Tour Iceland ... Without Leaving Your Couch

           

Take an amazing journey around Iceland, without leaving your couch.

Brothers Patrick and Henrick Shyu of Blue Eden filmed this video of 2 weeks in March 2014 all around Iceland. 

Watch as you glide over frozen tundra and glaciers to waterfalls and volcanic rock all under the skyscape of Northern Lights. 

(h/t Iceland Review)

In A Land Far, Far Away... Iceland in Films

Do I have any film buffs reading this?

Then you've probably seen Iceland has been in the news lately related to the upcoming Star Wars film directed by JJ Abrams. 

This got me thinking about the many times I've watched a movie and tried to guess where the actual shooting location was. Does anyone else play that game? No. Just me? Ok. Cool.

I've decided to compile a list of popular movies/shows that have shot in Iceland.

Game of Thrones

I'm starting with an obvious one but as a huge Game of Thrones fan I had to go for it. Any scene taking place north of the wall is filmed in Iceland. 

http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/File:Wights_1x10.png

Fun fact*: Game of Thrones producers were the first to ever convince the large White Walker community in Iceland to be filmed on camera.

Noah

The upcoming Biblical Darren Aronofsky epic was filmed near Reykjavik in Fossvogur and also in the southern most point of the island in Reynisfjara. Reynisfjara is a breath-taking beach location. Seattle Travels named it as her favorite place in Iceland

Oblivion

Speaking of Dettifoss, the Tom Cruise post-apocalypse movie filmed at the waterfall and other areas around the country to fill in for the ruined landscape. The landscape was the most entertaining part of the movie. 

Prometheus

Many of the exterior shots were filmed in Iceland. The beginning of the film with the Engineer on a waterfall was filmed at the Dettifoss, supposedly the most power waterfall in Europe. Exterior shots around the Engineer ship were shot around Hekla. You may remember Hekla from my previous post, Want to Ride on a Volcano?  

Thor: The Dark World

Waterfalls in Iceland seem to be a popular shooting destination. Scenes of the Dark World for Thor were shot around Iceland, including Skógarfoss and Reykjavik.

http://screenrant.com/thor-2-costumes-photos-gallery/thor-2-the-dark-world-official-still-photo-asgard-waterfall/

What are your tell-tale signs of something being filmed in Iceland? Craggy landscape? Glaciers? Movies taking place in Iceland? 

*There are no such things are White Walkers, I think. 

Want To Ride On A Volcano?

Iceland is known to most as the "Land of Fire and Ice." This of course comes from the juxtaposition of its unstable tectonic location and its  snow and glaciers covered landscape. 

Recently, the fire of Iceland has been making the news. You may recall the volcano Eyjafjallojökull caused travel disruptions all over the globe in the wake of its eruption. 

Because of the havoc and destruction these eruptions cause, it may seem ironic that things which caused to much choas to air travel are used by Icelandair as names for their planes. 

via. http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/oldroot/legends/iceland/icemap.jpg

Below is a list of volcanoes used as by Icelandair for naming their planes and where you're likely to grab a ride on them.

Hengill

Hengill is located in the southwest of Iceland. The geothermic energy from it is a source of power for the southern part of the country. 

Departure Cities
New York City - J.F.K.


Her∂ubrei∂

Her∂ubrei∂ is located in the North-east of the island. 

Departure Cities
Denver 
Boston


Eyjafjallojökull

Eyjafjallojökull, arguably the most famous Iceland volcano, is located in the south of the island. It most recently erupted in 2010 causing travel disruptions and severe economic consequences felt around the world. The ash cloud spread to Western Europe, Scandanavia and Russia

Eyjafjallojökull in 2013

Eyjafjallojökull in 2010, mid-eruption

Watch a webcam live-stream from Eyjafjallojökull here

Departure Cities

Seattle
Orlando
Boston


Eldborg

Elborg is located in the West of Iceland. Only a crater now remains of it that is accessible for hikers to walk around and even climb up it.

Departure Cities

Lava Pile at Krafla
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Lava_at_Vulkan_Krafla_Iceland_4.JPG

Boston

Krafla

Krafla is located to the north. This volcano is a source of power for the northern region. 

Departure Cities
Denver
Seattle
Newark, NJ


Snæfell

Located in Western Iceland and visible from Reykjavik. This volcano was made famous in Jules Vernes' novel Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

Departure Cities
Seattle
Washington, DC
Boston


Askja

Askja is located in the central highlands of Iceland. In April 2012, it was closed to tourists in fear of possible eruption.

Departure Cities
Seattle
Orlando
Washington, DC


Hekla

Hekla, located in the South, is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes.  Scientists are predicting that it will erupting again soon. 

Eruption at Hekla
http://www.katlageopark.is/hekla-showing-signs-of-increased-seismic-activity/

Watch a webcam live-stream from Hekla here

Departure Cities
Orlando
Denver


Katla

Katla, larger than the well-known Eyjafjallojökull, is located on the southern part of the island. It is one of the more active Icelandic volcanoes. Combined, Katla and Hekla form "The Angry Sisters"

Departure Cities
Seattle


Skjalbrei∂ur

Located in the West, Skjalbrei∂ur means "broad shield"

Departure Cities
Denver



What do you think of Icelandair's naming their planes after volcanoes? Tongue-in-cheek and funny? Asking for trouble? 

I'd like to hear from you!



Further reading:
A Guide to Iceland's Volcanoes
Volcanoes of Iceland
Volcanology of Iceland

Looking For A Cheap Deal to Iceland?

Have you been to Iceland? Have a friend who's been to Iceland?

According to a recent article, "Iceland Tops European Tourism Report" in The Reykjavik Grapevine, you probably have OR do. Iceland topped other European countries with a 21% increase in foreign visitors last year. 

Groupon is taking advantage of this trend and offering a vacation deal to Reykjavik. 


Available departures dates range from October '14 to March '15 from NYC. Depending on your departure date, the price varies from $799 to $999 USD. 

This would be a perfect deal to take advantage of if you're looking to experience the infamous Icelandic New Year's Eve celebration. 

I can tell you first hand it's a MUST-DO in your life. 

The vacation package includes:

5-Day Iceland Vacation with Northern-Lights ViewingDespite its name and northerly location, much of Iceland's landscape is carpeted in greenery. This vacation puts you in Reykjavik, the heart of Iceland and the northernmost capital city on earth. There's no set itinerary, so travelers can spend most of the vacation exploring the Icelandic landscape at their own pace. This vacation includes a nighttime tour to see the breathtaking northern lights. This vacation includes:

• Round-trip airfare

• Airline taxes and fuel surcharges

• Alternate departure dates/gateways may be available for additional fees.

• 3 nights of standard accommodations at Best Western Hotel Reykjavik, Bjork Hotel, or similar, depending on option purchased

• Daily breakfast

• Northern-lights evening tour

So... What are you waiting for?!?!

Literary Sites: Reykjavik and New York

Reykjavik is known for many things: the bitter cold, the hard partying, and it's great literature. Wait... what?

That's right! Reykjavik is known for it's great literature. It has bore such works as:

• The Eddas - split into the Prose Edda and the Poetic Eddas. These are compilations of poems that serve as the greatest source of Norse mythology. 
• Independent People - written by Icelandic author, Halldór Laxness. He went on to win the Nobel Prize for Literarture in 1955 for his work.

Because of the above works and many others, Reykjavik was the first non-native English speaking city to receive the UNESCO City of Literature and the fifth in the world. 

"Reykjavík boasts a veritable abundance of literary riches, with our Icelandic medieval literature ranking amongst the world’s most important and culturally significant. Still read the world over, The Icelandic Sagas, which tell of extensive family disputes between blood-thirsty vikings, are a case in point. The Culture House exhibits some of the original medieval manuscripts, including the poetic Edda - the key to Nordic mythology - which is without doubt amongst the most important medieval literature specimens ever preserved. The Arnemagnean Manuscript Collection, also preserved in Reykjavík, was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2009." 

To commemorate this, painted all over the city on walls, streets, buildings you'll find famous quotes from Icelandic literature.

You're able to get a closer look at a lot of these works of art in the Icelandic Culture House. This offers the best one-stop sightseeing of the greatest works of Icelandic literature from preserved Edds to Thor comics. 

If you'd like to continue your literature exploration of Iceland, the Reykjavik UNESCO literature site has set up a literary map and a literary walk and tails map. The walk and trail map is also an app available for download for iPhone and Android. 

You may be surprised to find that New York City is not considered a UNESCO City of Literature. This, of course, doesn't mean that there aren't some great literary sites to see once you're back home and looking to continue your literary travels around New York. 

One of the first places I'd recommend is to grab a drink at the famous Algonquin Hotel, where Dorothy Parker and the rest of her roundtable coterie held court and formed "The Vicious Circle."

After a few martinis, head over to Tiffany's and see the windows adored by Holly Golightly in Truman Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Then Head on to Central Park and see the Bethesda Fountain featured in Tony Kushner's play, "Angels in America." 

For suggestions on other New York City literary sites, check out:

• Beats, bars, and books: Visiting the literary spots of New York City
• A Book Lovers Guide to New York City
• Walking Off The Big Apple - Literary New York

For further reading:
Reykjavik UNESCO City of Literature 
VisitReykjavik - UNESCO City of Literature 

Literature.is

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Black Death || Brennivín or What You Drink With Fermented Shark

Schnapps - Every country has their own take on it but none are, arguably, as notorious as Iceland's Brennivín aka Black Death. It is the drink that is traditionally served cold and used as a chaswer after eating Hákarl, or fermented shark.

Brennivín has only been available to people visiting Iceland and or to those lucky enough to have friends bring it back in suitcases from Duty-Free.

That's soon all about to change...

A new American importer, Brennivín America is about to supply locations all over the country.

Via it's twitter feed, @BrennivinUSA, they have confirmed that DrinkUpNY in Park Slope will be stocking it.

I'll keep you updated on any new locations.

Looking for The Most Expensive Coffee in New York City?

UPDATE: The once $7 Licorice Latte is now... $10.

Have you ever asked yourself, "Self, Where can I get some nordic-sourced coffee in New York City?" Ask no longer! 

Bú∂in(Budin) in Greenpoint can now satisfy all your coffee needs. Always on the menu are coffees roasted in Norway and Sweden with a rotating menu sourced from Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland.

It's only been in business for two weeks but it's already making waves in the New York scene; it was just included in Zagat's list of "8 Hottest Coffeeshops in NYC." It also appears to have topped another list - Most expensive latte in New York City - with a price tag of $7

Coffee won't be the only thing you can get at Bú∂in. Judging by the still-in-progress website, Budin will also offer Beer and Liquor. Will Brennívin or Einstök soon be passing the lips of Greenpointers? Let's hope so. 

Keep up with them via Facebook, Twitter (@BudinNYC), Instagram (Budinnyc)

Have you tasted the coffee yet? Let me know in comments what you think? Is it worth $7  $10?

Bú∂in

114 Greenpoint Ave

Brooklyn, New York 11222

Hours

Mon - Fri || 7am - 8pm

Sat - Sun || 8am - 8pm

For further reading:
"Take A Chance On Me: Budin Brings Scandanavian Coffee to NYC" on Sprudge.com 
and NordicCoffeeCulture.com.

Music Monday - Sin Fang

Sin Fang aka Sindri Már Sigfússon from Seabear will be performing songs in support of his third solo album, Flowers at the Standard, East Village Hotel on March 11th as part of the Annie O music series.

Best Part... It's FREE. 

Where: Chez Andre @ The Standhard
When: Tuesday, March 11 || 6 - 8pm
Tickets: FREE || RSVP - aohayon@standardhotel.com
Facebook Event Page

"Young Boys" Flowers