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Have YOU Been To
Intriguing Iceland? Words and photos (except where otherwise
noted)
by John Clayton First of Two Parts
Now I've tickled your sense of geography, where – yes WHERE – do you think Iceland is? Is it by the North Pole? South Pole or maybe someplace in between? Well, it's actually a mountainous island region in the North Atlantic Ocean – sort of half way between Scandinavia and Greenland and North America.
I flew to Iceland on – what else – IcelandAir. As a travel journalist I've flown hundreds of thousands of miles all over the world, on a huge variety of airlines, and my aviation background (as Manager of Publicity for Continental Airlines) often takes me back in time to the good old days when flight attendants (back then they were known as "Stewardesses") looked like flight attendants. I knew from research that many Icelandic women often tend to have that Nordic sort of, well intense beauty. So I was delighted to be warmly greeted aboard the Icelandair 757-200 by an attractive flight attendant who was wearing a hat – nothing really unusual about that you might say, but yes there is! Today when so many different airlines have flight attendant uniforms that are – in my mind – all "Look Alikes," and with virtually none of them wearing of a hat, it reminded me of years gone by when such things as a hat, gave them that classic stewardess' look. And Icelandair's flight attendants' uniforms of today, and their stylish hats, are unique – and exceptional. Sitting in Icelandair's marvelous Business Class, I knew this flight, on this airline was special. Very special, and my journey to explore this remarkable, and completely fascinating country, would also be unbelievably marvelous. Which it was. Right on schedule, the wheels of the aircraft graced the runway so gently it was difficult to realize that we'd arrived at Keflavik, the airport for the country's capital of Reykjavik (pronounced REK - CAR - VIK). I was part of a small group of travel journalists invited to this one-of-a-kind destination by IcelandAir and, after a tour of this modern and up to date city, our guide said he wanted to show us – and have us do – something "thrilling, exciting and extraordinary." So we went out into the back country for Snowmobiling. Now then, what's the most jaw dropping, thrilling thing YOU'VE ever done on one of YOUR vacations? Snowmobiling tops them all – especially in Iceland.
Our four wheel drive luxury Super Jeep Safari headed towards lots of mountains, and with each magical mile we traveled, THIS was how I'd imagined Iceland. Breathtaking vistas of snowcapped mountains that not only sparkled like a huge goblet full of the most dazzling diamonds, but they seemed so glacial and awesome, I began to wonder if this was a mirage, and if it was actually a Hollywood back lot. But no, it was the real deal, and it was beautiful. We arrived at this open, almost flat field, and saw a couple of huge white trailer trucks (you know the kind, the ones that Hollywood stars' use as their home away from home on location) that had the words MOUNTAINEERS of ICELAND emblazoned on its white and black sides. As I'd never ridden a Snowmobile, I was – to be honest – a bit apprehensive about such things as how you started this contraption, and how you made it go faster or, heaven forbid, you needed to stop yourself from crashing into a crevasse! I wondered about what to wear, for while I was dressed warmly, I didn't have what I assumed would be "Snowmobiling Clothes."
That was what these trailers were for. They fitted me out in clothes that, as you see in the accompanying photo, made me look as if I was some sort of Space Alien – huge gloves, huge black helmet, goggles, thicker than thick pants, and sheathed me in so much warm clothing, I was prepared that if I did fall off, I'd be snugly warm lying there in the snow waiting to be rescued. I need not have worried. If there is one VERY important fact that these Snowmobile folks want you to know, it is how to drive their vehicles safely, how not to drive too fast, and how to stop it.
There are many other wonderful things about this intriguing destination, such as how you can tell if a family has a son or daughter by their last name and, joy oh joy, a healthy outdoor Spa in the snow that warms you so lovingly you want to come back every day and, can you believe this, Iceland has a one-of-a-kind "Banana (yes, Banana!) Greenhouse" – who knew you could grow that fruit in THIS climate – all this and more, in the very near future. Until then check out Iceland at www.iceland.is The most comprehensive guide, full of perfect photos, incredible information, and nifty news, is the INSIGHT GUIDE Iceland. Related Articles: |
K,
so when I tell you I'm going to Iceland, what do you think of? Lots
of ice perhaps? Snow? Well me too, so it was a huge surprise when I
got there that this is NOT how it looks. At first. To get that view
of this incredible island you sometimes have to go inland – more on
that in moment.
