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://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.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!
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/
Car rental
http://www.rbcars.is/ - Suzuki "Jimney" $178CAD for 3 days.
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/
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
Road conditions
http://www.vegagerdin.is/vgdata/umf_myndir//reykjanesbraut_1.jpg
