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Man, Anything's Better than “Willy” SeaWorld Orlando has named its baby killer whale "Trua," which is Icelandic for "believe." The whale, born at the park last November, will shill for the park's upcoming killer whale show titled "Believe," which is scheduled to debut in May. In 2005, SeaWorld Orlando drew 5.6 million visitors. Pompeii of the North Within sight of the sheer, towering walls that millions of puffins call home, volunteers and researchers in the Westman Islands are beginning to uncover the remains of some of the 417 properties destroyed when Heimaey experienced a volcanic eruption in 1973 that covered one-third of the town in up to 20 meters of lava and ash. Today, Kristin Johannsdottir is leading a modern-day archaeological effort to uncover a section of town where the homes were merely boiled in the steam from hot ash; other homes, totally engulfed in molten lava, are beyond rescue. Most feared were the lava bombs - globules of molten rock that rained down, igniting commercial and residential buildings. Homeowners were reimbursed for their property 30 years ago, but Johannsdottir says that they will return photos and heirlooms found in some of the lightly damaged structures. “The people of Heimaey are pretty excited about the entire project,” she says. Over the course of several years they hope to create a historical exhibit - a reconstructed town under a large roof - to show how people lived in 1973. The project is expected to cost about $2.3 million. (For more information: www.pompeinordursins.is). Listen to Your Bubbi One of Iceland's best-loved and most interesting musicians is now available on an iPod near you. Folk musician Bubbi Morthen, 49, has published over 174 records - 35 solo, and 139 with other bands.Always his own man, Bubbi's views on politics, the environment, drugs, and other issues, have echoed in Iceland for over 25 years. In 2003 he was honored by the President of Iceland with the Falkaordan, the nation's highest honor. His song Jakkalakkar, is loosely translated to mean “businessmen cockroaches” (a title that makes the suits around the Tourist Board office squirm a bit themselves). Listen to Jakkalakkar yourself for free. Download it at www.goiceland.org. Five Best: Tables at The Top Sophie Lam, reporter for The Independent, has written a piece on “rooftop restaurants that take dining to new heights”. We were very pleased to see The Pearl included in Sophies Top Five. You can read the article on The Independent website here. New York Times, Mar. 12, 2006. “In 2006 the United States population will reach 300 million, and Iceland's will hit 300,000. In national pride, the two countries will remain about equal, which goes a long way toward explaining why Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, refuses to feel like a small town. About two-thirds of Icelanders live in the city and its suburbs, and if the concentration of museums and galleries, bookstores, excellent restaurants and lively night spots per capita isn't the highest in any city in the world, it has to be close.” Associated Press “Welcome to Iceland, a country that offers a bewildering range of adventures, from the peace and tranquility of a swim in the world-famous Blue Lagoon hot spring and a view of the Aurora Borealis, to the challenge of hiking and snowmobiling through its wild interior. … tourism is rising now. Many people seem to regard it as a cool place to visit, with artists ranging from the hip Bjork and Sigur Ros to the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra.” Icelandic Photographic Adventure - 5 Days in Iceland Experience the Land of Fire and Ice with Your Camera For information on other exciting activities in Iceland, be sure to visit:
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