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Summer 2007

SpecialViking Edition

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Enjoy Swimming

SWIMMINGIS FUN

www.itr. is ı tel.: 411 5000

ADULTSSingle ticket: 280 kr.10 ticket card: 2.000 kr.CHILDRENSingle ticket: 120 kr.10 ticket card: 800 kr.

OPENING HOURS:Weekdays: 6:30–22:30Weekends: 8:00–22:00

Opening hours of swimming pools may vary.

For further information, log on to www.itr.is.

In This Issue Summer 2007

EXPLORER. Vol 10 No 2Iceland Explorer Magazine is published 4 times each

year and is distributed free of charge to visitors in Iceland. Iceland Explorer is at Visitor Centers, Hotels, The Explorer is also distributed to tour operators and subscribers in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Germany and Japan and by the Icelandic Foreign Ministry to it´s offices worldwide. Iceland Explorer is also available on-line and can be downloaded in it’s entirety.

Views expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily those of any other agency or person. Iceland Explorer only accepts advertising it deems appropriate.

Publisher: Íslandsvinir hf. Bæjarhraun 14, 220 Hafnarfjör›ur, Iceland.Tel: 510 9502. Fax: 565 5355.E-Mail: [email protected] Editors E-mail: [email protected]’s mobile phone: 868 1922Visit our website www.explorer.isCirculation: 8.000 copies. No reproduction in whole or in part is permitted without the express written consent of the publisher, the editor, the mail room or the janitor. Violators will be shot where it’ll hurt.

Editor: Bob Murray; Design: 1, 2 og 3 ehf. www.12og3.ise-mail: [email protected]: 552 5625/896 3109Sales: Fairly Impressive for a ChangeThe Proof reader: Sold my Dictionary Printed in Iceland by: Prentcó Hafnarfjor›urLithos by: 1, 2 og 3 ehf.Cover Photo: The Viking Valkyrie - HafnarfjörðurCover Photo By. Fiann PaulOther Photos: Colin Barber, Roland Trusevics, Þorfinnur Sigurgeirsson

Hey !! we moved !! Yep, Iceland Explorer moved to new bigger offices in March. We are now located at Reykjavikurvegur (say that fast three times) 64 and this is still in Hafnarfjordur...(nice town for us elves you know). Lots of comments about the last issues cover. Everyone liked the montage of photos. So, maybe we’ll do it again sometime. I think this one is “cool” too...as I date myself back to the fifties.As you may have noticed from scanning through this magazine the Annual Viking Festival is THE June event and lot’s of great information on the festival, its culture and heritige. It’s also very easy on the eyes as well as very interesting to read. All that said, the deal is, DON’T MISS THIS EVENT !! Lots of interesting articles in this issue

for you to enjoy. “Little Houses on the Prairie” being one......and all the regular features as well. So this is Summer 2007. Enjoy this edition of the Explorer.

Bob Murray

Editor’s Comments Summer 2007

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Special Viking Festival Pages

Little Houses on the Pararie

Islands in the Gulf Stream

Observations

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Summer – 2007

A seemingly never ending source of all the juicy little tidbits of information

otherwise known as all the news since the last issue that fits.

EUROVISION A BUST...AGAINThe Eurovision Song con-test, a magnificently staged annual event, has, I believe, in my opinion and I am sure in the opinion of many oth-ers, become something of a joke. That, I believe, is most unfortunate , certainly for the entertainers who participate

and also for the overall credibility of the show. The singers from the various European countries, certainly “make” the show and “they” it would seem, have been forgotten in a world of political correct-ness. Now it appears, this once outstanding, perhaps the “original” international IDOL if you will, has been hijacked by a block of mid-dle European countries. The result is, that some songs that have absolutely no chance of winning, or being marketable after the fact, are aleready in, or are getting into the finals and clearly they should not be. This effectivly blocks songs that “could” become hits from getting heard more than once on the national stage. The contest is supposed to be about the quality of the songs, their marketability and most certainly the entertainers. It does not focus on any of that, not anymore it seems and that is a shame. Some of the winners in the pre-show and hence making the “finals” held on Saturday night, May 12th, could not carry a tune in a 55-gallon drum. The telephone voting system has become a joke on the order of, “if you can’t beat em, join em.” Sour grapes being from Iceland you say? No, not at all. ICELAND, DID NOT, in my opinion, have a winning song for the first competiton, but it was clearly a very marketable and an excellent song. It was extremely well performed and deserving of one of the slots in the finals. Many others were in the same boat. Iceland WAS NOT alone. Things now REALLY need to change if this is going to be anything more respected than a glitzy two-hour side show.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY “ FAVORITE THINGS” ??A geysir erupting from the park-ing lot right by the Grillhouse and the Kaffi Reykjavik ? A tree...YES, a tree, grow-ing though a Skoda? That’s a car “made in the old CheckoslovakiaIt must be Reykjavik Arts festi-

val time again? That’s what it is alright and each and every year the organizers or the artists, or both, always manage to come up with something unique to open the festival. This year they even excelled beyond their wildest dreams. This very popular international festival opened on May 10th and continues through the 26th in the “coolest capital” in the world. Don’t miss .

THE PUFFINS HAVE LANDED:The annual pilgrimage of puf-fins, that built very funny bird with the red orange beak of a pet parrot or Mynah bird, the body of a penguin, the claws of a cat and the feet of a duck arrived en masse in the Westman Islands

(Vestmanneyjar) on April 18th. The new birds to the flock were the ones born here two years ago.. Puffins have already been seen in Dyrholaey, Puffin Island, Grimsey and many other places. The same birds return to their birthplace.. So puffin watching has now officially begun.

ICELAND EXPLORER HAS A MOVING EXPERIENCE:Iceland Explorer the certi-fied “A” class tour compa-ny and travel agent moved to larger quarters in March. Formerly located on the sec-ond floor at Baejarhraun 14 in Hafnarfjordur, the new larger offices of Iceland Explorer and it’s affiliated companies are

now at Reykjavikurvegur 64, still in Hafnarfjordur, but on the main road to Reykjavik...and on the first floor. Come see us.

TAKE THE “A” TRAIN;There at it again, and “this time” they have actually set aside land for the project from now through 2021. That would be an express train, perhaps a monorail, not a bullet train from the Keflavik International Airport to the capital city of Reykjavik, when finished to take approximately

20 minutes rail time from point to point. That’s roughly half of what it does now. Not a new idea by a long shot, it’s an idea that floats to the top of the bottle about once every two years. The highway between the airport and Reykjavik is busy becoming a four lane (two in each direction) which is a vast improvement, and when finished, will serve the nation well for several years to come. Question is, what do the coach, bus and taxi companies think of this new idea? We would guess not much, but we would also guess that we are at least in for another 15 “trainless” years minimum before anything is really built, if at all.

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WESTMAN ISLANDS AN AIR ICELAND DESTINATION...AGAIN !Great news for travelers to Iceland especially in the sum-mer months who want to trav-el to this little group of islands off Iceland’s southern coast. This is where a huge colony of

puffins spend their summer. After the other local airline Landsflug decided to stop flight services, Air Iceland once again resumed services on the Vestmanneyjar route as before. Besides the puffins in May – late August, this is a beautiful little island to visit for the day or longer. Best yet it becomes a destination on Air Iceland’s “Fly as you Please” pass, making it a much better value. Don’t miss the Westman Islands on a summer visit to Iceland.

BLACK GOLD...TEXAS TEA...CLOSE TO ICELAND? They believe there may be oil under the sea on the ridge near Jan Mayen Island, far north of Iceland.The plan is that once the Althing (parliament) approves, the paperwork is done, specifi-cally the enviromental impact

statement, the tax and tariff people agreeing to their take, and all the rest, that exploration and drilling rights could be let to private companies in about a years time. The area in question is a ridge just off the coast of the tiny Island called Jan Mayen, northeast of Iceland. The area in question, known as the “Dragon Zone and only partially in Icelandic waters, (that will confuse the issue if true) shows great promise according to officials. They believe that the oil, if any, is at a depth of approximately 1500 meters, 4,650 feet, and the area comprises about 3,600 square kilometers. That compared to most, is quite sizable. So, speculating now, if Iceland builds a refinery in the West fjords as possible plans call for, and oil off Jan Mayen is found, it could be refined right here...correct. That SHOULD lower the price of GAS significantly...but alas, it’s two years away at best. Personally, I’ll wait.

FIRE IN THE OLD TOWN – DOWNTOWN:More than 100 people were put out of work and many families were evecuated as a precaution as a fire in the old town buildings between Austurstraeti 22 and Laekjagarta 2 & 4, destroyed or damaged many business

and buildings. At presstime, the fire was thought to have started in the small business Froken Rerykjavik and spread quickly. After an exhaustive investigation over several days and weeks, the exact cause to date remains unknown. Before it was out however, the Cafe Opera restaurant, the nightclub Pravda, the Kebab Husid and several apartments were burned or suffered severe smoke damage or both. The roof of the Nightclub Pravda had to be removed. Some of the buildings affected date back to 1801. It will be rebuilt quickly according to members of Parliament and city officials, as a much safer and as fire-proof a place as possible.

THE TAXMAN GOETH: Now, here’s a twist... LOWER TAXES. As a result, this story, became the runaway lead item in this edition of Iceland News for the magazine, well, for awhile. On March 1st, 2007, after talk-ing about it for a long time in the

parliament, the value added tax on a lot of items that made Iceland that much more expensive to many, were LOWERED. in some cases, done away with altogether. Things like CD’s books, magazines that carried a 24.5% VAT were lowered to 7%. Groceries and health care were cancelled all together with the exception being sugar and sweets on the grocery front. Restaurant taxes which carried and inclusive 14% on meals were lowered to 7%. While there are sig-nificant savings in some areas, there is always of course, the annual raising of the prices day. That seems to be a national pastime the world over. However, I believe when all is said and done, travelers to Iceland will NET a savings of from 3% to as much as 10% overall. Then of course, there is still Duty Free.

It’s just like in the days when ambitious explorers moved westward They were in search of a homestead in the wide open spaces. It would be a special place. It would be the place where they could enjoy peace and quiet, privacy and above all, there would be lot’s a room to live, roam free and breathe the fresh air, while taking in the magnificent sur-roundsing views of the country all around them.. It would be their homestead.

Most often these places took the form of a log cabin, at least partially. First, they dug a well, then meticulously constructed this place they were about to call home, if only for awhile, or perhaps for generations to come.

Would you believe we even have something just like this in Iceland? Actually we have several these days, but this one we believe calls out for your special attention.

Here though, you won’t head west, you’ll head east...then, just a lit-tle north. Suddenly almost out of nowhere, right there on the prairie, nestled among the mountains, the hills and the glaciers, the cabins will appear. You don’t have to go on horseback, but you could. You don’t get there in a covered wagon, a sedan or an SUV will do nicely. But, what you will find is a very special place, to spend a night, several nights even a week or more in these little houses on the prairie. What you will also find is ultimate peace, quiet, tranquility all around, and still not very far from everything including the main road around Iceland.

Little Houses on the Prairie

We’re talking about Hellisholar in Flotslið, and the farmhouse cabins for one, for two, or for the entire family. Sorry, they’re fresh out of indians, but you can ride horseback for miles on end.No campfires are necessary for cooking up the evening “grub”, but there is a nice little efficiency kitchen in every cabin in case you get a “hankerin” to prepare something yourself.

Ah, but the main house will do that for you every meal if you like. Having been there a couple of times myself, I can assure you the food we had was world class. There aren’t any telephones, but you have your mobile phone. All the cabins have a couple of cable channels of TV.

There’s no outhouse out back, you don’t need it, a nice bath and shower are all built in. The optimum word is comfortable, in facr, very very comfortable, The surroundings are camera ready and there is plenty of space for the children to play just about anything that doesn’t involve a computer. Each cabin has a little porch to sit out at night and watch the stars, perhaps the Northern Lights on winter nights. There is absolutely no light pollution around, the sky when the stars are out, are full of stars for viewing, identifying, cata-loging or simply watching a stray meteor traverse the sky, perhaps a whole meteor shower on the nights they happen, or just soaking in the heavens above. This of course, is in three of the four seasons.

Winter and summer, the cabins are cozy and warm, perfect for the honeymoon couple or anyone who just wants to get away from it all for a day, a week, or more. Dinner is served up at the main house every night. Some of the most incredible savory roast lamb filet you have every had...and there I

speak from personal experience. There is plenty more on the menu but in three words, just “excellent meals period.” For the groups or even families the come together for the evening, there is karoke, movies, big screen TV, a full service bar for the big kids over 21. Oh yes, I almost forgot, a brand new hot tub, most welcome after a long day on the road, or a longer week at work.

I mentioned you could ride the Icelandic horse, you can, for miles on end in this pristine country. Fishing ? Oh yes, there is a pond stocked with rainbow trout and if you like they’ll cook up the catch at the main house not far away. There’s a nine-hole golf course right now that will grow to 18-holes in the near future and you are surrounded by the hills, mountains and glaciers that make staying here a paradise in Iceland.

It just doesn’t get any better and it’s all there just about and hour and a half from the “big city” Reykjavik and just ten kilometers, six miles from the main ring road. It isn’t a perhaps stop, it’s a must stop, to experience a very special place, in this very special place called Iceland.

It’s an annual right of passage so to speak. It is the time of the year when the Vikings come to Hafnarfjordur, the town of the elves, the town in the lava and for these two weeks, a town full of Vikings. It’s a special celebration of the old days and the old ways that prove to be both fun and educational for all. The festival, which lasts for several days as the sun shines around the clock, (that part in theory) brings back the rich heritage of Viking life, the ancient crafts, the glory of the battle and life and times in general into full focus for all to see.

Many of the “Vikings” dressed in full regalia can trace their ances-try back to the “Age of Settlement” the “days” of the World’s first Parliament and all of it before the year 1000 AD.

These hearty settlers had to put up with one hardship after another from the time the first settlers set foot on this North Atlantic island called Iceland almost to present day. One reading just the travel brochures with the most basic information about this land, can only marvel at how it was done.Certainly, with all of today’s modern conveniences, life has greatly improved especially in the 20th and 21st centuries. But, before that, it was one struggle after another. The land was rugged, 81 percent of it considered uninhabitible. While the numbers have changed ever so slightly, we suspect that now, 70-80% of it, still is. There was famine, disease, and of course active volcanoes that not only tested the settlers patience, but a time or two threatened to take out an entire population in a given area. A couple of those times the “land” now known as Iceland, nearly succeded in doing just that. There were the terrible eruptions of Laki 1783 and several from the most noturios volcano of them all Hekla, still erupting every so often today with about 30 minutes notice. Another volcano, closer to the coast, called Katla, quiet at the moment, is between 20 and 40 years overdue for an eruption right now, The theory is the longer it waits, the worse it could be. Two of three, threatening again and we haven’t even talked about the volcanoes on Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull, always it seems showing signs of coming to life.

Yet,the people not only survived then and even now, but they have prospered from a few handfuls at the beginning to just over 306,000 residents today. They are always mindful of the times, the dangers and all the rest, but they are also very mindful of the sense of community that is the tradition of viking life and times. Hence this annual celebration and it’s popularity for all to enjoy, from the littlest Viking to the oldest traveler here. It is truly an annual eveni, NOT to be missed.

At first glance you would look and see a startling resemblance to Neptune the”god of the sea.” All that was needed was the four pronged scepter in his left hand.

But Haukur Halldorssons’ connection to the sea is only as a fisher-man perhaps. I suppose we all are to some degree. But this gentle-man is certainly connected to the sea by his ancestors. They were the ones who first came to and settled in this place called Iceland. His heretige can be traced back to that time known as the Age of Settlement. He is a Viking, tried and true. Indeed, he is the very first Viking who with the current owner of the Viking Village, was in the start-up phase of the entire project.

He has moved on, as a writer, teacher, designer and philosopher of sorts.He is also an artist. I have heard him speak, I have seen his works, completed and in progress. Every word is true. I had the good fortune to visit him recently at his home and work shop. There sits a most fascinating collection of art from days tell-ing stories and showing life, centuries ago, to current day. Thor’s chariot stands gracefully among the artifacts There are a series of paintings from the past and the mythology of all that is truly Viking.

But perhaps the most impressive project of all is a complete Viking Village. no, nothing like the one before you at the festival, but a true replica of everything from viking mythology repleat with the houses and temples of the god’s the proper places of the faries, the rock structures of the elves and trolls. There are rivers and moats that wind their way through, under and above ground. There is also a transportation system throughout it all, some of it above, and some of it below the ground that wouls be as fascinating to ride as it would be to sail on the rivers of this mythological kingdom.

This scale model, the size of the very large room that houses it, is 100% sketched out and roughly 60% complete. It will be the very first of it’s kind when finished. It has been two years or more in the making and perhaps has another two years until the very last house and hut is put in it’s proper place, the transportation system is ready to roll and the rivers are set to traverse.I have seen the work. It is not a case of could or should be built, it MUST be built.

When that happens, perhaps right here in Hafnarfjordur, it would, I believe, attract visitors from all over the world.

My first thought, at first glance, was an incredibly self contained and first of it’s kind theme park, NOT as a tourist center but to bring the Sagas, the stories, and all the rest completely alive before your very eyes. And that is what it should be.

Friday June 817.00 Market opens. Demonstrations of Festival Activities for the next days. Fight shows, storytelling, glima, archery, music, belly dancing, joggling, stone and wood carving blacksmith etc. 18.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.19.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.19.00 Viking Feast at Fjörugarðurinn the Viking Restaurant. Viking band plays for dinner guests.21.00 Market closes.23.00 Music in Fjörukráin. Óttar Felix and Friends.04.00 Viking Village closes for the day.

Saturday June 913.00 Market opens. 14.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games. 14.30 Viking school for children.15.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.16.00 Viking wedding. 16.30 Archery contest for Vikings.17.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.18.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.19.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.19.00 Viking Feast at Fjörugarðurinn the Viking Restaurant. Viking band plays for dinner guests.20.00 Market closes. 23.00 Music in Fjörukráin. Óttar Felix and Friends04.00 Viking Village closes for the day.

Sunday June 1013.00 Market opens.14.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.14.30 Viking school for children.15.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.15.30 Archery contest for Vikings.16.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.17.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.18.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.19.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.19.00 Viking Feast at Fjörugarðurinn the Viking Restaurant. Viking band plays for dinner guests.20.00 Market closes.23.00 Music in Fjörukráin. 02.00 Viking Village closes for the day.

Viking Festival Activities

Friday June 15

19.00 Viking Feast at Fjörugarðurinn the Viking Restaurant. Viking band plays for dinner guests.23.00 Music in Fjörukráin. Irish musician Michael Black, Hilmar Sverris and Helga Möller play for dancing.04.00 Viking Village closes for the day.

Saturday June 16

13.00 Market opens. 14.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.14.30 Viking school for children.15.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.16.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.15.30 The strongest Viking. Magnús Ver Magnusson and his men.16.30 Archery contest for Vikings.16.30 The strongest Viking. Magnús Ver Magnusson and his men.17.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.18.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.19.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.19.00 Viking Feast at Fjörugarðurinn the Viking Restaurant. Viking band plays for dinner guests.20.00 Market closes. 23.00 Music in Fjörukráin. Irish musician Michael Black, Hilmar Sverris and Helga Möller play for dancing.04.00 Viking Village closes for the day.

Sunday June 17

13.00 Market opens. 14.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.14.30 Viking school for children.15.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle. 15.30 The strongest Viking. Magnús Ver Magnusson and his men.16.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.16.30 Archery contest for Vikings.16.30 The strongest Viking. Magnús Ver Magnusson and his men.17.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.17.30 Viking wedding.18.00 Vikings demonstrate ancient games.19.00 Fight show. Vikings demonstrate the Viking way of battle.19.00 Viking Feast at Fjörugarðurinn the Viking Restaurant. Viking band plays for dinner guests.20.00 Market closes for the last time. Closing ceremony (Blot).23.00 Music in Fjörukráin. Irish musician Michael Black and band play for guests.02.00 Viking Village closes for the day.

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Get This Feeling

First stop - Last stop

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The Viking Market in Hafnarfjörður is the oldest, largest and most important event of its kind in Iceland.

Hafnarfjörður has been a stomping-ground of Vikings, demonstrat-ing most aspects of Iron-age culture, ships, cuisine, handcraft, storytelling, archery, games, music and battle demonstrations since 1995.

Many artists have come from Europe and America to join us in celebrating the memory of our ancestors. Occasionally, opportuni-ties arise to bring forth unexpected things, anachronisms to under-score even further how the Vikings of old (and modern times) can co-exist and arrive at a strong historical union.

Hafsteinn Kúld Pétursson

From the beginning, the emphasis has been on authenticity. Guests at the Festival are meant to feel as if they have been taken back 1,000 years, and -- as if by miracle -- they have arrived at an ancient summer market.

Ships from foreign lands have come ashore, and merchants have taken out their goods and begun to trade. The atmosphere is festive; music, jesters and dancing girls, good food and drink. But when everything seems to be peaceful, a battle breaks out and men kill each other with great vigor and seemingly evil humor.

At the 2007 Viking market, new and fresh ideas will emerge. New heroes are called and tested with veterans known through the years by loyal Festival guests. A total of almost 200 Vikings, both domestic Icelanders and foreign invaders, are expected.

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Iceland for travelers proves time and time again as one of the most fascinating places on earth. Wherever you travel in the country, there is always something very new and very different to see in every location you visit.. In this issue we take you to the Islands located 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) of Iceland’s southern coast. What could possibly be there you might ask. Would it be enough to keep me busy for an entire day. ANSWER: One entire day and more. Here’s a list:

Millions of Puffins (until the third week of August) Pompeii of the North, (where you can help unearth a small portion of one in the more than 350 homes buried beneath the lava in the eruption of 1973,) Great hotels and guesthouses for a second day’s stay or more. There is nn incredible Nature Museum with a bird and but-terfly collection rivaling the best. There are several speciaes of fish, and shellfish, in tanks of course, that traverse the Icelandic waters. Sorry, no whales, they roam free in the seas around the islands. Climb the Volcano Eldfell (it’s only 34 years old and still warm to the touch.) It is only sleeping. Walk in the fresh air around the entire island if you like. Abundant in birdlife for trained observers. There’s the Volcano Show that will give you an instant and firm grasp on this place you are visiting and highly recommended. There are a few

Islands in the Gulf StreamON THE ISLAND:

A six minute flight from BAKKI on Iceland’s southern coast near Seljarlandsfoss.A 25-minute flight from ReykjavikA three hour cruise from the town of Thorlakshofn (if you don’t like to fly)

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excellent restaurants and many fast food franchises for a formal meal or a quick bite. The Icelandic “hot dog” is available everywhere...well almost. Coffeehouses and bakeries, full of calories but way to tempting NOT to sample. You can take a boat cruise around the island in about two

hours time on a good day. The cruise is very unique, and not to spoil the experience, we will leave it there. Go whale watching and many times for the “landlubber” or those wary of the surrounding sea, you can see the Orca whales play some days., Orca’s live there just like”Free Willy” as he was born there. Take a sightseeing

[email protected]@eyjaflug.is

flight over the island and to the other “islands” in the chain. Here you can fly over the two volcanoes on the main island, get a birds eye view of everything and a close up look at Surtsey, the last island and protected wildlife santuary that rose out of the sea just 44 years ago. Visit Storhofi on the south side of the island. Known as the fourth windiest place on earth...well somedays anyway, the view from there are in a word magnificent., Play a round of golf on one of Iceland’s most beautiful courses. Take pictures of Elephant Rock, Walk around the harbor, visit the Botanical Garden in the Lava. Take a coach tour of the entire island then re-visit some of those places you’ve seen on foot.

ANY Questions ??

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The mountain Keilir

You are invited to a very special weekend golf tournament in Iceland. Helping a very special cause, The 2007 Special Children’s Travel Fund Charity Golf Tournament offers participants the oppor-tunity to travel to Iceland and golf on some of the northernmost golf courses in the world. With scenic landscapes and the unique terrain that only Iceland can offer, this event is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the golf aficionado, avid golf lover or the adventure golf seeker.

The tournament will take place August 24 – 26, 2007, departing roundtrip from Boston, with a portion of all proceeds benefiting The Special Children’s Travel Fund. To participate, invitees must donate at least $2,500 per person to the tournament. Donations will cover airfare from Boston with airport transfers, all airline taxes and fuel surcharges, two nights at the deluxe four-star Nordica Hotel, break-fast daily, two rounds of golf (at the Keiler Course and the Reykjavik Golf Course), an awards dinner, gift bags, an official tournament

windbreaker, a visit to the Blue Lagoon, and your monetary gift to The Special Children’s Travel Fund.

The Special Children’s Travel Fund was created to help children suf-fering with long-term illness or other difficult circumstances live out their dreams to see the world. Whether it is Disney World in Orlando or Tivoli in Copenhagen, these trips give families the ability to travel together while creating memories that will always be cherished.

The 2007 Special Children’s Travel Fund

Charity Golf Tournament

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BY THE WAY: The highest temperature EVER recorded in Reykjavik was in AUGUST 2004 when the thermometer hit 23°C or 75°F. But it didn´t end there. Out at Gullfoss (The Golden Falls 9 AND AT Geysir the mercury soard that same day to +29.3 degrees celcius which is a very warm 85°F.

Sumar Sól, Slydda, Skúrir, Snjókoma og Sólskin

Summer Sun, Sleet, Drizzle, Mist,

Snowfall and SunshineIt has all happened in the SUMMER here

So, another first, the Icelandic and the English translation for you. Yes indeed, summer is upon us, with the official holiday in Iceland version of summer that occurred on April 19th. We are now sup-posed to be officially warm, sometimes wet, and all the rest of it a possibilit,y but we try not to think about it much. The sun also rises and sets throughout this edition but the days get longer and longer by seven minutes in fact at one end or the other, every day until June 21st.. You can see how rapidly the daylight increases in just over a week here in Iceland as we head for the longest day of the year. In June the increase slows down a bit as we prepare to

DAY & DATE: SUNRISE: SUNSET: Thursday, May 31st, 2007 3:30 AM 11:28 PMSunday, June 7th, 2007 3:15 AM 11:40 PMThursday, June 14th, 2007 3:05 AM MIDNIGHTThe Longest Day, June 21st 3:02 AM 12:04 AMSaturday, June 30th, 2007 3:13 AM 11;54 PMTuesday, July 10th, 2007 3:30 AM 11:30 PMMonday, July 23rd, 2007 4:10 AM 11:00 PM

In theory, summer months in Iceland certainly are warmer as we stay quite temperate thanks to our friend the Gulf Stream which also works for us all winter. We are also supposed to be dryer, with about ½ the rainfall or snowfall that supposedly occurs over the non-summer months. HOWEVER, this is Iceland and you may have heard a story that says in Iceland we don’t get any weather...just samples.. Well after 16 odd years, I can verify that sometimes this is the case. But, that said we can and have had long, long periods of cloudless skies, bright temperate sunshine...along with the higher prices for everything. It’s the payback you know the weather gods will extract that one wonders about. Here’s the good news. You should be impressed.

STAT: MAY: JUNE:Average Temp. +8°C or +46°F +10°C or +50°FHigh Temp +20°C or +68°F +21°C or + 70°FLowest Temp - 5°C or +23°F 0°C or +32°F Average Wind 14 Miles per Hour 14 Miles Per HourHighest Wind 63 Miles Per Hour 67 Miles per HourAverage Rainfall 3.0 Inches 3.7 InchesHighest Rainfall 8.2 Inches 7.8 InchesAverage Snowfall (YEP !!) 3.0 Inches Only a TraceHighest Snowfall 6.0 Inches Just a trace...yet again

head the other way after June 21st. Here are the stats, the official sunrise and sunset for your approval and also to plan activities...like golf until the we small hours of the morning come now as well as June & July.´

The Hotel Ork in Hveragerdi should be given a FOURTH STAR. This is a beautiful hotel out of the mainstream, in the town of Hveragerði, just 45 kilometers from Reykjavik. With the recent renovations, outstanding staff and incredible meals, a mini-golf course, a heated pool, hot tubs and all the rest somebody needs to re-evaluate this one.

Some folks in Iceland should take a class in “parallel parking”

“Rush Hour” these days is anything but.

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My first year in Iceland was as a result of an Air Force assignment in 1972. For those that were and are in the military, certainly up to the time I retired, while they always asked you where you “might like” to go, when it came down to making the actual “assignment” the only one that didn’t get to vote was YOU, in 90+ percent of all cases.. Back in those dark ages, so to speak, I was given every

Observations

Bob Murray

Tourists renting cars and the reading the speed signs thinking the “90” means 90 Miles Per Hour. Hey folks, It’s KILOMETERS per hour Just so you’ll know 90 Kilometers per hour is 55 miles per hour.

A “very busy” restaurant in Reykjavik wherein we witnessed the owner, the owner mind you, waiting tables and even doing the dishes. Right On !”!

Old:

New:

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Hotel ÖrkHótel Örk is a country hotel located in Hveragerdi on the Golden Circle route, only 45 km from

Reykjavik. Hveragerdi is a small village often called Iceland´s "Health village". Hotel Örk is a first class hotel with all the comforts and services you would expect to find in a city, but conveniently situated in an exciting natural environment. Take a dip in our outdoor swimming pool, which

features a water slide, hot tubs and a geothermal sauna.

www.hotel-ork.is - Tel: +354 483 4700

immaginable horror story about an assignment in Iceland. First, it was dark “year round”. Second, the wind constantly blew at 100 miles and hour or more and there was a new storm unleashing it’s fury on Keflavik every day. Third, I heard, the snow never stopped falling and that transporation was either by dogsled, snowsled, skis or on foot. Cars appaerntly didn’t exist. Then, a chiller. The Icelandic men were on average seven feet, five inches tall and were unfriendly as heck. Then for the single guy, the “last straw” !! I was” informed” there was a woman behind every tree...but there were no trees.

Of course, all these dire statistics above, were absolute nonsense.But in those early years, I did find a lot of people that believed at least one and some that believed most all of them. Indeed, the very first day I arrived in Iceland for the very first time I realized that these, so-called “statements of fact” were being told by most who had never even been here.In any event, they were totally and completely untrue.

I did receive a bit of a scare however, when on the plane ride to Iceland that very first time, we landed for fuel at Torbay, Newfoundland after the pilot that night told us we could NOT land at Gander due to a “snow event in progress” whatever that was at the time. I could not help but note when we did land in Newfoundland however, that the snow piled on the sides of the runways and taxi-ways was higher than the wings of the airplane.

Having about 1200 more miles to go, further northeast, that was a bit scary.But upon touching down at Keflavik it was about 45 degrees farein-heit, there was a slight breeze out of the southwest,, the place did

look a little barren from the airport at the time, a terminal shared with the military, or vice versa. But, i thought, This isn’t so bad at all, I can handle this.

I found that the weather certainly did have it’s moments, but most of those “moments” were for the most part very short lived. The many Icelanders I met on base were extremely friendly and courteous and on my very first excursion into town that very first weekend, I think I fell in love at least four times. I was hooked.

That folks, was now over 35 years ago. Things have certainly changed and being honest not always for the better, but I am still hooked, I think I’ll stay awhile.

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HOT FLASHESSummer 2007 edition

The “scoop” on all the hot “poop”

floating around the rumor mill or actually set in stone

...somewhere

SAILING ON HYDROGEN: The whale watching vessel Elding, may very well be the very first of it’s kind in the world to take to the seas in June of 2008 with a new engine that runs on Hydrogen. Rather than just talking point, Iceland once again takes the lead with an Icelandic design matching an imported generator that is slated to be installed in the whale watching ship over the Fall and winter of 2007 / 2008. Cost of this first ever project is estimated at over 40 million Icelandic kronur or about $622,000 dollars.

NEW DESTINATIONS;New availabilities from Icelandair. Two flights a day from both New york and Boston, not everyday mind you buta goosd thing certainly. Check with Icelandair or your travel agent for details. Bergen Norway is also a new European destination this summer on Icelandair and not to be outdone, Air Iceland will now have direct flights from Akureyri, Capital of the North ...so to speak, DIRECT to the Keflavik International Airport.. Also, as noted in the NEWS, Air Iceland once again resumes flights to the Vestmanneyjar, Westman Islands. That IS great news.

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Austurstræti 4 • ReykjavíkTel.: 551 3509 • e-mail: [email protected]

Austurstræti 4 • ReykjavíkTel.: 551 3509 • e-mail: [email protected]

Fjaranrestaurant

theCaverestaurant

Viking

Strandgata 55220 Hafnarfjordur

Tel.: 565-1213Fax: 565-1891

[email protected]

thehottub

vikinghotel

summer 2007 special viking edition - iceland explorerexplorer.is/gogn/explorer-summer2007.pdf ·...

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