Iceland

ICELAND

It's hard to think of Iceland as a vacation as a vacation spot. Way up there, in the middle of nowhere, a tiny island in the vast Atlantic Ocean, and there is the name Iceland (Brrrr.)

There's no doubt Iceland tourist board faces a serious marketing challenge, but those who dare to venture this far north will be richly rewarded.

This European nation's name is an early example of bait and switch. Long ago, explorers gave it is chilly moniker in hope that it would serve as a deterrent for invaders and undesirables. Yes there is ice in Iceland. Big giant glacier ice, but the inland also boasts beautiful green countryside, dramatic waterfalls and breathtaking cliff formations. The people here are friendly and warm. This is a place to party if you like to party.

In Reykjavik Iceland the weather is surprisingly mild during September. It's no colder then San Francisco in the winter.

Iceland

An Icelandic horse near Krýsuvík.

Stjórnarráðið in Reykjavik, the seat of the ex...

In fact, Iceland has milder average winter temperatures then New York. It does rain though, not a gentle rain, but non-stop Boston rain. In the fall the daylight hours are much as they are on the west cost, but as winter draws closer, the nights grow longer until there are only four hours of daylight. That's were there nickname came from the Land of the Midnight Sun. In Reykjavik, the average temperature during the winter is 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. During the summer months, highs are in the 60s. English is the prominent language. School age children learn three languages: Icelandic, Danish, and English. Don't ask me how to speak Icelandic, because I can't help you at all. The food is wonderful. There are some dicey sounding specialties such as sheep's intestines stuffed in sheep's stomach and boiled and then there's fermented shark's meat.