Iceland Is More Than Its Name Suggests

Filed in archive Hidden Gems on November 10, 2007

Iceland is well-known. At least, the name is. Iceland. Shivers. That's a place I never want to go. If I want ice, I'll get it from my freezer, thank you very much.

That was my thinking, until recently.

I had a chance to read a novel by Icelandic author Arnaldur Indriðason called Jar City. The descriptions of Reykjavík, Iceland's largest city, were interesting enough to inspire me to take a closer look at this little known island.

Some of the things I learned were to be expected? The stereotypically Scandinavian low-key lifestyle, the abundance of winter sports, and the healthy mix of history and myth (elves, Vikings, et al).

Iceland is also home to a large number of geysers. The geothermal activity under the island makes for numerous eruptions. In fact, the namesake of all geysers, that would be Geysir, is located on the southern part of the island. There are several geysers in the area, so visitors are never more than a few minutes from seeing an eruption. There are numerous glaciers and national parks which showcase the rugged natural beauty of the island.

Someone should have talked to the people who named Iceland. The climate is not as frigid as the name suggests. In fact, it is comparable to mainland Scandinavian nations or even the northern parts of New England. For the most part it rarely drops more than a few degrees below freezing.

The problem many tourists have with Iceland is the price of alcohol. In many cases, the cost of a cocktail is double that of Europe or the US. Restaurants can be quite pricey. Therefore, Iceland is not a budget destination. A room in a guest house might run you more than $100 US.

Still, I now can admit that I was wrong. Iceland is more than its name suggests.