Been planning a trip to Iceland for about a year...im leaving in about 3 hours, and decided to check the weather forecast...

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http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/local/ICXX0002?itemName=Iceland&lswa=WeatherLocalUndeclared&geoCd=4&geoCdChild=1&countryCd=IC&countryName=Iceland&lswe=iceland&what=WeatherLocalUndeclared&itemCd=IC

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I know, I know...thats what to expect this time of the year...but still. Fuck.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Has anyone been before? Anything I should know about in this late hour?

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

they discovered america

― amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

What's the issue? It sounds like it's gorgeous out there.

― Bryan (Bryan), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Where the fuck do you live?

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Winnipeg. It's 18 F here right now and that's a really nice day here.

― Bryan (Bryan), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

In comparison your comment doesnt seem so smart-ass now. I stand corrected.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Friday, 13 February 2004 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

You're going to Iceland in the dead of winter and you're complaining about non-freezing weather? You are a kook.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 13 February 2004 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Eh, maybe. This is when the auroras are plentiful though...and less tourists. Viking fest month too.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Friday, 13 February 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Nice! Stay warm, then fave fun.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 13 February 2004 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The incessant rain will be dramatic!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 13 February 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Mmm, Iceland in the rain. Where are you staying, the cluster of hotels in the Laugarvelgfdsfsfdsfer valley? go to the thermal swimming pool nearby, it rocks.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Saturday, 14 February 2004 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1675000/images/_1679442_coleman300.jpg

You should go to the Fire Dances - hell, let's all go!

― jaz odysseus, Saturday, 14 February 2004 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

it was unseasonably cold when i was there in the fall, probably what it's like now. bring lots of thermals and heavy winter gear. i'm stating the painfully obvious, but IT'S REALLY FUCKING COLD - howling wind, totally bone chilling. the girls there are impervious to the temperature, though, and totter around in stiletto sandals and miniskirts no matter what it's like (reminded me of glasgow in that respect).
be warned that getting insanely drunk and fighting seems to be the national pastime.

― lauren (laurenp), Saturday, 14 February 2004 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

sign me up now!

― Viva La Sam (thatgirl), Saturday, 14 February 2004 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

So, Im back. The trip was totally sweet...we drove the whole ring road around the island(~2300 Kilometers total).

Things I learned:

-Icelanders love hotdogs
-All people in Iceland speak english
-Everything is ridiculously expensive
-Picture perfect scenery everywhere
-Stopping on a 20-degree incline mountain dirt road covered in ice is a really bad idea...long story short, I almost died...
-Wool is itchy
-Waterfalls and boiling blue mud is totally sweet
-90% of the island smells like sulphur
-Gas by the liter is absurd
-Their ketchup is not really ketchup at all
-The classic rock station their rocks ass, and its called 'SKONROKK' (their shall be a streaming link posted below if you are interested)
-The geothermal pools are really neat, you can swim outside at night in the snow...huge pools that are about 120 degrees F
-The blue lagoon rocks ass

There was a lot of shit there, cant remember it all. I went to a penis museum...uhhhh. Whatever.

SKONROKK-> http://www.skonrokk.is/

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Sunday, 22 February 2004 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah...

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Feb/20042223860804398025577.jpg

Dimmu Borgir was kind of a let-down. I expected it to be all evil and shit...but it was just a bunch of black rocks everywhere with moss. The rocks didnt even kick my ass or anything.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Sunday, 22 February 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Great band though!

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 22 February 2004 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't Irish monks (and vicars?) discover Iceland but then go home again?

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 22 February 2004 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I dont know. Whatever they did, they brought back Vikings and Hotdogs eventually. Im not sure where on the timeline that is though.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Sunday, 22 February 2004 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Wool is itchy

So THAT'S what Sigur Ros are singing.

"Itchy WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL..."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 22 February 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Didn't Irish monks (and vicars?) discover Iceland but then go home again?

I read somewhere that they settled some island off Iceland and were there when the Norse colonists arrived. Perhaps at that point they were all killed, my sources are a little vague on the subject.

I was very surprised to see a comment of mine upthread reappear on the ho ho ho larf outloud thread.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know whether to kiss you or slap you for that joke, Ned.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Thank you.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:13 (twenty-two years ago)

whata about auroras?

― A Nairn (moretap), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

It was cloudy most of the time, and snowed a couple nights. So we didnt catch any auroras...I really wanted to see one though. You have to stay up a long-ass time and just stare at the sky in hopes to be lucky enough to see them happen.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

They have aurora tours where they take you out to a remote location via bus and feed you coffee/desserts all night so you can be awake to see them. We opted out on that.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

This Is The Thread Where We Take Ned And Shake Him (Shake Him, Shake Him), Shake Him (Shake Him, Shake Him), Shake Him (Shake Him, Shake Him), Shake Him, Shake Him (Shake Him, Shake Him), Shake Him Like A Poloroid Picture.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Well now.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 22 February 2004 21:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn you Ned for jacking my iceland thread. I hate you.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Sunday, 22 February 2004 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I really dont hate you...that was quite irrational. Apologies.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Sunday, 22 February 2004 23:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, Spinktron, this has been very useful info. thank ye :)

I'm planning a trip there in mid to late June.. (granted, more touristy season, but hell... I'm being a tourist there, aren't I? Like I can hide this fact?)

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 23 February 2004 00:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Is it possible to get there from the UK for less that £283.50?

― hmmm, Monday, 23 February 2004 13:32 (twenty-two years ago)

prices have to be high, to keep the riff-raff out. It's an auction, like with pay for executives.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 23 February 2004 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I dont know how much it costs from the UK, I know there is a car ferry though. Im sure thats not as much as airfare. Icelandair is always doing specials, and its cheap anyways. They also give you back 15-20% of what you spent back when you leave the country, to promote tourism and shit.

― Spinktron 2000 (El Spinktor), Monday, 23 February 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

did you see Thingvellir?

now I want to go

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 28 February 2004 06:31 (twenty-two years ago)

did you see any fairies or gnomes? icelandic people (allegedly) believe in them.

― björkbär (llamasfur), Saturday, 28 February 2004 06:35 (twenty-two years ago)

or Trolls who turned to stone when the sun came up? I saw some of those. I also saw fairy houses, but the fairies were all indoors at the time.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Saturday, 28 February 2004 19:33 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

I just reserved a single room for three days at the Ad*m Guesthouse in central Reykjavik. It has a private bathroom, bed, and personal kitchen area... it goes for a little over a $100US a day. Am I being ripped off?

(Unlike Spinktor, I'm not renting a car... I'm just sticking around Reykjavik for three days, but will do a day-long bus/jeep tour into the interior including Geiser and the Kjoller desert glaciers and other things. Oh, and I'm visiting the Blue Lagoon on the way back to the airport.. and other things to come in between surely.)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 09:40 (twenty-one years ago)

that doesn't sound like a total rip off...it's really expensive there. when i went a few years ago, we could only afford to eat out one meal a day, and ate hot dogs/grilled cheese for lunch from a convenience store every day.

but it was still a great trip. have fun!

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 09:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Takk, Colette. :) what's cool about the room is that it has a kitchen, so I can cook meals and hopefully save some money (of which I will certainly be spending on tours and things that like.). And there's supposedly a 16-hour-a-day grocery store right below the guesthouse. And I did choose a really expensive time to visit an expensive country, after all.

I'm a little wary though, as I called the man at the guesthouse (named R a g n a r) and he sounded old and cranky... but hey, maybe that's part of the local charm.

Anyway, more things I should watch out (as far as being ripped off)? Or should I just give in to the fact that I will be ripped off for every minor thing? (I heard they even charge you for the plastic bag you put your groceries in)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 09:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Well yes, they are kings of environmentalism innit. SO take a shopping bag.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 09:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I found eating out only slightly more expensive than rip-off Dublin, especially if you eat fish. Alcohol is a good bit more expensive. Bring duty-free and a hip flask.

Coffee is good value, I seem to remember.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 10:19 (twenty-one years ago)

...and the hot dogs really are quite good. Be like the Buddhist monk of the story and ask to be made one with everything.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

i arrived, ate lobster (which was about 13 times the price i ate it for in Maine a month later), then lived on toast. if your place does breakfast, eat as much in the morning as you can. their cakes and coffee are REALLY, REALLY good and not stupid expensive, either.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

yup. it's a really pricey city. i was there for two days and ate breakfast twice, lunch once. i made up the rest with hotel room peanuts. no matter how hungry you get, do not let anyone talk you into trying dried fish. i cannot stress this enough. also, the bath water stinks (STINKS) like sulfur. also, icelanders like to fight.

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i've heard good things about the adam guesthouse, db. $100 a night sounds like par for the course.

(xpost lauren absolutely otm about the dried fish, sulfur and fighting. the latter issue knows no age limits, btw. on our first night there i saw a 55 year old businessman giving some teenager a headlock in the snow.)

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

The ladies are very pretty.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I just read an okay enough book, Bobby Fischer Goes to War, about the Fischer-Spassky matches -- from the sound of it, DB should bring a spare liver to cover the fiendish liqour consumption he'll be making (willingly or not).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 22 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

THAT IS SO WRONG

http://www.doune-braes.co.uk/wildlife/puffin.jpg

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:02 (twenty-one years ago)

mmmm smokey

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah well, have to move on to Jamaican salt fish then.

I am quite happy with eating cute creatures. Awwww sweet ickle TASTY birdie.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Yum! It'll go well with some koala tacos.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

actually i probably would eat one. i like ducks but am happy to eat them.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Liz - the Jamaican stuff probably comes from there too - it's traditionally the scrag ends. Have tyou read Cod by Mark Kurlansky? it's excellent

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Life after cod will be lame.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

i want to go back. i'm considering doing airwaves again this year as it's a cheap package.

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Have tyou read Cod by Mark Kurlansky? it's excellent

His salt book was pretty good.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:14 (twenty-one years ago)

want to go back. i'm considering doing airwaves again this year as it's a cheap package.

really, i was thinking about that, too. getting one of those icelandair flights to new york and seeing friends, then hitting reykjavik on the way back. you could stop me getting duffed up, lauren.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

me and my fists of fury. i don't usually brawl, but something about scandinavian countries brings down the red mist.
the lineup isn't very good this year, but it's really all about puffins and thermal pools.

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Most food is imported so even cooking your own meals can be quite costly if you're relying on the supermarkets to supply your every need. Seriously think about taking some provisions with you - not fruit/veg/dairy products obviously, you won't be able to import those - but packets of dried stuff shouldn't weigh you down too much. Stock up while you're with us London folks.

When I was in Iceland many years ago (as a student) we were in tents nad our trip coincided with the tail end of one of the Atlantic hurricaines ripping through the island. Both tents were badly damaged. We sought help from a nearby farm the next day, and they couldn't have been more helpful - feeding us and driving us to the nearest hostel where we stayed that night. The next day the hostel manager drove us back to the road where we could catch a bus to Reykjavik. We thought we were getting a "lift" but at the end of the ride a substantial sum of money was demanded. We pleaded poverty and got away with paying over a lesser sum.

Moral: the locals involved in the tourism industry do tend to milk visitors for all they can get. Just remember that's not a reflection on Icelanders as a whole.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:29 (twenty-one years ago)

have you seen the lineup yet? it was good last year tho i missed a lot of it due to wanting to see the place and wanting to check some modern classical business by one of the aparat organ guys in the cathedral

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

the kills, the prosaics, tv on the radio, eighties b line matchbox disaster, calla... loads of icelandic bands, some djs (audio bullys, my friend nadia)... kind of meh. but, puffins!

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

and fights!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i might be able to get someone to pay iceland costs if i write about it, thus making the whole experience a little less pricey. i imagine eating out in iceland could be really nice if you're on expenses.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

my trip (and a lot of alcohol) was paid for last time, but unfortunately meals were our own business. we looked longingly at lots of menus. i felt like a starving orphan.

― lauren (laurenp), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:53 (twenty-one years ago)

me, too. i remember looking into a restaurant window with a pained expression on my face, then going to a supermarket, buying a prawn sandwich (whick are cheap) and a big bag of crisps and going to bed!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm taking food with me this time.

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, Dave, I did that IcelandAir thing between NYC and London with the free stop in Iceland thing (thank you thank you thank you Phil-Two for mentioning this way back when!)

* I can't really drink a lot of alcohol for medical reasons
* I'm vegetarian
* I know nobody there

So, as exotic as smoked puffin sounds, I think I'll be sparing those colorful little potatoes with wings a break. Maybe I'll take Jeff's advice and just stock up on whatever food I can bring over to Iceland on the plane.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Otherwise, thank you all for the advice. This R a g n a r guy sounded he wanted to start a fight with me on the phone.. haha

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

those colorful little potatoes with wings

TRUMPY!

http://www.mst3k.org/images/303/small-trumpy.jpg

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

(I will eat cheese though, which I suspect will be what will save me as far as culinary offerings in Iceland)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

(goddamn you raggett for summoning that thing)

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Hope your trip goes well, db. Beware the rabid einars.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

If you quote the description what do you expect, DB?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Why ned why

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 19:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Because I'm EVIL and I HATE YOU.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

five months pass...

REVIVE! Because we are going in Jan maybe Feb next year. I've been looking at icelandholidays.com but is there any where better to book through? I live in the UK.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

So it seems like I may be going to Iceland. What should I expect?

― adamrl (nordicskilla), Friday, 20 January 2006 18:54 (twenty years ago)

a massive party!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 20 January 2006 18:56 (twenty years ago)

is this for work?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 20 January 2006 18:56 (twenty years ago)

have you been?

xp-no

― adamrl (nordicskilla), Friday, 20 January 2006 18:57 (twenty years ago)

is this for Bjork?

― laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Friday, 20 January 2006 18:57 (twenty years ago)

http://www.mackron.com/summertrip2004/

Scroll down to the Iceland sections.

When are you going, Adam?

― Dom iNut (donut), Friday, 20 January 2006 18:59 (twenty years ago)

It's not definite, but about the same time of year that you went.

― adamrl (nordicskilla), Friday, 20 January 2006 19:04 (twenty years ago)

Do you need it to be very dark outside in order to sleep? If not, get theeself some eye blockers, because it will NEVER get dark in June.. ever.

― Dom iNut (donut), Friday, 20 January 2006 19:06 (twenty years ago)

Of course, that was the one of the hidden reasons I went then.. haha.

― Dom iNut (donut), Friday, 20 January 2006 19:07 (twenty years ago)

I assume you'll be in Reykjavik? Expect the weather to be changing frequently between very nice, and cold n' pissy... like London in the spring. Make sure to go to the Blue Lagoon when it's cold n' pissy, because that's what makes the Blue Lagoon worth it.. it seems pointless to soak in hot water on a warm sunny day otherwise.

― Dom iNut (donut), Friday, 20 January 2006 19:09 (twenty years ago)

six months pass...

delish

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 23 July 2006 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

three years pass...

I have vacation in January, and Iceland has cheap packages. Is it worth doing in January? I don't mind the cold so much, but the limited daylight hours could be a bit limiting?

Also, is there enough to do in Reykjavik to warrant spending six nights there, per package deal?

― Virginia Plain, Tuesday, 15 December 2009 01:44 (sixteen years ago)

Are they still burning króna in the streets? Haven't seen much reporting on the finance crash since mid-summer.

― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 15 December 2009 01:54 (sixteen years ago)

Allegedly the IMF's recently been:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gAcZ3P_6zz1qzPNuMJwIYCNtwqEg

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 15 December 2009 01:58 (sixteen years ago)

three years pass...

im going to iceland for two weeks in may, renting a campervan and driving around the ring road

what stuff should i make sure to see!

― max, Thursday, 21 March 2013 20:18 (thirteen years ago)

sheep

― veryupsetmom (harbl), Thursday, 21 March 2013 22:28 (thirteen years ago)

jealous! i had planned to go this summer but wouldn't have been able to save enough money in time.

if i were you, i would take a ferry to vestmannaeyjar, go to akureyri and see the akureyrakirkja, and rent a car to drive through the sprengisandur desert.

enjoy!

― 君ちゃん (clouds), Thursday, 21 March 2013 22:35 (thirteen years ago)

tried to take a bus from reykjavik to vestmannaeyjar a few years ago but the ferry was down or something and the bus wasn't running. so we asked the nice girl at the bus station where we should go instead and she looked at us like why the fuck are you asking me i'm not a tour guide and suggested we go to vik. we asked her what's in vik and she just kind of shrugged, because she wanted us to leave her alone. we ended up hanging out in reykjavik that day and going to videy.

what i am saying is that you should go to vik and tell me what is there.

― adam, Thursday, 21 March 2013 22:58 (thirteen years ago)

seven years pass...

https://www.ruv.is/frett/2021/03/03/beint-vefstreymi-af-skjalftasvaedinu

― a mix between Daft Punk and Daft Punk with the swagger of Daft Punk (Maresn3st), Wednesday, 3 March 2021 17:32 (five years ago)

two weeks pass...

Soundtrack is some serious isolationist/drone vibes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O46nVKTdpBc

― Maresn3st, Tuesday, 23 March 2021 00:42 (five years ago)

I could totally sleep to that sound

― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 23 March 2021 04:42 (five years ago)

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