Gives a glimpse of Iceland like it should be thought of. Ever present nature and the closeness with the great outdoors.
Pretty good video!
Whale watching is great way to experience the largest animals on Earth. Just off the north coast of Iceland are regions where whales are plenty. We got invited to take a trip with a company that specialize in whale watching tours.
Gentle Giants are located in the friendly town of Húsavík where only a couple thousand people live. The ticket sale office is just a few steps from the harbor with a great view of the bay.
Right at the entrance you can see that the business is blooming and well organized. You can easily see when the next tour is and can use the time to eat out at a local restaurant or shop for souvenirs.
Faldur is the boat that will carry us out on the sea. It is built of oak in Vestmannaeyjar in 1972 and looks charming and romantic and completely unlike the modern fiberglass high speed fishing boats of today.
As soon as we get on board we are offered a warm overall along with hats and gloves. This is really a nice touch as getting cold out on the ocean is not very pleasant.
Sverrir and his wife Sigga and two boys look excited.
As we start sailing out the harbor I take a look back at the harbor with other whale watching boats and the charming old church of Húsavík. The church is considered by many to be the most beautiful church in Iceland.
Our guide for the tour explains all the security measures and tells us about the species of whales we might get to see. The tours have a 98% success rate of spotting whales!
We sail past the island Lundey (Puffin Island) – where 200.000 puffins find their home.
After about an hours sailing the first whale is spotted. This is a humpback whale and we carefully sail closer.
There are many humpback whales. Today they seem to be on the move and hard to get close to…
…still we get some nice pictures.
Since we spotted the whales another whale watching boat comes closer. Bjössi Sör is a similar oak built boat that we are also using.
Humpback Whale
Getting this close we can clearly hear the sounds of the whale. It is a strange kind of hissing noise.
The front cabin is just as it was when it was built in 1972 with the old oil stove on the left and sleeping for two.
Whale watching captain
The captain in the steering room enjoys “hunting” for the large animals.
Hot chocolate and "kleina"
On the way back everyone is given a hot cup of chocolate and some home baked “kleinur” (similar to doughnuts).
We also see some white beaked dolphins – unfortunately they where too quick for me to get a shot of them this time.
Here are a couple of pictures from the Gentle Giants Whale watching company.
Whale Jumping
Occasionally the whales like to jump out of the ocean. Not this time – but last year there was one that kept on jumping in front of the boat.
Whale
Another picture from last year. What a sight!
Thanks to the crew and captain for a great whale watching trip!
For more information about the whale watching you can visit the Gentle Giants home page:
Gentle Giants Whale Watching
Thrandur Arnthorsson
IcelandVacation.is
The standard of Hotels in Iceland is really high. You can expect nice clean rooms and warm beds and friendly service.
With each region having its own charm you are certain to find a hotel in Iceland and experience a dream vacation.
Check out these sources of Hotels in Iceland:
Icelandic people have one of the longest life expectancy of all nations. This should come as no surprise since Icelanders often eat fish and fish oil rich in omega 3 fatty acids. The omega 3 is the secret to the longevity. The people of Iceland have less heart disease, lower blood pressure and fewer strokes than people from any other country.
Their longevity is a direct result of their daily intake of omega3 rich fish oils.
The American Heart Association recommends omega 3 fatty acids to help prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke. Omega 3s inhibit plaque and blood clots and dramatically improve cholesterol levels. They also increase brain function by promoting neurotransmission in the brain.
Fish contains the Omega 3 fatty acids – just the right type of fats. The fats are polyunsaturated fats and have a range of health benefits. In the human diet, omega 3 is a preferred substitute for Omega 6 fatty acids, the fats commonly found in red meat and plants. The right balance between Omega 3 and Omega 6 acids also seems to be a factor in our getting the most health benefits.
The human body seems to function best on a mixture of Omega 3 and Omega 6 type polyunsaturates. Even though you can survive for a while either, your long term optimal health requires that you make sure both are present in the diet.
A growing body of evidence indicates that omega 3 molecules help maintain cardiovascular health because they play a role in regulating blood clotting and vessel constriction. They may reduce tissue inflammation and alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Other maladies in which omega 3 may play a beneficial role include depression and irritable bowel syndrome.
Various researches have shown that fairly small amounts of omega 3 can make a big difference in your heart risks.
Researches have been done on British children who had a hard time learning in school. They were uneasy and lacked concentration. After they were given natural fatty acids – a mixture of omega 3 rich cod liver oil and omega 6 rich oil – they showed a great deal of improvement.
With more than 120 children from the age of six to twelve where half of the kids got the blend and the other half a placebo.
After three months it was obvious that the children that got the natural fatty acids had greatly improved their learning abilities and behavior. Attention deficit was markedly lower and their short time memory was better. Reading abilities were also better as well as their self image.
Research from over 20 leading medical and scientific journals reveal how the good fats found in omega 3s from fish and other sources are essential to maintaining optimum health. The only way your body can get these vital essential fatty acids is through proper nutrition and supplementation.
Clinical and scientific studies in both Europe and the U.S. show that omega 3 fatty acids benefit a wide range of conditions including:
Cardiovascular Disease
High Cholesterol
Lowering Triglycerides
High Blood Pressure
Arthritis
Depression
Diabetes
Bipolar Disorder
ADHD
Chronic Inflammation
Cancer
Omega 3 benefits various parts of your body:
Eyes – The eyes have a higher ratio of DHA fatty acid. Omega 3 can reduce night blindness.
Immune system – The omega 3 are thought to have a all sorts of positive effects on the immune system.
Heart – Omega 3 can reduce high blood pressure and equalize the cholesterol balance. It can reduce the risk of blood-clods and cardiovascular disease. It can also reduce the risk of a second heart attack.
Joints - Arthritis symptoms like pain, tiredness and morning stiffness can be reduced.
Skin – Moisture balance and healthy appearance.
Brain – Old age memory loss is reduced and generally good effect on short and long term memory. Depressed people show lower amounts of omega 3 in their bodies.
Pregnancy - Omega-3 fatty acids have a big role in pregnancy and breast feeding. They are necessary for the proper development of the childes brain and central nervous system as well as eyesight. The mothers reserve of omega 3 gets lower and must be balanced out by taking in more omega-3.
You should consume around 400mg a day to reduce risk of getting these diseases quite substantially. You can get that amount by eating oil-rich fish, by taking one or more concentrated fish oil portions a day.
To improve your general health consider eating oil-rich fish once or twice a week That will make a good contribution towards supplying the necessary amount of Omega 3 you need. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in high concentrations in a various seafood like:
Salmon
Tuna
Flounder
Striped bass
Smelt
Finfish
Shellfish
Bluefish
Shark
Mackerel
Oysters
Mussels
Shrimp
Squid.
Maximize your health and longevity with omega 3.
Vik i Myrdal is a charming small village on the southernmost region of Iceland. Fenced in with the Atlantic ocean to the south and a big ice cap to the north as well as the rivers Jokulsa to the west and the river Blautakvisl to the east.
The area is quite spectacular with the black sand and the hard ocean waves beating the shore of Reynisfjara. The spot is popular among tourists but the dangerous waves have taken lives with the strong undercurrent dragging people out and down into the deep.
The rock formations of Reynisdrangar are a signature landmark.
Dyrholaey is a 120-metre high rock, a little west of Vik. The place got its name from the massive door that the sea has eroded from the cliff. Dyrholaey is home to many types of birds, among them puffins, which are very typical for Iceland.
Standing on the cliff by Dyrholaey is this lonely lighthouse that gives direction for ships off the Icelandic south coast.
The view from the cliff is magnificent. You can see the dramatic south Iceland coastline stretch. Endless black sand as far as the eye can see.
Be sure to visit these spectacular sights the next time you tour around south Iceland.
Thrandur
Digital-Photo-Web.com
During the Iceland Adventure 2008 tour we were offered to try real ATV riding. The ATV 4×4 company offers tours from half an hour up to several days. This is the first time I have really got excited about ATV riding!
Before heading off, Kjartan and Siggi explain how the ATV’s work. They are BRP Can Am Max XT bikes with automatic transmission and actually quite powerful with the 400cc engine. The winch in front gives you even more of a 4×4 feel for the whole experience.
We ride on ATVs between lava and black sand and ride up onto the mountain Hagafell where we expect a good view over the Blue Lagoon and the island of Eldey.
Unfortunately the weather is not on our side – with the rain coming down hard.
Ron (far left) and John (far right) are filming the tour for the documentary they are making. This will be an excellent addition for the film.
After the mountain they took us down to the coastline with the old lighthouse and a shipwreck.
Riding a quad is surprisingly (for me) fun. You have a light vehicle that handles like a dream with all the power you need. On a tour like this where you drive special tracks that are only used for ATVs they really shine. You get the feeling of a much higher speed with the lava coming in close on both sides.
LOVE IT – Heaps of fun!
Oh – did I mention it was raining ?
To get some hot chocolate, Icelandic homemade twisted doughnuts (kleinur)
The ATV Adventurers supply you with all the needed stuff – overalls, helmets and gloves. They are located close to the international airport in Keflavik, close to the famous Blue Lagoon.
Visit the ATV-Adventures.com site for more information and book your ATV tour.
Thrandur
4x4OffRoads.com
With the lighthouse at Reykjanes in the background.
ATV riding through the lava field.
ATVers taking a break and enjoying the view at Reykjanes.
ATVs
Reykjavik as the capital of Iceland along with its neighboring towns is where the majority of Icelanders live.
Spending a day just doing as little as I can while at the same time enjoying the city. Reykjavík is a great place to spend your time!
In this article I hope to give you a view of Reykjavík in words as well as pictures.
Skólavörðustígur is the perfect place to start. It stretches from the Hallgrímskirkja church right down to Laugavegur. This street is the home of many of the best art galleries in Reykjavik (as well as in Iceland).
Walking up the street you notice the friendly atmosphere and the easy going traffic. The wooden guy sitting by looks like he belongs there and will stay awhile!
Hallgrimskirkja church is the biggest church in Iceland with the tower reaching over 70 meters high. The beautiful church organ fills up the surrounding space with music.
Hallgrímskirkja was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson in 1937 in the influence of hexagonal basalt columns that are seen in various places in the Icelandic landscape.
Looking out on Reykjavik from the church bell tower you can see typical Icelandic architecture. The houses seem to be thrown together from different eras and different cultures!
On the way to down-town I spot this lonely dog sitting on a bench waiting for the owner who is perhaps taking a look at the gallery inside the open door.
In a nice day like this you can even see some people enjoying the sun and fresh air at a café.
Even down-town nature is never far away. The orange-yellow busses and the yellow flowers are bright contrast to the gray buildings!
Iceland has been enriched by cuisine from all over the world. Italian, Indian and other exotic restaurants are numerous and the standard is usually quite high.
Old and new fighting each other. In this picture it literally looks like there is a giant getting ready to hit the old renovated house. The newer building is rather unexciting except for the giant mural art work.
Like so many cities a forest machine is a common site. Old houses are moved out of the way and new ones built. Lately, awareness of the cultural values of old houses has increased and subsequently more are being restored.
Close to the harbor I spot this brand new Ferrari Enzo. Its street price here in Reykjavík is about 1.2 million USD! It was imported and put on a show here but is not a very practical vehicle in Iceland. Mostly due to the fact that there are no high speed highways and I guess they won’t handle too good in the snow during the winter time.
To see some PRACTICAL vehicles we have another site dedicated to the subject – Reykjavik picture at 4x4OffRoads.com.
Sailboats!
Fishing is still one of the pillar of our economy. Reykjavík harbor is full of fisher boats of all sizes. The smaller ones in the front and some larger behind.
Taking a big ship like this one and doing advanced body work and repair is possible in the shipyard. This is typical trawler used for cod fishing in the deep waters around Iceland.
Chess is very popular by Icelanders. Perhaps because of the long winter nights.
Grótta is a beautiful little island off the west side of Reykjavík. You can walk out to the island during low tide. Except for the lighthouse and a couple of houses you are in undisturbed nature.
Voluntary rescue units operate on sea as well as on land. Here I spot them on a practice mission on a powerful inflated boat.
Iceland has one of the highest car to people ratios. About two persons per car!
Reykjavík spreads its houses far and wide apart. The good thing is you can live in the suburb sometimes in close contact with nature and without the noise of the down-town. The bad part is you have to use a car a lot.
Typical single family houses in a suburb in Reykjavík.
In the afternoon a performing band livens up the city center. Bogomil Font and his band of performing musicians.
Þrándur
Iceland Vacation.is
Iceland is is your year round destination of choice. Iceland is not only a place for festivities and fun, but also a place where the whole family can engage in a multitude of outdoor activities or relax in a cozy vacation home, enjoy wast views, hot tubs, the winters northern lights or the endless days of summer.
Many Icelanders favorite time away from home is in the late fall and winter.
Leaving home and the stress of daily life to cuddle up in a cozy vacation home or hut in the dark months is a relaxing and therapeutic experience for the whole family. The daily grind is even more exiting and attractive once you have given your self time to catch up with your soul.
Take long walks in the dormant nature, play in the snow, enjoy the crystal clarity of the air, the spectacular frozen waterfalls. Prepare your own food or be catered for by local restaurants and family kitchens.
There is also a rich possibility for adventure in the winter, as it is possible to explore Iceland on skis, super-jeeps and ski-doos on your own or with professional guidance.
The most adventurous can go mountain and helicopter skiing and ice climbing.
Plan your stay with Iceland Vacation, we provide quality vacation rentals all over Iceland to suit relaxing couples, families and even the most ardent of adventurers, all year round.
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