Reykjavik NYE and Iceland 2009

Iceland general

Sunrise/sunset: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=211&month=1&year=2009&obj=sun&afl=-13&day=1

http://bjork.com/

http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/ - interview about economic crisis - http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/music/and+the+band+played+on+sigur+ros/2835457

Good magazine: http://www.grapevine.is/Home/

Snæfellsjökull

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sn%C3%A6fellsj%C3%B6kull_National_Park is apparently the park to go, volcanoes/lava/lava fields, glaciers, etc.

the park's flyer in pdf (includes English).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/icelandhike2005/sets/72157594570000209/ - pictures

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/410574600_f3eb83be39.jpg

Iceland in winter

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/05/AR2008120501689.html - notes on where to eat, places to stay, what to see, etc.

After midnight is when the runtur really starts. Experience this all-night party along Reykjavik's main drag (Austurstraeti/Bankastraeti/Laugavegur), stopping at posh Rex (Austurstraeti 9) and Cafe Oliver (Laugavegur 20), seeing a garage band at Bar 11 (Laugavegur 11) or bigger acts at NASA (Austurvollur) or just popping into any cafe or bar on the strip.

http://www.gungeralv.org/notes/archives/2005/12/winter_in_iceland.php - exploring, including Snæfellsjökull (Snaefellsnes).

http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/sn%C3%A6fellsnes,winter has some great pics, including winter.

http://leglobetrotteur.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/what-we-do-in-iceland-during-the-winter/

But the cold and dark winters mean that we spend a lot of time online – 75% of the population have broadband access at home. It used to mean that we read a lot, but now I think a lot of that time is spent online. Since we spend a lot of time indoors, it shouldn’t be surprising that we have the world record in electricity usage, all of it produced by the clean renewable energy resources that we enjoy up here. And everyone has a mobile. So we are really well connected. Which means that you shouldn’t be surprised that online gaming is a factor here – just witness – EVE Online - http://www.eve-online.com/ an Icelandic online game.

...

What you may not know is that we have the highest use of anti-depressants in Europe (possibly in the world) and it may just be that natural selection took care of those that couldn’t stand the cold and dark winters. The winters also go a long way to explain why there’s a thriving nightlife in Reykjavik.

http://www.idlewords.com/2003/11/a_morning_in_iceland.htm

If you are flying to Europe for any reason, you would be silly not to check out Iceland Air. Just like Vegas, where they make layovers longer to maximize passenger gambling, Iceland Air tries to give you long enough between planes to zip over to the Blue Lagoon (my nine-hour layover was an unusually long exception), and the tour staff is used to whisking passengers there and back between flights. It costs a whopping $25, on top of the $304 (all taxes included) I paid for a round trip ticket between Boston and Amsterdam. Instead of spending eight hours in a plane, you can have two shorter flights with a hot bath in between, you can see Iceland, and you can arrive in Europe in the early evening, just in time to check in for a good night's sleep.

Goals

Reykjavik at New Year's

http://ask.metafilter.com/29704/What-should-i-do-in-Reykjav%C3%ADk-Iceland-for-new-years-eve

Restaurants

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/nov/22/restaurants-reykjavik-iceland

We are reserving at Orange for NYE. http://www.orange.is/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=97 I requested "meat alternative" for myself, I hope I don't get an iceberg lettuce salad!

Authentic Organic Icelandic Fish and Chips http://www.fishandchips.is/ Menu: http://www.fishandchips.is/eng_menu.htm

Totally satisfying oven-baked pizza with a wide choice of toppings - snails an unusual specialty. Well worth the cost. http://www.eldsmidjan.is/matsedill/

I've got to find and try Skyr creme brule. Where would be a good place to do find it?

This Perlan restaurant is a landmark: http://www.perlan.is/

Lodging

http://www.hostel.is/ for at least a couple of nights.

Lava fields

http://www.grundarfjordur.is/default.asp?tre_rod=002%7C&Sid_Id=10283&tId=1&qsr

Hot spring

Blue Lagoon http://www.bluelagoon.com/

Cooking class

Aurora borealis (Northern Lights)

http://blog.icelandexpress.com/iceland/2006/10/12/northern-lights/

Somewhere over your head, mostly on clear, cold nights from October to March.

Car rental

http://www.rbcars.is/ - Suzuki "Jimney" $178CAD for 3 days.

http://www.reykjavikrentacar.is/ - Jeep Grand Cherokee $167 for 3 days.

They look like the same company to me.

Tours

http://www.tour.is/tours/activity_tours.php includes a number of tours, including year-round snorkling and horseback riding.

If you would like to see Iceland underwater, this tour is for you! You will have the opportunity to snorkel in Silfra, one of the world’s top ten diving sites situated in the National Park Þingvellir.
Silfra is a crack/fissure in the earth between the Eurasian plate and the American plate, which are drifting apart about 4-6 cm every year.
The water in Silfra is ascends from the lava after being filtered for years underground from the highlands glaciers. You are able to swim out the crack without effort because of a light current that pushes you.

http://www.re.is/DayTours/Allourtours/

http://adventures.is/Iceland/Hiking/

Other sites

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/nov/16/reykjavik-iceland-new-year-holiday

http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/cityprofilereykjavik/p/aboutreykjavik.htm (also links about Iceland, Snaefellsnes, etc).

Weather

http://en.vedur.is/

Road conditions

http://www.vegagerdin.is/umferd-og-faerd/faerd-og-astand/faerd-og-vedur/faerd-um-allt-land/island1.html

http://www.vegagerdin.is/vgdata/umf_myndir//reykjanesbraut_1.jpg