| | History (Source: WCities) | Top | Iceland’s harsh climes once compelled poet Jónas Hallgrímsson to plead for the return of the spring sun, "Come then, oh sun! And conquer the cruel, delusive night! Eye of the Godhead! Grant us boundless blessings of light! Radiant gage of our glory, Guide your creatures! Impart brightness of mind and banish this heaviness of heart". But maybe Jonas was mistaken, for the climate was the least of Iceland’s woes. In the history books, the country is known for its incessant political upheavals. And unfortunately, the resilience and determination of the Icelandic people has not got the due it deserved. A volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean, Iceland has certainly braved years of foreign dominion, barbarianism, natural calamities and epidemics, harsh weather conditions and others to emerge as a sovereign, developed state. Discovered by the earliest settler – Naddoddr - a Scandinavian sailor, by accident; he called it Snowland because of the vast expanse of icy landscape. Reykjavic was named by Norwegian chieftain who settled there with his family in the 9th century. Early settlers included Norwegian Vikings, Celtic explorers and prisoners mainly from the British Isles. It is claimed that Iceland became fully inhabited in 60 years since the first settlers. As the geography changed in the hands of kings, the laws and rules kept changing, bringing with it discontent, oppression, political disharmony, deprivation, and other social ills. But in spite of these hurdles Iceland
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There By Air International travelers enter Iceland through Keflavik International Airport ( +354 425 0600/ http://www.keflavikairport.com ), 50 kilometers from Reykjavik. This airport only operates international flights. Domestic flights operate from Reykjavik Airport ( +354 862 2868 ).Money can be exchanged at KB bank or airport. Flights that operate to and from Keflavik Airport include: Aigle Air ( +0 810 797 997/ http://www.aigleazur.net ) BH Air ( +359 2 981 0189/ http://www.bhairlines.com/en.htm ) Brittish Airways ( +354 421 7374/ http://www.britishairways.com ) Futura ( +34 971 789706/ http://www.futura-aer.com ) Iberworld ( http://www.iberworld.com ) LTU ( +354 591 9000/ http://www.ltu.de ) SAS ( +47 915 05 400/ http://www.scandinavian.net ) Spainair ( +34 902 13 1412/ http://www.spanair.com ) Swiss International ( +0 848 700 700/ http://yourcountry.swiss.com/local/index-usa ) Travel Services ( +420 220 11 5069/ http://www.travelservice.aero ) Icelandair ( +354 505 0700/ http://www.icelandair.net ) Iceland Express ( +354 550 0600/ http://www.icelandexpress.com ) From the airport, the flybus service shuttles between hotels and the airport. Though the service is free, check the list of hotels and guesthouses offering it from the list available at the airport. ( +354 562 1011/ http://re.is/home/flybus/ ) By Sea Passenger cruise lines are also available to those who wish to enter the
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Imagine sub-zero temperatures, frost bitten nights and blizzards blowing up snow to last a lifetime! And you wonder how do Icelanders manage to keep their heads above the snow and entertain themselves? Well, they don’t just get by with the zany strobe lights of nightclubs thriving on drinks served round the clock! The Icelandic government and literati has nurtured the arts and cultural scene of Reykjavik with care. Most of the theatre and dance companies are all relatively new, established in the 1950s and 60s. Open air museums are frequented often during sparkling summers. So you see, fiery snowflakes can’t really dampen the Icelandic spirit! Art For a peek at retro Icelandic and international art, stop at the National Gallery of Iceland , but if you are in a funky mood then the Bad Taste Gallery will inject you with enough sass and spunk! Go to the Gallerí Lana Matusa Art Ceramic Studio for traditional Icelandic ceramic art. The authentic lava artifacts of elves and trolls tell a different story altogether! Cinema With Haskolabio and Laugarasbio , there is no dearth of onscreen entertainment in Reykjavik. The former is located in a university campus and is packed always with students. Hollywood blockbusters rule here with a sprinkling of European cinema thrown in for the avid movie fan. All the three venues boast state-of-the-art sound systems and comfortable seating arrangements. At the Red Rock Cinema film shows on volcanoes are held on all
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