FOR a country bankrupted by the credit crunch, Icelanders are a happy bunch.
The capital Reykjavik rocks to the beat of pubs, clubs and bars that make a party atmosphere to shed light on dark winter days.
One of them, Kaffibarinn, is owned by Blur frontman Damon Albarn.
Best bar none ... Damon Albarn owns Kaffibarinn in Reykjavik
Even better for Brits who want to follow in Damon's sneaker prints, Iceland's economic woes mean it is one of the few places where your holiday Pound stretches further than it did a few years ago.
A city that was once one of Europe's most expensive is now super-affordable.
The locals' love of a party also means Christmas and New Year are great times to visit.
Not content with just one Santa Claus, Icelandic tradition has 13! Each has his own name, character and role and one visits the city every day in the run-up to Christmas to bring sweets and get up to mischief.
On New Year's Eve adults can join in the fun as caution is thrown to the wind.
Everyone lets off fireworks that compete with the official display that lights the night - if you wondered what a party in a war zone might be like, this would be it.
Rock 'n' roll bar ... Albarn's Kaffibarinn
Reykjavik - which means Smoky Bay - is a compact and intimate city that is clean and surprisingly modern. The wooden New England-style houses are brightly painted to lessen the gloom of winter.
It's all a stark contrast to the millennia-old natural wonders on the city's doorstep.
Within an hour of the city you can take one of the many Golden Circle tours to geological hotspots such as the towering Gullfoss waterfall and Thingvellir National Park where you'll learn why most of Reykjavik has a faint whiff of egg.
Iceland lies on a geological boundary between two of the earth's plates, making for volcanoes and geothermal springs that are used to heat the city and provide hot water.
The park is a great place to see the Northern Lights and you can drive across the rift and technically get from Europe to North America without getting on a plane.
Tours normally end with a trip to the Blue Lagoon, an outdoor spa where the water tops 36°C and where you can smear your face in silica mud and chill out for hours.
Organs
The Reykjavik skyline is dominated by the Hallgrimskirkja, a church built in the style of a Viking longboat. Inside is one of the biggest organs I've ever seen and you can climb the bell-tower for great views of the city.
On the horizon, you'll see the Pearl building and restaurant.
An amazing huge glass dome, it sits on top of six huge water tanks that store all the hot water drawn from the springs.
A meal here is excellent but expensive. If you're on a budget, try an excellent seven-course taster menu that includes all sorts from goose to reindeer.
Pretty good ... view of Reykjavik
Alternatively, the Icelandic Fish 'N' Chips restaurant on the harbour has great home-cooked grub and was just around the corner from our hotel, the three-star Fosshotel Baron, which has a superb seafront location and rooms from around £90 a night.
One of our last points of call was the The Icelandic Phallological Museum - or the penis museum - where there are more than a hundred stuffed and pickled members on display.
They include all native animals from a dormouse to a sperm whale with only two missing: those of a man and an elf. Yes, in this slightly crazy country, they really believe in the little people!
Folk tales abound of them invading homes and throwing wild parties. There is even a government minister dedicated to helping them.
Well, all those Santas must need a lot of little helpers!
Source:thesun.co.uk/
No comments:
Post a Comment