DATELINE ICELAND - March/April 2003

A periodic look at news and events from the home of the Vikings. Brought to you by the Icelandic Tourist Board.

>Hot Travel Deals to Iceland
    >Black and Green
    >Travel on Horseback
    >Do it Yourself Iceland
    >A Different Kind of Driving Vacation
>Fill 'er Up with Hydrogen
>Time to Smell the Roses
>Puffin Season Returns
>You Gotta Have Art
>Party Like a Sailor
>All Aboard!
>Fourth of July Comes on June 17
>Goooooooal!: Soccer Fans Rejoice
>Need Room to Roam? We'll Make More

Hot Travel Deals to Iceland

Black and Green
Ireland may be the Emerald Isle, but we like to add a little black to the mix - back as in lava�the hot stuff that comes from deep within the earth. This 11-day trip will take you to virtually every corner of the land of fire and ice, beginning and ending with Reykjavik. You will travel to majestic waterfalls, glacier-capped volcanoes, and relax in thermal mineral baths. From $2,949*, see www.icelandair.com/black for more information.

Travel on Horseback
The nine-day "Home On the Ranch" tour (from $1,535* per person double occupancy, some experience needed) has been described as "Horse Trekking 101." This vacation combines riding lessons with cross-country trekking. Along the way you'll learn useful skills about highland trekking and training horses and there is plenty of time for fun during your five days in the saddle (assuming you can still walk). Icelandic horses are descendants from the original Viking strain and are widely loved for their soft gait (called a "tolt") and pleasant disposition. Unlock your inner cowboy. See www.icelandair.com/horsetreks for more information.

Do It Yourself Iceland
Those of you accustomed to doing it yourself, probably think a fun weekend is a trip to your local Home Depot. Guess again � you can still pursue your independent streak and have a great vacation in Iceland. Icelandair has created a group of independent self-drive vacations to give travelers the maximum amount of freedom and flexibility. The DIY packages include reserved accommodations and a rental car, along with a list of suggested routes to follow in between overnight stays. Packages range from $979* for a six-day trip to $2,015 for 15 days. And if you want to visit a hardware store, go ahead and knock yourself out - you're in charge. See www.icelandair.com/driving for more information.

A Different Kind of Driving Vacation
Iceland offers great opportunities for golfers to take in the country's scenic beauty while tackling challenging courses that give new meaning to the word "rough." After a day on the links, drive yourself back to Reykjavik for excellent cuisine and a vibrant nightlife - just don't wear those funny green pants and pink polo shirts out on the town. Packages go from $775* to $1,035* for the spring and summer. Car rental and three greens fees are included for use on any of four courses. See www.icelandair.com/golf for more information.

(*Prices quoted are per person double occupancy and exclusive of applicable taxes and official charges by destination of approximately $85, including the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per U.S. enplanement.)

Fill 'er Up with Hydrogen

The traditional First Day of Summer holiday, April 24, will have special meaning this year as Iceland launches an economy based on hydrogen power. The world's first commercial hydrogen filling station opens in Reykjavik on April 24. A complete conversion to hydrogen energy is planned in the coming years, one day making Iceland the only zero emissions country in the world, and at the very top of environmental consciousness on a global scale. The yearly First Day of Summer celebration includes parades, sporting events and organized entertainment held in various locales around Iceland. After a long winter, the arrival of summer in April is a welcome excuse for Icelanders to take to the streets and cut loose.

Time to Smell the Roses

If you're plagued by hay fever, we have the antidote. Iceland is a sure-fire cure for seasonal allergy sufferers. With low-allergen indoor environments and thermal pools for medicinal baths, the country is a sneeze-free haven for the pollen challenged. Homes are heated at a constant level with hot spring water, and with no large industry pollutants, windows are kept open to allow fresh air inside. A trip to Iceland is one prescription guaranteed to allow people with hay fever to smell the roses.

Puffin Season Returns

In May, bird watchers and nature lovers alike "flock" to the Westmann Islands (20 miles off Iceland's southern coast) to view the return of the puffin, or lundi in Icelandic, from its long winter at sea. Puffins are one of the few species on Earth that pick one mate for life and during this time millions of the brightly colored birds return to nest and lay eggs. Hate to break this to you, but puffin is also a delicacy you can find in many local restaurants. They are far from endangered, so you can sample this culinary treat with a clear conscious. See www.icelandtouristboard.com/events.html for more information.

You Gotta Have Art

On May 11 - 31, Reykjavik hosts an arts festival that's a veritable international cultural bonanza. Highlights include Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. Richard Wagner, best known for Die Walkurie, from his five-opera "Ring Cycle" (remember the helicopter scene in Apocalypse Now? yeah, that one), continued his operatic forays into cultural legends with this story of the ghost ship "The Flying Dutchman" in 1841. Singing, dancing, cuisine and crafts are all part of the 20-day festival in the heart of Icelandic culture. Come see the ghost ship brought to life in the 21st century. See www.icelandtouristboard.com/events.html for more information.

Party Like a Sailor

June 1 - Seaman's Day, or Sjomannadagur as it's known, is often one of the greatest celebrations of the year with festivities including parades, rowing and swimming races, tugs of war, and even sea rescue competitions. Iceland has a proud history of seamanship, from the Vikings who first settled here, to the immense fishing fleets that sustain the island nation's people. This fun-filled and light-hearted occasion for the whole family always has a lot going on. Contact Midbakki, Old Harbor: (+354) 552-8211.

All Aboard!

Cruising to Iceland is reaching near all-time highs, according to facts released by the Icelandic Tourist Board. Sixty thousand visit annually on cruise ships; cruise calls will be up 15 percent in 2003 over last year. The latest offering is luxury ferry service from the Smyril Line connecting eastern Iceland with northern Europe's most charming ports in the Shetland and Faroes islands, and Denmark and Norway. (www.smyril-line.com). The most active lines are Carnival, Crystal, Holland America, Lindblad, Princess, and Saga International. See www.icelandtouristboard.com/howdo.html for more information.

Fourth of July Comes on June 17

Icelanders are proud of their country, its roots and its accomplishments. Come celebrate with us for Icelandic Independence Day on June 17, a great time to visit the country, especially Reykjavik, which will host parades, street theater, sideshows and dancing. In 1944, Iceland declared full independence from the Danish crown. June 17 was chosen as the official holiday because it was the birthday of Jon Sigurdsson who is regarded as Iceland's version of George Washington.

Goooooooal!: Soccer Fans Rejoice

The Visa Rey Cup will be held in Reykjav�k on July 23rd to the 27th. This soccer festival is for boys and girls, ages 13 to 16, and is held every year. The Rey Cup is not just about winning a tournament, however. The event is also a festival for young people of both sexes and their families to celebrate the exuberance of youth and the honesty and integrity of sport. Escape from the ordinary and watch a kid smile. It's more fun than watching the nightly news, we promise. For more information: http://www.reycup.com

Need Room to Roam? We'll Make More

We hardly run out of room in Iceland - more seems to pop up out of the sea. Geologically speaking, Iceland is hardly out of playschool, since it only began to rise from the North Atlantic seabed about 25 million years ago, the product of volcanic eruptions that are still going on today. Parts of the country are still so rugged that American astronauts chose Iceland as a training ground to prepare them for landing on the moon. And Iceland is still taking shape before peoples eyes: the newest land is Surtsey, an island that rose from the sea during an underwater eruption off the south coast in 1963.

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