>CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS ICELANDIC STYLE:
    >Midweek Madness
    > Give Thanks
    > Hey Figaro!
    > Christmas Spirit Packages
    > Christmas in Reykjavik
    > New Year’s Eve At The Top Of The World
    > Add Icelandic Gourmet Dinners All Winter Long
>A STAR IS BORN
>ORDER ICELAND GIFTS ONLINE
>MORE BJORK
>MTV ROCKS VIKING SHIP
>4RUNNERS OF ADVENTURE ARE IN 4 SOME FUN
>TIME TO PLAY ICELAND JEOPARDY

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS ICELANDIC STYLE
What would Dateline be without some great deals on holiday travel? For more details on any of these packages, see www.icelandair.com

Midweek Madness - The perfect way to sample Reykjavik and see what all the fuss is about. Priced from $439* per person in October and dropping to just $359* in November through December, Midweek Madness includes air, two nights at Icelandair hotels, round trip airport/hotel transfers, and a Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily. You may choose to leave either Sunday or Monday (except Dec 15, 2002 - Jan 5, 2003).

Give Thanks - Celebrate Thanksgiving, this most American of holidays, where the exploration of the New World first began: Iceland. You and your family can depart Nov. 27 on Icelandair and spend three nights at Hotel Loftleidir in Reykjavik starting at $589* per person. Breakfasts, airport transfers, a tour of Reykjavik and a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast are all part of the plan. The return date is Dec. 1, 2002.

Hey Figaro! - For $599* per person opera lovers can see “The Barber of Seville” at the famed Icelandic Opera, situated near some of the best restaurants and nightlife in downtown Reykjavik. The package includes transatlantic airfare, two nights at an Icelandair hotel, and breakfasts. Flights depart this November 1, 15, and 22.

Christmas Spirit Packages - Meet the characters of Iceland’s Christmas legends including the 13 Yuletide Lads, their troll mother Gryla, and her Christmas cat. The lads are mischievous little trolls, who visit the National Museum in Reykjavik on each of the 13 days before Christmas. They usually wear their old Icelandic costumes, and try to pilfer the goodies each likes best. After Christmas, the Lads gradually go back to their mountain homes, one by one, until the holiday season is over 13 days after Christmas. Prices range from $539* for adults to $389* for kids and include airfare, transfers, two nights in an Icelandair hotel, one lunch, a visit to the family park and zoo, and a family horseback riding tour.

Christmas in Reykjavik - Ah ….Christmas in Iceland. Candlelight and music surround you as Icelanders gather with their families to celebrate this special holiday. You and your favorite mall rats can take a “Preparing Christmas City” tour of Kringlan Mall, enjoy a Christmas eve dinner at Hotel Loftleidir, a Christmas dinner at Broadway Restaurant, and attend midnight mass at Hallgrims Lutheran Church. The trip includes airfare, transfer, two nights accommodation at Hotel Loftleidir or the Radisson SAS Saga Hotel with breakfast. The cost is $679* per person double occupancy, $429* per child.

New Year’s Eve At The Top Of The World - Icelanders celebrate New Year’s in grand fashion with fireworks streaking across the night sky and bonfires in the tradition of their Viking ancestors. There’s also dancing and late night dining at The Pearl Gourmet Restaurant, famous for its panoramic views of Reykjavik. Choose from two versions of this holiday package:

Deluxe version: $1199* per person double occupancy includes transatlantic airfare, transfers, three nights stay at Hotel Loftleidir, breakfast, a tour of Reykjavik and the Golden Circle, a visit to the Blue Lagoon Spa, and a gala New Year’s celebration with gourmet dinner at the Pearl. The celebration includes an evening Brenna-Brenna tour to watch bonfires and fireworks, followed by dancing at the Pearl.

Not so deluxe version: $899* per person double occupancy includes airfare, transfers, two nights stay at Loftleidir, breakfast and the gala at the Pearl with the Brenna-Brenna tour.

Add Icelandic Gourmet Dinners All Winter Long - Add a three-course gourmet meal at The Siggi Hall (one of Conde Nast Traveler’s “Hot Tables”), Apotek, or Sommelier onto any Icelandair holiday for just $65 per person. At the Siggi Hall you have the option of making your meal a four-course feast for $94.

* Icelandair gateways include Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Minneapolis, Orlando and New York (for October packages). Prices do not include Insurance surcharge ($8 per person). Prices do not include airport taxes and official charges (including sep. 11 security fee) of $89-$109 per person (subject to change) and personal travel insurance.

A STAR IS BORN
Arthur Frommer Names Icelandair
“A Star Of Cost-Conscious Travel”

Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine recently recognized Icelandair for keeping travel affordable. The publication named the airline “a star of cost-conscious travel,” ranking it among the 100 most important “packagers” of budget-worthy vacations in America and around the world. The magazine particularly liked Icelandair’s two night holidays from only $339* midweek. Read what Arthur has to say at www.msnbc.com/news/803471.asp

ORDER ICELAND GIFTS ONLINE
With Christmas around the corner, it’s not to soon to think about all those empty stockings yearning to be filled. Rather than give ties or soap-on-a-rope again this year, go for something unusual. You can shop for authentic Icelandic gifts and baubles over the Internet by going to www.icelandicstore.com or www.buyicelandic.com.

Keep A Glow Profile - Iceland's Blue Lagoon is known for its relaxing, warm, geothermal seawater, composed of salts, silica, and blue green algae. Now give a loved one their own ticket to Blue Lagoon at home with the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Skin Care Line. Products, which include shampoos, body scrubs, bath oils and creams, begin at $11.50. (For more information: www.bluelagoon.is)

MORE BJORK
Fans of Iceland can never get too much Bjork. The pop diva, who recently had a baby girl, is about to release a DVD of her concert at The Royal Opera House in London. The live recording will be released to an eager public Nov. 18 and will include a half-hour of footage from her 2001 “Vespertine” tour. Expect a further collection of videos and the single “It’s In Our Hands” under the title “Volume 2” in early December. The singer/songwriter will also release a greatest-hits album selected over the Internet by her fans on Nov. 5. (For more information: www.bjork.com)

MTV ROCKS VIKING SHIP
MTV has announced plans to film the Islendingur, the Viking ship replica that had toured the eastern U.S. and is now in Reykjanesbær, Iceland. The music network will film the ship during the Icelandic cultural holiday Ljosanott (Light Night) and stage a wrestling match (don’t ask) onboard when it sails into Keflavik harbor under the command of its captain and builder, Gunnar Marel Eggertsson, a descendant of Leif Eiriksson.

4RUNNERS OF ADVENTURE ARE IN 4 SOME FUN
Reality TV comes to Iceland. Eight sturdy, hardcore souls will tackle Iceland’s extremes in “Global Extremes: Mt. Everest 4Runners Of Adventure,” a Toyota-sponsored show on the Outdoor Life Network. First 12, then eight, then five athletes will compete against the elements and one another for a $250,000 grand prize. The remaining eight will dogsled, ski, and ice climb in Iceland. At the culmination of the show five contestants will try to be the first to the summit Mt. Everest to claim their prize. (For more information see www.olntv.com).

TIME TO PLAY ICELAND JEOPARDY
How about a little fun to close out this issue? Here’s how Iceland Jeopardy works: we give you an answer and if you email us the correct question at [email protected] we will send you a cool Iceland t-shirt. No, we’re not trying to buy your love, it’s just something to show our appreciation of your worldliness. The answers are all on www.icelandnaturally.com or www.icelandtouristboard.com , so get surfing.

1) “Black Death”

2) Die Another Day

3) Kaffibarinn

The top 25 players who respond correctly with the right questions will receive a free Iceland t-shirt to wear proudly. Send your questions to [email protected].

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For information on other exciting activities in Iceland, be sure to visit www.IcelandTouristBoard.com or www.IcelandNaturally.com