I had a wonderful time taking available light macro of little flowers and ferns at 3am, if you go in summer you never run out of daylight! I've never seen a country with so many things to photograph.

 

[thefizz]

if you go in summer you never run out of daylight! I've never seen a country with so many things to photograph.

I'll second that.

 

[keithwms]

Indeed, I was there in the summer and let me say, it's almost too exhausting! So much light, so many opportunities to hike! I mean, 11pm rolls around and you can go for a hike. Amazing. It can also kill you though, when you really have no desire to sleep!

Now the winter is perfect for late-sleepers like me. Sleep 'til 9 or 10am, get up (still before the sunrise!), have a one hour breakfast, go out, enjoy the scenery...

Fingers crossed on the aurora this time.

Oh, Windscale, I am not worried about the rampaging icelanders. After reading some of the sagas I am quite sure that they have mellowed considerably.

 

[Windscale]

Did they bring axes? Or get any fairly flat looking ships with one big sail on ready? *That* is the time when we should start worrying...

Antje, planning to stay clear of the north coast until economy settles

I was merely stating an observation of a factual event and expressing a hope. If other people would like to draw conclusions on my behalf or draw further inferences, so be it and most welcome to do so.

 

[Antje]

I was merely stating an observation of a factual event and expressing a hope. If other people would like to draw conclusions on my behalf or draw further inferences, so be it and most welcome to do so.

Hey, don't worry about that - demonstrations are a healthy sign of democracy. You should see Berlin on May 1st. Now *that* is a mob.

Antje

 

[Windscale]

Hey, don't worry about that - demonstrations are a healthy sign of democracy. You should see Berlin on May 1st. Now *that* is a mob.

Antje

Of course, we fought a war to enable that to happen!

 

[keithwms]

Some of us are still fighting....

 

[Antje]

Of course, we fought a war to enable that to happen!

Hey, don't mention the war! Uhm, we Germans never attacked Iceland, as far as I know... too cold, too far away, too many sheep...

Antje (I couldn't resist the Faulty Towers quote, sorry)