Hallo Iceland!

Arriving on Icelandair

Our trip to Iceland began at Newark International Airport where we boarded an Icelandair 757 Boeing jet for a 5-hour trip to Keflavik Airport in Keflavik, Iceland.  Only 5 hours to get to Iceland?  Wow, we can’t even get a domestic flight to Los Angeles, California from Newark that will get us there in that short a time!  And the time difference is only 4 hours which is reasonably painless. This puts a whole new spin on taking impromptu getaway jaunts.  Why go to our west coast, when you can go to a fun European place like Iceland in less time?  And the Iceland Air travel costs are much less too.  We may do this more often.

Iceland is self-sufficient on totally renewable energy

At Keflavik’s Leif Ericson Airport, we met up with our travel friends Amy and Ted Warren, then hopped an Icelandic “Flybus” over to the capital city of Reykjavik where we would be staying for our time here in Iceland.  It was early in the morning and still somewhat dark outside, but we saw great scenery as we made the 45-minute drive over to Hotel Klettur in the heart of Reykjavik. We passed by lava-strewn fields looking like piles of rubble, snow-covered mountains, and even a cloud of steam from one of Iceland’s ubiquitous geothermal vents. On arrival, our 6^th floor room was ready, and we crashed for the next few hours for a bit of quality rest.

Rainbow over the city of Reykjavik

History of Iceland

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and the northernmost capital in the world. During June and July, the sun shines 24 hours a day! Of course, it is just the opposite in the middle of winter. It is so cold here in the winter that the cows are kept inside all winter long. About 300,000 people live in Iceland, and ¾ of them are located in the Reykjavik area. Unemployment here is at a commendable (and unbelievable) 2 to 3%. 

The first inhabitant, a Norwegian Viking, chose the name Reykjavik which means “Smoky or Steamy Bay” because of the steam rising above the waters of the bay. The Norwegian Vikings established a settlement back in 874 AD; they brought along a lot of Irish and Scottish women, so you will see both Norwegian and Celtic influences here.  Many women sport fine red hair.  The indigenous language of Iceland is a developed combo of Norwegian and Celtic, altho just about everyone speaks English as well. 

A real Viking barbarian!

The Icelandic word “Vik” means bay.  And the word “Viking” comes from the word Vik because the Vikings were always searching for safe bays. A Viking, contrary to popular belief, was not always a marauding barbarian, wearing a pointy metal helmet with horns, intent on pillaging and warring with others.  A Viking was merely a sailor who explored from bay to bay.  Yes, there were bands of nasty privateering Vikings who raped and pillaged, but that was not the norm.  Basically, they were explorers and traders (at least this is the view Icelanders choose to believe).

After the Vikings degenerated into civil wars among themselves, the island was ruled by the Danes until WWII. On 17 June 1944, Iceland declared itself a free republic. Many Brits and Americans were stationed here during WWII keeping Iceland untouched by Hitler.

All of Iceland operates on free energy 

Natural Resources

Iceland has remarkable natural resources. Almost all of Iceland’s electrical power is provided by renewable energy: roughly 75% from hydroelectric power (lots of waterfalls) and 25% geothermal. This country is very environmentally conscious; its pristine countryside is a badge of honor to each Icelander and a model for the rest of the world. Electricity and hot water are practically free for residents. Molten magma flows just beneath the earth’s mantle in many spots in Iceland creating great reservoirs of potential energy and steam. Unlike the rest of the world that is busy drilling for oil, here in Iceland they “drill for steam!”

At the Blue Lagoon (which we'll talk about next time!)

So we are off to a good start for our Icelandic adventure. As the locals say, “We are happy as a cow in spring!” (For some reason, many of the Icelandic sayings seem to involve cows.)