reykjavik, iceland - the perfect time to visit

Luxury Experience http://luxuryexperience.com/

Created by: Debra C. Argen

Reykjavik, Iceland - The Perfect Time to Visit

Icelandwith its dramatic landscape created by volcanic eruptions has a rugged, natural beauty that iswaiting for adventurers to discover its Icelandic horses, waterfalls, hot springs, lava caves, and glaciers, and for those that prefer more urban adventures, Reykjavik, the capital city, offers excellent shopping, culture, museums, and diverse gastronomical possibilities. With the weakened IcelandicKrona and a stronger US Dollar and Euro, there has never been a better time to visit this unique country.

Having experienced Iceland several years ago, Edward and I decided that it was time for us to revisit thiswonderful country that provides visitors with so many reasons to visit. Iceland is the 18th largest island inthe world, covers 39,750 square miles, and is located 180 miles east of Greenland and 600 miles west ofNorway. Contrary to its foreboding name, glaciers only cover one-ninth of its surface although Vatnajokull,the largest glacier in Europe and the size of the state of Rhode Island, covers 3,300 square miles. It is aland of natural beauty that is waiting for you to discover its 10,000 waterfalls, geysers spouting steam fromthe earth's core, 17 active volcanoes, 10 million puffins, 100,000 Icelandic horses, and thousands of hotsprings.

In September 2009, Edward and I flew Icelandairwith its convenient 5 hour 45 minute direct flight from NewYork (JFK, Terminal 7) to Reykjavik. Gracious service began at the check-in counter, and continued in thelounge, which Icelandair shares with British Airways in New York.

After a short but comfortable flight where Edward slept and I practiced my Icelandic, which was part of theIcelandair entertainment system, we picked up our Budget Rental Carat the Keflavik Airport and withEdward in the driver's seat drove the short distance of 34 miles (55 km) to our hotel where the passinglandscape enthralled us with its early morning beauty. Rugged lava formations gave way to rich greenmoss, golden grasses, and a rocky coastline that was exquisite in its severity. As we reached the citycenter and neared our hotel we noticed an enormous rainbow over Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church inIceland, as if Iceland was welcoming us back.

Rainbow over Hallgrímskirkja

We stayed at the Hotel Holta distinguished Reykjavik landmark since it opened in 1965 and holds thedistinction of having the largest privately owned collection of Icelandic art, which includes sculpture,carpets, and paintings that grace the walls of the public spaces of the hotel, the 40 rooms and 12 suites,and the acclaimed The Gallery Restaurant which features French-inspired cuisine by Chef Fridgeir IngiEriksson who competed as Iceland's Candidate in the prestigious Bocuse d'Or 2007 competition in Lyon,France, and brings his culinary excellence and artistry to the elegant fine dining restaurant.

of 29 - Print date: 14 October 2021 Luxury Experience http://luxuryexperience.com/

http://www.icelandtouristboard.com/

http://www.icelandair.com/

http://www.budget.is/

http://www.hallgrimskirkja.is/



http://www.holt.is/



The Gallery Restaurant

The hotel's inviting wood paneled Library is lined with books and features an impressive collection of rareCognacs and Armagnacs that are sure to please connoisseurs; the sitting room provides a comfortableoasis to relax by the fireplace in a comfortable leather chair to enjoy a late afternoon coffee, and the Bar isperfect to enjoy a pre-dinner aperitif or post-dinner cocktail.

Hotel Holt

Although the hotel has old-world charm, technology is state of the state of the art with complimentary WIFIInternet access in the guestrooms and a Business Center in the Lobby.

Located on a quiet street a short 5-minute stroll from the city center and the main shopping streets, theHotel Holt provided us with the perfect location to easily explore Reykjavik, and is perfect for business aswell as leisure travelers.

Read about Hotel Holt and The Gallery Restaurant in the Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, and Chefs'Recipessections where Chef Fridgeir Ingi Eriksson shares a delicious taste of The Gallery Restaurant in Englishand in Icelandic.

Hotel HoltBergstadastraeti 37101 Reykjavik, Iceland


http://www.Holt.is/



Telephone:+354-552-5700Fax:+354-562-3025Email:[email protected]

Culture abounds in Reykjavik and we had the good fortune of being in the city during the ReykjavikInternational Film Festival, which ran from the 17th until the 27th of September 2009. ReykjavikInternational Film Festival (RIFF) was founded in 2004 by a group of film enthusiasts and professionals withthe goal of creating an annual international film festival in Reykjavik. Now in its sixth year, the festival is sosuccessful that it attracts filmmakers and film lovers from around the globe.

Reykjavik International Film Festival (RIFF)Frikirkjuvegur 1101 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+354-411-7055Email: [email protected]

Reykjavik also offers great diversity in its museums, many of which have free entrance, or free entrancewith the purchase of Reykjavik Welcome Cardsthat may be purchased for 24, 48, or 72 hours whichprovide free or discounted admission to museums and attractions, discounts at restaurants and shops, andmore.

To have an appreciation of the development of Reykjavik, we visited The Settlement Exhibition (DieSiedlungsausstellums)and learned about Reykjavik 871 + 2, which refers to the dating of the volcanic ashfound from 871 with a range of 2 years of error, and saw the exhibition "Step into the Viking Age" with manyinteresting artifacts and information provided in Icelandic and English.

The Settlement Exhibition Artifacts

The Settlement Exhibition is open daily from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. Admission is charged. Adults: 600 Kr,Seniors (67+) and Children (13 - 18): 300 Kr, Children (2 - 12 accompanied by adults): Free, Groups (10+):450 Kr. Free entrance with the ReykjavikWelcome Card.

The Settlement Exhibition (Die Siedlungsausstellums)Adalstraeti 16101 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+354-411-6370Fax:+354-411-6371Email:[email protected]

Another interesting museum is The Cultural House (National Center for Cultural Heritage)where we sawtheir Medieval Manuscripts (Eddas and Sagas through the Ages) exhibit, which provided an informativelook into Icelandic history. The people of Iceland speak Norse (now called Icelandic), which is the same


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.Holt.is/

http://www.riff.is/

http://www.riff.is/


http://www.riff.is/

http://www.visitreykjavik.is/

http://www.reykjavik871.is/


http://www.Reykjavik871.is/



http://www.thjodmenning.is/



language as their Viking ancestors, and is the oldest living language in Europe.

The Culture House

The manuscripts show that Icelandic poets were at the Royal Courts, and that skaldic poetry resembledcourtly poetry of Ireland. The exhibits also included information on the runic carvings dated as early as the4th century AD and are the oldest records of the Nordic language.

We found the preserved vellums of the sagas of the kings, the saga of Greenland relating the tale of Leifthe Lucky's explorations of Vinland (North America), and St. Margaret's Saga for women in childbirth to bevery fascinating.

The museum is open daily from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. There is an elevator in the building for easyaccessibility. Admission is charged. Adults: 300 Kr, Seniors and Students: 200 Kr, Free entrance for visitorsunder 18, Free entrance on Wednesday, and Free entrance anytime with the ReykjavikWelcome Card.

The Cultural House (National Center for Cultural Heritage)Hverfisgata 15101 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+ 354-545-1400Fax:+ 354-545-1401Email:[email protected]

We also enjoyed visiting the National Museum of Iceland (Das Landesmuseum Museum Von Island)where we saw many fascinating exhibitions including one about the epidemics and plagues noting thehistory of the Black Death that occurred between 1402 - 1404 AD that killed half of the population, and thesecond plague that took place between 1494 - 1495 AD which was less severe; as well as The MedievalChurch; and artifacts from the Viking Age 800 - 1000 AD that included bronze jewelry, brooches, anddecorated weapons.



http://www.Thjodmenning.is/

http://www.natmus.is/



The National Museum of Iceland

The National Museum of Iceland is open daily from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (May 1st - September 15th), andfrom 11:00 am - 5:00 pm with the exception of Mondays (September 16th - April 30th). Admission ischarged. Adults: 800 Kr, Seniors, Handicapped, Students, and Groups (10+): 400 Kr, Free entrance onWednesday, and anytime with ReykjavikWelcome Card.

National Museum of IcelandSudargata 41101 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+354-530-2200www.Natmus.is

The Reykjavik Art Museum (Reykjavik Kunstmuseum)was also of great interest. One of the manyinteresting exhibitions that we saw was The Crated Rooms In Iceland - Yoshitomo Nara + Yng (exhibitionruns until January 3, 2010) where the room-size installation requires visitors to view the contemporary artthrough the holes, windows, and the doors of wooden crates.

Visiting the Reykjavik Art Museum

The Reykjavik Art Museum (Reykjavik Kunstmuseum) is open daily from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm with extendedhours on Thursday until 10:00 pm. Entrance is free.

Reykjavik Art Museum

Reykjavik Art Museum (Reykjavik Kunstmuseum)Tryggvagata 17101 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+354-590-1200


http://www.thjodmenning.is/

http://www.lisatsafnreykjavikur.is/



Email:[email protected]

One of the main Reykjavik landmarks is Hallgrímskirkja, an impressive church with its soaring white peak,located at the top of the fashionable street, Skólavörðholti. It is the largest church in Iceland and features a73-meter tower. Although architect Gu�jón Samúelsson (1887-1950) was commissioned to design thechurch in 1937, actual construction began in 1945, with completion 38 years later.

Hallgrímskirkja

Of particular note are the two organs, a small chancel organ built by Th. Frobenius & Sönner of Lynby,Denmark added in 1985, and a large concert organ made by Johannes Klais organ builders of Bonn,Germany added in 1992. Also of importance are the sculptures by Einar Jónsson, and the stained glass byLeifur Brei�fjör�.

HallgrímskirkjaSkólavörðholti 651121 ReykjavikIcelandTelephone:+354-510-1000Fax:+354-510-1010Email:[email protected]

Opposite Hallgrímskirkja, is the Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museumfeaturing the work of Einar Jónsson(1874-1954), who was Iceland's first sculptor. Although we have yet to be in Reykjavik when the museumwas open, we always enjoy visiting the outdoor Sculpture Garden, which is open daily year round. There isfree admission to the garden. Entrance to the Sculpture Garden is located on Freyjusgata.

The Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum (Fur by Eggert Feldskeri)



http://www.ListasafnReykjavikur.is



http://www.Hallgrimskirkja.is/

http://www.skulptur.is/



The Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum is open from June 1 - 15th September from Tuesday - Sunday from2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, and September 16 - May 31 on Saturday and Sunday from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Themuseum is closed for the months of December and January. Admission is charged.

The Einar Jónsson Sculpture MuseumEiríksgata (across from the Hallgrímskirkja)Telephone:+354-551-3797Fax:+354-562-3909Email:[email protected]

Of course, there is more to Reykjavik than just cultural attractions, there is shopping. The main shoppingstreets are Skólavörðustígur, Bankasræti, and Laugavegur that are lined with fashionable upscaleboutiques and art galleries.

One of our favorite shops to visit in Reykjavik is Eggert Feldskeri (Eggert the Furrier), owned by theinternationally renowned furrier Eggert Jóhannsson who is one of the foremost professional designers inhis field and creates bespoke furs for men and women, as well as offers prêt-à-porter coats, jackets, andother fur accessorizes. For the past 30 years, Eggert has attracted a loyal clientele who travel to Iceland forthe high quality he maintains and for his unique.

Eggert Feldskeri

His shop windows beckon invitingly like a mermaid's siren call; it is impossible for us to pass by withoutstopping. Inside the shop, his fur designs dazzle the eye as he always has something new that he has justcreated. He was one of the first designers to use what is now known as ocean leather, namely salmon,perch, and cod, which he uses to add to add interest to his fur designs.

Eggert Feldskeri Showroom



http://www.Skulptur.is/

http://www.furrier.is/



Eggert Feldskeri belongs to The Kopenhagen Purple Club, (an elite club of the top 100 furriers in the world)and his quality and reputation stand behind his luscious creations. He specializes in high-quality mink andwild skins and if fur is your passion, a visit to Eggert Feldskeri should be on your Reykjavik "must visit' list.

Read about fur designer Eggert Feldskeri in the Fashionsection.

Eggert FeldskeriSkólavörðustígur 38101 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+ 354-551-1121Fax:+ 354-551-1355Email:[email protected]

The iconic Icelandic designs feature heavily in wool hats, sweaters, and knitted garments, and the familyowned shop Diza by Alprjón, owned by Asdis Loftsdottir, caught our eye with its attractive shop windowswhere Keli, the adorable black and white family cat greeted us at the door. The shop's motto is "Knitted withpride" and during our visit we watched with fascination as daughter, Adalheidur Steina Gudmundsdóttir,knitted a new creation.

Adalheidur Steina Gudmundsdó

ttir of Diza byAlprj


fashion_scene/fashion_scene/eggert_the_furrier.html


http://www.furrier.is/

http://www.diza.is/

http://www.diza.is/

http://www.diza.is/



ón

Diza by AlprjónDesigners CornerLaugavegi 44101 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+ 354-551-1121Fax:+ 354-551-1355Email:[email protected]

For a city with a population of approximately 120,000, the restaurant scene in Reykjavik is exciting andvibrant with restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. We dined at restaurants that showcase thecreative spirit of the talented chefs of Iceland, whose restaurants are as unique as their culinary styles.Alas, we were only able to scratch the surface of the many wonderful restaurants of Reykjavik, whichprovides us with yet another reason to return to this charming city.

For lunch, we went to the seafood restaurant, 3 Frakkar Restaurant, which translates as 3 French Coats,that is owned by Chef Úlfar Eysteinsson and his family, and has been a favorite with locals since itopened 20 years ago. Úlfar and his son, Chef Stefan Úlfarsson work in the kitchen and Úlfar's daughter,Guðný Úlfarsdóttir, who bears a strong resemblance to the actress Demi Moore, is the personable hostessand waitress.

3 Frakkar Restaurant

The intimate restaurant focuses on seafood and Icelandic ingredients and features nautical décor on thewalls. A few of the many highlights of our lunch included Smoked Puffin Breast with Mustard Sauce,Graved Trout from þingvellir with Mustard Sauce, Raw Whale Meat Sashimi Japanese Style, and FriedLemon Spiced Redfish with Mild Wasabi Sauce.



http://www.Diza.is/

http://www.3frakkar.com/



Spiced Redfish with Mild Wasabi Sauce

3 Frakkar Restaurant is open for lunch Monday - Friday from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, for dinner Monday -Friday from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm, and Saturday - Sunday from 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm.

Úlfar Eysteinsson,Guðný Úlfarsdóttir,

Stefan Úlfarsson

Read about 3 Frakkar Restaurant in the Restaurantsand Chefs' Recipessections where Chef ÚlfarEysteinsson and Chef Stefan Úlfarsson share a taste of the restaurant with their delicious recipe for Hashed Fish Úlfar's Style with Black Bread, a traditional Icelandic dish, in Englishand in Icelandic.

3 Frakkar Restaurant




3 Frakkar RestaurantBaldursgata 14101 Reykjavík, IcelandTelephone:+354 552 3939Email: [email protected]

We had dinner at Silfur restaurantlocated in the Hotel Borg overlooking Austurvöllur Square in the citycenter. The name silfur means silver in Icelandic, and the setting is elegant yet contemporary, dramaticallypresented in white and black with embellishments of silver befitting its name that perfectly showcases theculinary artistry of Chef Hafthor Sveinsson.

Silfur restaurant

A few of the many culinary highlights of our Tasting Menu included Langoustine with Rhubarb Foam,Deep-Fried Langoustine Roll, Char Combo with Chili and Fennel, Grapes, Tomatoes, Cardamom Glaze,and Pea Purée; Lightly Salted Cod with Cardamom Glaze and Orange Cauliflower Purée with Asparagus,Dried Cod, and Polenta; and Monkfish and Smoked Herring with Saffron Foam, and Smoked PotatoMousse crowned with Apples.

Icelandic Lamb


http://www.3frakkar.com


http://www.3frakkar.com/

http://www.silfur.is/



Silfur restaurant is open for lunch Monday - Friday from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, for dinner Sunday - Thursdayfrom 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm, and Friday - Saturday from 6:00 pm - 11:30 pm.

Read about Silfur restaurant in the Restaurantssection and in Chefs' Recipeswhere Chef HafthorSveinsson graciously shares a delicious taste of the restaurant with his recipes for a two-course menu of Langoustine Roll with Fried Langoustine, Rhubarb and Langoustine Glaze, and Lightly Salted Codwith Cardamom Glaze and Cauliflower Purée inEnglishand inIcelandic.

Silfur restaurantPósthússtræti 11Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone: + 354-578-2008Email: [email protected]

Another restaurant where we had dinner was Fish Market (Fiskmarkaðurinn), which is another hotrestaurant on the Reykjavik scene. Chef/OwnerHrefna Rósa Jóhannsdóttir Sætran describes herculinary style as using fresh Icelandic ingredients of fish, meat, and poultry in an "Asian costume" althoughshe does not consider it fusion cuisine.


http://www.silfur.is


http://www.Silfur.is/

http://www.fiskmarkadurinn.is/



Fish Market Restaurant

The attractive ambience has a Zen-like appeal with bamboo poles and bamboo shoots that line the walls, asmall sushi bar allows diners to watch the chefs in action, and wood tables are minimally accessorized tobest showcase the food.

A few of the many highlights of our dinner included Maki Rolls with Salmon, Wagame Salad, Chili Mayo,Nigiri Sashimi with Tuna and Wasabi Caviar, Sashimi Salmon, Halibut, Wasabi, Ginger and WagameSalad; Cod Marinated in Orange, Cinnamon, and Clove, with Pan-fried Cabbage, Chili and CorianderPotato Mousse, Ceviche Tomatoes, Olive Puree, Bacon Sauce, Olive Mousse, and Smoked Haddock withCeviche Onions; and Ocean Catfish, rice with baby corn, fresh pineapple and chili.

Sushi

Fish Market (Fiskmarkaðurinn) is open for lunch Monday - Friday from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, and for dinnerfrom 6:00 pm - 11:30 pm.

Read aboutFish Market (Fiskmarkaðurinn) in the Restaurantssection and in Chefs' Recipeswhere ChefHrefna Rósa Jóhannsdóttir Sætran shares a taste of Fish Market with her delicious recipes for WildSalmon with Yuzu Miso and Onion Pakoda and Breast of Puffin with Smoked Eel, Mango, and Cocoin Englishand in Icelandic.

Fish Market (Fiskmarkaðurinn)Aðalstræti 12Reykjavik, Iceland


http://www.Fiskmarkadurinn.is



Telephone:+354-578-8877Email:[email protected]

We also had dinner at The Gallery Restaurantat the Hotel Holt where Chef Fridgeir Ingi Erikssonfocuses on French-style cuisine. The fine dining restaurant features elegant décor and an impressivecollection of Icelandic paintings grace the walls that perfectly complement his culinary artistry on thespecially designed china.

The Gallery Restaurant

A few of the many highlights of our Tasting Menu included Lobster Soup with Marinated Langoustine andWhite Chocolate Cream; Scallops on a Tapenade Bed with Coriander, Bell Pepper Coulis, Zucchini,Tomatoes, Parmesan, and Rocket; and Flounder Filet under False Fish Scales with Whipped Nut Oil andVanilla Seasoned Meat Stock.

Flounder Filet under False Fish Scales

The Gallery Restaurant is open daily for lunch from 12:00 pm until 2:30, and for dinner from 6:00 pm until10:30 pm.



http://www.Fiskmarkadurinn.is/

http://www.holt.is/



Read about The Gallery Restaurant and Hotel Holt in the Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, and Chefs'Recipessections where Chef Fridgeir Ingi Eriksson shares a taste of the Gallery Restaurant with hisdelicious recipe for Flounder Filet under False Fish Scales with Whipped Nut Oil and VanillaSeasoned Meat Stock in Englishand Icelandic.

The Gallery RestaurantHotel HoltBergstadastraeti 37101 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+354-552-5700Fax:+354-562-3025Email:[email protected]

Expanding our restaurant repertoire, we ventured an hour outside Reykjavik to have dinner at Restaurant 4at the Hotel Rangá located in Hella in South Iceland, which was well worth the drive. Although there isexcellent salmon fishing on the property, which has the added caveat that chef will prepare your catch fordinner, we opted to order our dinner off the menu.

Restaurant 4

The restaurant features three walls of windows overlooking the river that provide a remarkable view towatch the salmon fishermen as well as the changing sky. If the night is clear, the restaurant is the perfectplace to watch the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) in the winter months.

A few of the many highlights of our dinner included Mushroom Cappuccino paired with IcelandicLangoustines and White Chocolate Sweet Potato Purée; a luscious quartet of Smoked Sturgeon with SourCream and Sevruga Caviar from Canada, Smoked Icelandic Halibut with Mango and Mustard Sauce,Smoked Tuna with Teriyaki Curry Sauce, and Graved Smoked Wild Salmon with Horseradish Sauce andArtic Char Roe; and Beef in a Burgundy Cherry Reduction Sauce with Pickled Portobello Mushroom,Vegetable Terrine, with Carrots, Parsnips, and Snow Peas.


http://www.holt.is


http://www.Holt.is

http://www.hotelranga.is/



Wild Salmon

Restaurant 4 is open daily for lunch from 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm, and for dinner from 6:30 pm until 10:00pm (April until September), from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm (October until March Weekdays), and from 7:00 pmuntil 10:00 pm (October until March Weekends).

Bjö

rn Eriksson showing his Wild Salmon catch

Read about Restaurant 4 in the Restaurantssection and in Chefs' Recipeswhere Hotel Manager andformer chef Björn Eriksson shares his special recipe forFishsoup a la BB at Hotel Rangá.

Restaurant 4Hotel Rangá851 Hella, IcelandTelephone:+354-487-5700Fax:+354-487-5701Email:[email protected]

Iceland is a land that offers diverse outdooradventures, and one of the best ways to experience them isby taking a tour with experienced guides. Edward and I contacted Iceland Roverswho provide Super JeepTours, since many of the sights that we wanted to experience require travel over rugged terrain andtraveling off-road that car rental companies definitely frown upon.


http://www.HotelRanga.is

http://www.HotelRanga.is

http://www.icelandrovers.is/



Edward and Debra visiting the Hot Springs

Iceland Rovers offers many tours, however the tour that best suited our interests and our time schedulewas the Essential Icelandtour, which is offered year-round and provided us with the opportunity toexperience lava caves, hot springs, waterfalls, the Þingvellir National Park, and the magnificentlybreathtaking Langjökull Glacier.

Ludvik (Lullí

) Sigurdsson and Debra at Lava Caves

Our knowledgeable, professional, and fun-loving guide Ludvik (Lullí) Sigurdsson, picked us up at the HotelHolt at 8:30 in the morning for an exciting day of adventure and returned us to the hotel at 5:30 pm with ourheads filled with memories to last a lifetime and over 600 photos shot in our cameras.




Ludvik (Lullí

) Sigurdsson and Edward on Glacier

Read about our adventures with Iceland Rovers in the Adventuressection.

Iceland RoversVagnhöfði 7110 Reykjavik, IcelandTelephone:+354-587-9999Email:[email protected]

We also went driving on our own to see the verdant valleys where white steam from the many hot springsrose dramatically, drove by black sand beaches and vibrant terracotta colored lava fields, waterfalls thatcascaded down mountains, and by the many sheep and Iceland horses that grazed in the foreground.

Waterfalls and Hot Springs

With every passing bend in the road there was something new for us to see from the varying topography tothe ever-changing sky. To really appreciate all that Iceland has to offer, one must take time to discover itssecrets, its folklore and tales of trolls and ghosts, and spend time speaking with the friendly Icelanders, whoare rightly proud of the beauty of their country.


http://www.IcelandRovers.is/


http://www.IcelandRovers.is/



Red Lava and Sprawling Valley

We also went with our friend Eggert Jóhannsson to see his Icelandic horses where there were many maresin the pasture with their foals, some of which were only one and two months old. I would have been morethan happy to spend my time in Iceland in the pasture playing with the horses, as the Icelandic horse is avery gentle, friendly, beautiful, and curious animal.

Edward and Debra visiting the Icelandic Horses

During our time with the horses, Edward made friends with an inquisitive blonde mare named Ljósbrá andher first foal, and I, too, had my share of horse admirers including a gorgeous mare and her darling foal thatI wanted to take home with me.




Gorgeous Icelandic Mares and their Foals

On our way back to the airport, we could not resist visiting one more interesting museum, Vikingworld(Vikingaheimar), located on the coastline and is only 5 minutes from the airport. The museum houses thereplica Viking ship, Íslendingur (the Icelander) designed and built in 1996 by Captain Gunnar MarelEggertsson who sailed the ship 4200 nautical miles from Iceland to North America in the summer of 2000,to celebrate the 1000 year anniversary of Leif Eriksson's voyage.

Íslendingur

The Íslendingur provides insight into the craftsmanship that went into the building of these ships, and themuseum provides valuable insight into the Viking world.

Vikingworld

Vikingworld (Vikingaheimar) is open daily from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm. Admission is charged.

Vikingworld (Vikingaheimar)Vikingabraut 1260 Reykjanesbær, IcelandTelephone:+354-422-2000Email:[email protected]

With our sightseeing finished, we drove to the airport, reluctantly returned our Budget Rental Carwhichallowed us to explore the beauty of the countryside, and after a quick check-in at the Icelandaircounter,relaxed in the comfortable Icelandair lounge where we checked our email and had a glass of champagne totoast our exciting trip before boarding our 6-hour return flight to New York.


http://www.vikingaheimar.com/

http://www.vikingaheimar.com/


http://www.Vikingaheimar.com/

http://www.budget.is/

http://www.icelandair.com/



View from Reykjavik

Once again, our trip to Iceland was filled with so many wonderful memories that we know that we will soonneed to return to this country that never fails to charm us.

Architecture of Reykjavik

Important information for Iceland:

The weather in Iceland changes continuously throughout the day often with sudden quickly passing rainshowers followed by sunshine. It is best to bring a small folding umbrella with you.

The currency of Iceland is the Icelandic Krona. As of September 2009, the exchange rate was 1 US Dollar(USD) to 124.17 Icelandic Krona (ISK), and 1 Euro (EUR) to 181.43 Icelandic Krona (ISK).Icelandic Kronacoins come in denominations of: 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 Krona. Banknotes come in denominations of: 500,1000, 2000, and 5000.

The electric current in Iceland is 220 volts, so it is helpful to bring your own converter, and it is important tonote that Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time year-round.





Although many Icelanders speak English, it is always helpful to have some basic vocabulary whentraveling. Icelanders still speak the language of the Vikings, (Old Norse), so listening and speaking theIcelandic language will capture the history of this most unique country.


One of the more unusual things that we learned about Icelanders is that they use a patronymic namingsystem, using their father's first name with the suffix "son" or "döttir (daughter) after their own first name.Example: Stefán Stefánsson is Stefán, the son of Stefán.


Guide to pronunciation:




Á, á is pronounced like "ow"ð is pronounced like "th" as in "the"Þ, þ is pronounced like "th" as in "rather"Æ, æ is pronounced like "i" as in "high"J is pronounced like "y"Ö, ö is pronounced like "u" as in "burn"Ó, ó is pronounced like a long "o"

English

Icelandic

Hello

Halló

Goodbye

Bless

Good morning

Góðan dag

Good evening

Gott kvöld

How are you?

Hvernig ert þú?

Fine thank you, and you?

Fínn þakka þú, og þú?

Please

þóknast

Thank you

Takk fyrir

Yes

Já

No

Nei

Maybe

Kannski

My name is ...




Minnnafn er ...

What is your name?

Hvaða er þinn nafn?

Where?

hvar

When?

Hvenær

How much is this?

Hvernig mikill er this?

Open

opinn

Closed

loka

Left

vinstri

Right

réttur

Straight

Beinn

Near

nálægur

Far

langt

Health

Help!

Hjálpa

Hospital

Spítali

Urgent




áríðandi

I am sick.

ÉG er veikur.

I need a doctor.

ÉG þörf a læknir.

I need a dentist.

ÉG þörf a tannlæknir

Diabetes

sykursýki

Faint

falla í yfirlið

Headache

höfuðverkur

Heart problems

hjarta vandamál

High blood pressure

háþrýstingur

Nausea

velgja

Vomiting

Uppsölu

Days of the Week

Monday

mánudagur

Tuesday

þriOjudagur

Wednesday

miOvikudagur

Thursday




fimmtudagur

Friday

föstudagur

Saturday

laugardagur

Sunday

sunnudagur

Beverages

Drykkir

Coffee

kaffi

Hot chocolate

heitur súkkulaði

Tea

te

Milk

mjólk

Sugar

sykur

Juice

safi

Ice

ís

Beer

bjór

Vodka

vodka

Water

vatn




Wine

Léttvín

Food

Matur

Meat

kjöt

Beef

nautakjöt

Chicken

kjúklingur

Lamb

lamb

Pork

svínakjöt

Cod

Þorskur

Crab

krabbi

Fish

fiskur

Lobster

humar

Mussels

kræklingur

Scallops

hörpudiskur

Shrimp

rækja

Vegetables




grænmeti

Vegetarian

grænmetisæta

Desserts

eftirréttur

Cake

kaka

Cookies

kex

Pie

baka

Pudding

búðingur

Read other articles on Iceland in the Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, Spas, Fashion,and Adventuressections.

See You in Iceland

For information on Iceland, please visit the Iceland Tourist Board website, www.IcelandTouristBoard.com.

For information on Icelandair, please visit: www.Icelandair.com.


luxury_lifestyles/iceland_hotels.html

luxury_lifestyles/iceland_restaurants.html

luxury_lifestyles/iceland_recipes.html

luxury_lifestyles/iceland_spas.html

fashion_scene/fashion_scene/eggert_the_furrier.html

http://www.IcelandTouristBoard.com/

http://www.IcelandTouristBoard.com/

http://www.Icelandair.com/

http://www.Icelandair.com/

http://www.Budget.is/



For information on Budget Rental Car, please visit: www.Budget.is.

© October 2009. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.


http://www.Budget.is/

http://www.luxuryexperience.com/

reykjavik, iceland - the perfect time to visit

Documents