The destination: Reykjavík / Iceland

Since way back when, man has sought inspiration and new experiences from unfamiliar locations. Travel has become a large part of the quality of life for people all over the world. Travel provides inspiration and quite often a new perspective on daily activities, whether related to work or private life.
Some places just naturally stimulate people’s imagination and give them greater energy at the same time.

Iceland is just such a place: inspiring and refreshing.

Iceland is not only closer than you think, but far different than you ever imagined.  Where else can you witness such marvels of Mother Nature as a tremendous icecap and several glaciers, spouting geysers and steaming solfataras, volcanoes (hopefully dormant), raging rivers and magnificent waterfalls, a multitude of birds, cavorting whales just offshore, and many other surprises?
Summers are surprisingly warm and winters not as cold as you might expect should you visit during the off-season. Regardless of when you visit, be assured that the warmth shown by Icelanders, their desire to share their culture, and the efforts made to make your stay as pleasant as possible will, like the spectacular landscape, never be forgotten.

Reykjavík – Iceland’s capital – is a young and daring city characterised by strong contrasts.  Conveniently small, clean and safe, it is essentially free of the major problems that haunt most other capitals. Visitors to Reykjavik cannot escape experiencing the vibrant energy at the heart of Iceland’s capital city.  Whether you want to feel the boiling thermal energy underground, get close to the natural green energy within the city and around it, or experience its lively culture and funfilled nightlife, you should be in for a very memorable visit.

The perfect way to experience Reykjavik’s healing energy is to visit one of its many thermal pools and luxury spas.  A healthy swim, a soak in the thermal hot pots or a relaxing visit to a state-of-the-art spa leaves you feeling in tune with body and soul.  The world-famous Blue Lagoon is just a forty-minute drive from the capital. Reykjavík’s abundant supply of geothermal water is even used to heat its Atlantic Ocean coast, creating a warm inlet by a sandy beach just ten minutes from the old city centre.

Iceland in general

The Vikings settled in Iceland, in the ninth century. They established a unique republic in AD 930 at whose heart was the Althing, now the oldest functioning parliament in the world. Freedom and respect for the individual are still the guiding values in Iceland more than a thousand years later.

Iceland is perfectly located, only 2-3 hours away by air from continental Europe and 5 hours away from the East coast of the United States.  Iceland is the second largest island in Europe and the third largest in the Atlantic Ocean. In environmental terms, Iceland is unique. It is a large country (103,000 km², about the same surface area as Ireland or the State of Virginia), but is sparsely populated, with only 3 persons per km² living mostly along the coast. The interior of the country contains stunning contrasts. It is largely an arctic desert, punctuated with mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and waterfalls. Most of the vegetation and agricultural areas are in the lowlands close to the coastline.

Climate

Iceland has a relatively mild coastal climate. The average summer temperature in Reykjavik, the capital, is 10. 6°C/51°F in July, with average highs of 24. 3°C/76°F. The average winter temperature in Reykjavik is similar to New York City's, about 0°C/32°F in January (average highs are 9. 9°C/50°C). Usually the weather is very changeable.

The mild climate stems from the Gulf Stream and attendant warm ocean currents from the Gulf of Mexico. The weather is also affected by the East Greenland polar current curving south-eastwards round the north and east coasts. For two to three months in summer there is continuous daylight in Iceland, and early spring and late autumn enjoy long twilight. However, the days are very short in mid-winter. In general there is cool summer with about  5-25 °C in July and mild winters with on average  -2,3 °C on average in Jan. The weather is rather unstable and visitors can be expecting all kind of weather in same time which makes a visit to the country even more exiting.

History and People

The first permanent settlers in Iceland were Norsemen from Scandinavia, arriving in the late 9th century, and Celts from the British Isles. The language of Iceland was Old Norse from the outset, but there are traces of Celtic influence in some of the Edda poems, in personal and place names and even in the appearance of present-day Icelanders.

Language

Icelandic, the national language, has changed very little from the original tongue spoken by the Norse settlers. Icelandic has two letters of its own, Þ/þ and Ð/ð, which were used in old English. "Þ" is pronounced as "th" in "thing" and "Ð" is pronounced as the "th" in "them". A large percentage of English words derive from Icelandic. English and Danish are widely spoken and understood in Iceland.

Parliament

Established in 930, Althingi is the oldest functioning parliament in the world, with 63 members elected for a term of four years by a popular vote. With the exception of the President and the judges of the Supreme Court, anyone who is eligible to vote can stand for a parliamentary seat. There is universal suffrage for all citizens 18 years or older.