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DATELINE ICELAND
DATELINE ICELAND
- November/December 2003
A periodic look at news and events from the home of the Vikings.
Brought to you by the Icelandic Tourist Board.
>Spend the Holidays a Little Closer to
the North Pole
>Give Thanks Icelandic-Style
>Christmas is the Time for Smorgasbords
>Enjoy a Christmas Saga with the Thirteen
Christmas Elves
>Spend New Year's Eve on Top of the World
>Hockey Anyone? Come to the Iceland Invitational
2003
>Midweek Madness
>Now You're Cooking
>Stinky Food
>Eat, Drink and Be Merry
>Icelandic Men Are Beautiful Too
>Viking In Dallas
>Nothing Lazy Going on in "Lazytown"
>Walking Into the Night
>Warm Icelandic Eiderdown Comes to a Quilt
Near You
>Wooden Vikings and More
Spend the Holidays a Little Closer
to the North Pole With Holiday Packages from Icelandair
Looking for some holiday cheer this year? Head closer to
the source. Icelandair is giving you the gifts this holiday
season with travel packages designed for travel in November
and December. Book soon to get a little closer to the North
Pole home of St. Nick and see what a winter wonderland Iceland
can be. Can't wait that long? Check out our Thanksgiving
travel package.
Give Thanks
Icelandic-Style
Looking forward to shopping the day after Thanksgiving,
but hate the crowds? Well, you don't have to go cold turkey.
Head to Iceland for Thanksgiving this year. It's just another
day there and lord knows they have plenty of their own holidays
to celebrate. You'll pinch yourself when you realize the
stores are as uncrowded on Nov. 28 as they usually are.
Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast with both American
and Icelandic specialties. From $589* per person based on
double occupancy. Departure: Nov. 26, 2003. More…
Christmas
is the Time for Smorgasbords
Icelanders love Christmas, and one way they get themselves
in the mood is by enjoying a traditional Scandinavian Christmas
Smorgasbord at a local restaurant. Jumpstart your Christmas
batteries with a trip combining holiday lights, Christmas
shopping and one of Europe's most famous Christmas buffet
dinners. Price includes transatlantic air on Icelandair,
round-trip airport/hotel transfers, two nights hotel, a
few Scandinavian breakfasts, the "Christmas in Reykjavik"
tour, and an Icelandic Christmas smorgasbord dinner buffet.
An old fashioned Icelandic country Christmas is from $489*
per person double occupancy for a two-day escorted tour.
Departure: Dec. 4, 2003. More…
Enjoy a Christmas
Saga with the Thirteen Christmas Elves
What was it like to celebrate Christmas in Iceland a long
time ago, when mischievous Yuletide Lads - elves and trolls
- left gifts in children's shoes? Here is your chance to
share an old fashioned Icelandic country Christmas with
your family. Soak your cares away at the natural spas of
the Blue Lagoon. Kids will get to meet Iceland's version
of Santa Claus... all 13 of them, at the Arbaer Museum,
a collection of 18th and 18th century homes with recreations
of Christmas celebrations in the days of yore. Encounter
reindeer, arctic fox and seals at the Animal Garden. Wake
up the next day and join in baking a favorite Icelandic
Christmas tradition - paper-thin and deliciously sweet Leaf
Bread. Come enjoy the shopping, lights and life of Reykjavik
over Christmas. The price for this five-day escorted tour
includes transatlantic air on Icelandair, round-trip airport/hotel
transfers, three nights at Guesthouse Borgartun, and a guided
tour starts at $751 p.p./d.o. Learn more about Iceland's
Yuletide Lads. More…
Spend New
Year's Eve on Top of the World
The New Year roars into Reykjavik, heralded by fireworks,
bonfires and dancing that goes on 'til dawn. Bid goodbye
to 2003 in grand style at the famed Pearl Restaurant, renowned
for its gourmet fare and panoramic views. Price includes
transatlantic airfare on Icelandair, round-trip airport/hotel
transfers, three nights at the Hotel Loftleidir, Scandinavian
breakfast is served daily except upon arrival, City Tour,
Golden Circle Tour, Blue Lagoon visit, Brenna Brenna
New Year's Eve Reykjavik bonfire tour, and Gala Dinner at
the Pearl Restaurant with dancing. Packages start from $1195*
per person based on double occupancy. Departures on Dec
28 or Dec 29. More...
Hockey Anyone?
Come to the Iceland Invitational 2003
Iceland is no stranger to the world's premier cold weather
team sport. Every year the country hosts a tournament for
those teams brave enough to show up and take on the world.
There are competitions open to almost any age and skill
level. Packages start at $629* and include two nights stay
at Hotel Loftleidir, Scandinavian buffet breakfast daily
except upon arrival, Courier/Guide services during the events,
round-trip airport/hotel transfers, and a visit to the Blue
Lagoon spa. Departs Nov. 20. More…
Midweek Madness
Here's the best way to "test drive" Iceland.
Enjoy the sights, sounds and sensations of Reykjavik from
just $299* per person. Add in a few days and create your
own mini adventure. Includes transatlantic air, accommodations
and airport/hotel transfers. More...
For further details on any of these packages, contact Icelandair
Holidays at 800 779 2899 or www.icelandair.com
(* Prices quoted are exclusive of applicable taxes and
official charges by destination of approximately $90, including
the September 11th Security Fee. Lower fare may be available
on icelandair.com)
Now You're
Cooking
The same steam that heats the water in the Blue Lagoon,
heats the homes and offices of Iceland, and provides hot
showers, is now being harnessed for cooking in Hveragerdi,
located a short 28 mile drive from Reykjavik. Husband and
wife Olafur Ingi Reynisson and Anna Maraa Eyjolfsdottir
have for years operated "Heilsukostur" in Hveragerdi
- a restaurant that cooks with steam and reportedly has
the only kitchen of its kind in the world.
"Visitors can trace the steam from the hot spring
into the kitchen to see how we use pure nature as an energy
source for cooking and baking," Olafur tells Dateline:
Iceland. "The steam runs thru steel pipes directly
from a hot spring into the kitchen at roughly 320 degrees
F."
There are many memorable places to visit and things to
do during a stay in Hveragerdi. In the town center there
is a hot geothermal spring where short tours are given.
Visitors can learn about the origin of the different hot
springs, their names and the extraordinary geothermal bacteria
that live in boiling water or clay.
Hveragerdi is also renowned for its many artists and one
can find an exhibition of some kind nearly every day of
the week. Many of its most famous writers hail from Hveragerdi,
and all kinds of art is practiced, including different kinds
of painting, music and sculpture. The most popular art galleries
are the small ones surrounding the main street, Breidamork,
as well as in the restaurant-shop Eden, where there is an
exhibition year-round. More...
Stinky Food
Speaking of food at Christmas time, if someone offers you
a skate lunch on December 23, you just might want to skate
on by. Rather than a piece of winter sports equipment, the
skate in this instance is a peculiar and smelly food with
a strong odor of ammonia. Luckily it doesn't taste anything
like it smells. The reason for this putrefying business
is that in fresh skate (much like in shark), there are enzymes
that can be harmful when the fish is eaten fresh. At the
skate lunch, two kinds of skate are served, one kind is
salted and only slightly putrefied, the other salted and
very putrefied. Icelanders will try just about anything
if you serve it up to them. Most Americans need a big of
coaxing first. If you're up to it, check
this out…
Eat, Drink
and Be Merry
Not every place has skate on the menu, but Reykjavik does
offer a wide range of dining options, from moderately priced
cafes to world class gourmet restaurants with fresh coldwater
fish and free range mountain lamb, among the dozens of gourmet
selections. There are even Italian, French and Mexican restaurants
that offer an international menu with tinged with a hint
of homegrown Icelandic cuisine. More…
Icelandic
Men Are Beautiful Too
Mr. Iceland, Sverrir Kári Karlsson, ended up in
second place in the Mr. Nordic contest in Helsinki, Finland.
He was also selected as the best model of the bunch by the
press photographers present. The winner of Mr. Nordic was
from Sweden. More…
Viking In
Dallas
Icelander Jón Arnór Stefánsson has
signed a contract to play for the Dallas Mavericks starting
with the beginning of the 2003 NBA season. Mavs owner Mark
Cuban, never one to shy away from foreign-born talent, decided
he was NBA-ready. Jon turned 21 at the end of September.
The 6' 5" 203 lb. Guard is only the second Icelander
to be drafted in the NBA. The first was Pétur Gudmundsson
who in his career in the late 80's and early 90's played
with the LA Lakers, the Portland trailblazers and the San
Antonio Spurs.
Nothing
Lazy Going on in "Lazytown"
The children's fiction book Lazytown by Icelander
Magnús Scheving will air on Nickelodeon next fall.
Lazytown's concept is to help children live a healthier
lifestyle and make the right choices. The television series
Lazytown will be produced in Iceland. The owners of Lazytown
have already signed a contract with multimedia giant Viacom,
owner of CBS, MTV, and Paramount Pictures. Nickelodeon is
viewed in 86 million homes in the United States. More…
Walking
Into the Night
Speaking of books, why would someone walk away from an
idyllic life into an unknown abyss? How does a person reconcile
their guilt with their secret passions? The answer to these
questions and many more are answered in Olaf Olafsson's
poignant and truly captivating novel, "Walking Into
the Night," released nationwide on Oct. 28 (Pantheon
Books). Based on a true series of events, "Walking
Into the Night" is a deeply moving story of a prominent
Icelandic businessman who deserted his family in exchange
for a woman and a life in New York, only to end up as a
butler to millionaire media mogul William Randolph Hearst.
The most prominent Icelandic author in the U.S., Olafsson
has taken details from the remarkably fascinating story
of the life of his Icelandic friend's grandfather and created
a spellbinding novel about one man's bold decision to abandon
a safe haven in pursuit of passion. Kirkus Reviews
says of the book, "His people are real, period atmosphere
and detail unobtrusively perfect, his novel a gem and small
masterpiece." If you can't get to Iceland soon, read
about it. You'll find Walking Into the Night at fine
bookstores or on www.amazon.com
Warm Icelandic
Eiderdown Comes to a Quilt Near You
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a regulation
to allow the importation into the U.S. of Icelandic Eiderdown
from wild nesting Common Eiders under limited and very specific
conditions.
"Icelanders have demonstrated that the sustainable
harvest of eider down from wild common eider populations
continues to boost their efforts to protect this migratory
bird and its habitat," said Service Director Steve
Williams.
Icelanders have used eiderdown for more 11 centuries and
have exported it since the 14th century. From May to July,
private landowners in Iceland collect down generally twice
each season, taking great care to avoid disturbing brooding
hens, replacing down removed from the nest with dry grass
or hay. Recent studies conducted by the Icelandic Museum
of Natural History show no evidence that down collection
from wild populations has had any negative impact on the
birds, including their ability to reproduce successfully.
The Fish and Wildlife Service hopes that allowing the importation
of eiderdown into the U.S. will further encourage private
landowners in Iceland to conserve the common eider.
Wooden Vikings
and More
Dying to give a truly Icelandic gift this holiday? Check
out the wooden Vikings, lava candle holders, and even fish
pudding. Shipping to the U.S. is free. More…
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For information on other exciting
activities in Iceland, be sure to visit www.IcelandTouristBoard.com
or www.IcelandNaturally.com
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