Well, we�re finally over winter�s hump and it�s time to start coasting downhill into spring. The days are getting longer and the crowds are nowhere to be found in Iceland. Plus, there�s still plenty of time to see the Northern Lights. We have food, we have fun, and we have spas in which to hit the �undo� button on your stressed-out life. Come visit.

Many travelers have adopted Reykjavik as their home away from home. Such sophistication in a city right on nature's doorstep makes Reykjavik a very popular destination. Iceland's lively capital is a great place to explore, and an ideal base for day trips. Whether it�s sightseeing, outdoor adventure, spas or taking in the energizing nightlife, everyone finds something special in Reykjavik.

Food and Fun

The seventh-annual Iceland Food and Fun Festival on Feb. 20 to 25 will match up well-known chefs and Reykjavik�s top restaurants. The visiting chefs will prepare menus for the restaurants using only Icelandic ingredients. Participating restaurants this year include Einar Ben, Seafood Cellar and Domo. Each will offer a chef�s menu for around 5,200 kronur (about $80 at 64.38 kronur to the dollar). On the last day there is a competition at the Reykjavik Art Museum in which the chefs purchase local ingredients and prepare a three-course meal. (For more information: www.foodandfun.is).

Iron Stomachs Welcomed During Thorrablot, Jan. 20 � Feb. 20 (Break out the Tums)

When Vikings sat down for their annual midwinter feast, it wasn't exactly tea and crumpets time. Vikings celebrated February - the fourth month of winter - with plenty of dancing and singing and hearty Viking-sized meals of Slatur - sheep's blood pudding rolled in lard and sewn up in the stomach. They consumed half-boiled lamb's heads called Svid, seal flippers, rotten shark, and scarfed pickled ram's testicles. While these delicacies are not part of the normal everyday diet of Icelanders, visitors and locals alike can eat like a Viking during special events in February in restaurants, homes, and community centers throughout Iceland. Come to think of it, pack some Pepto-Bismol as well.

Hella Hotel Joins Prestigious Hotel Association

H�tel Rang�, a luxury hotel near Hella in south Iceland, has become a member of the Special Hotels of The World. Just 50 hotels around the world are members who pride themselves of offering exclusive service and having a unique market position in their respective country.

H�tel Rang� is currently being redesigned and its new design was inspired by the landscape and environment surrounding the hotel. Guests are offered a view of three glaciers and the volcano Hekla as well as one of the best salmon fishing rivers in Iceland, Eystri Rang�, just 40 meters away from the hotel.

The hotel has become a popular place to view the aurora borealis and is located close to the most frequently visited tourist destinations in south Iceland � Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall and Thingvellir national park, a.k.a. the Golden Circle. (For more information: www.hotelranga.is).

Please, Don�t All Move Here at Once

Iceland has overtaken Norway as the world's most desirable country in which to live, according to the latest U.N. index on human development. Rich, free-market countries dominate the top places, with Iceland, Norway, Australia, Canada and Ireland the first five. The United States slips to 12th place from eighth last year in the U.N. Human Development Index, with the U.K. taking 16th place behind Austria at 15th. The index ranks 175 U.N. member countries, plus Hong Kong and the Palestinian territories.

Norway had held the top spot for six years, but was edged into second place by Iceland this year because of new life expectancy estimates and updated figures for gross domestic product.

Iceland, with a population of only 300,000, has developed rapidly. Its location as a desirable place to live is due, in part, to how it has harnessed its vast reserves of geo-thermal energy, invested heavily in technology and has a remarkably even distribution of income. But don�t all of you move here at once. Otherwise we�d have no tourism.

Ron and Gorby Coming to a Theater Near You

Academy Award Nominated Director Ridley Scott announced that his company, Scott Free Productions, will team up with a group of entertainment and political veterans on a film project about the now famous Summit at Reykjavik which marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War.

The full length motion picture will capture the drama that surrounded the 1986 Summit which eventually led to Ronald Reagan's historic demand of Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall."

"This is an exciting project, because it will capture a defining historic moment by setting in motion the events that ended the Cold War," said Ridley Scott. "It will also offer a unique insight into the two men � Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev � who were center stage on that cold, rainy October weekend in Iceland." Current plans are to begin production of the film in mid-2008 with completion by year's end.

Discover the Secret Charms of Sandgerdi

Most people would never dream of starting their vacation by staying near an airport. But then again, most people don�t visit Iceland, do they? Located just 40 minutes by car and six minutes from Keflav�k International Airport, Sandgerdi (�Sandy Hedge�) is a growing town of 1,700 with a storied history and loads to see.

As the name indicates, the soil in Sandgerdi is sandy and not optimal for cultivation, so the main industry is fishing. If you ask nicely enough, visiting families may be able to visit the fish processing facilities there, a real eye-opener to youngsters whose only previous exposure to this important natural resource are likely to have been goldfish tanks and frozen fishsticks at school.

For those who like to travel off the beaten path, they can enjoy beautiful views with visits to great art galleries, a nature center, and a candle factory. By Hafurbjarnasta�ur, between Gardur and Sandgerdi, there are graves from pre-Christian times, which were discovered in 1947. The graves are considered a very important discovery, and remains from one of the graves are now on display at the National Museum of Iceland. In this same area is also a 9-hole golf course. (For further information visit www.sandgerdi.is).

America�s National Food is a Hit in Iceland

These aren�t your father�s ballpark franks. No sir. The pylsur is an Icelandic hot dog, the unofficial national Icelandic meal. Constructing a pylsur goes like this: You start with a toasted hotdog bun. Next, you add a layer of crispy fried onions. On top of that you add a layer of fresh onions. This provides the bed for an 8-inch dog still in the casing. The creation is finished off with a squiggle of "mustard" (it tastes nothing like the mustard most Americans know). Voila: a pylsur. We would have tried one ourselves at the famous roadside stand in the middle of Reykjavik, but the wait was too long. Our advice: get there early.

Deals of the Month

Northern Lights Quest

Combine the mystical tales of Icelandic elves, ghosts and trolls with the spectacle of Mother Nature's skylights. This trip includes a visit to the new Ghost Center and the Elves and Trolls Center, a fascinating experience of Icelandic folklore and legends. From $749* per person based on double occupancy. http://www.icelandair.com/home/packages/product/store65/item142270/

Iceland Getaway

The most flexible way to see Iceland - you put the trip together yourself with a multitude of "a la carte" options. Choose your hotel, tours, car rental, gourmet dining and more. It's the best way to see Iceland your way. From $629* per person based on double occupancy.
http://www.icelandair.com/home/packages/build-your-own/detail/store65/item7106/

Romantic Getaway On The Cheap

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we've discounted two of our most popular packages for travel in January and February. Save $75 per person when you book either the Iceland Getaway package, where you can add a la carte options like day tours and romantic dining options or book the Honeymoon Express which features an evening Blue Lagoon visit and dinner at the elegant Laekjarbrekka restaurant. http://www.icelandair.com/home/packages/product/store65/item181349/

Spa Spree Package

Everyone needs some time to unwind, and Reykjavik is the perfect place to treat yourself to a relaxing spa holiday. Pamper yourself with a stress-relieving treatment at the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica Hotel and Spa, renowned for its professional staff and soothing treatments. Indulge in luxury treatments with mineral salt baths, Icelandic lava therapy, a Finnish-style sauna, a relaxing Fire and Ice massage and more. From $1,129* per person based on double occupancy. http://www.icelandair.com/home/packages/lifestyle/detail/store65/item14649/

*Prices quoted are exclusive of applicable taxes and official charges by destination of approximately $100-$180, per person including the Sept. 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per U.S. enplanement.

For information on other exciting activities in Iceland, be sure to visit: