Bardarbunga! I know it sounds like something that your born again uncle Phil might yell out loud if he missed that nail head with his ballpeen hammer and whacked his thumb. But, it isn’t. It’s an erupting volcano in Iceland. (Happening right the hell now, Uncle Phil!)
In Iceland it’s spelled Baroarabunga with a few fancy little marks that mean nothing to us – Icelanders have their own “special” language which has linguistic roots in Western Norwegian and Faroese dialects. Since there are fewer than a half million inhabitants, (I’m being kind; there’s really closer to 300K), none of us are likely going to be ordering up Icelandic from Rosetta Stone. (No worries. Everybody speaks excellent English. Better than most Americans.)
Spelling be hanged, Bardarbunga is situated in the middle of the tiny island nation. It’s just one of many active subarctic volcanoes in Iceland and this geological drama is just one of the things that make life uniquely interesting here.
Two thirds of the entire population of the country live in Reykjavik, a charming coastal city located roughly where Los Angeles is on our map if Iceland were the continental U.S. The other major cities are all in the north and all likewise on the coast. (A continuous highway rings the entire island and joins up every major city.)
The interior of Iceland is a geologically active and forbidding zone with a huge number of active volcanoes, (remember the one that erupted in 2010 and shut down air travel all over Europe? I do. I got stuck in France. Boo hoo.) Also, Iceland boasts a large number of constantly emitting geysers and some of the world’s largest glaciers. Every one of these marvels bears a cute Icelandic name that makes them sound like characters right out of Lord of The Rings. Strokkur. Vatnajokull. Eldfell and Eldgja. (My personal favorite, Hekla, which some people might think is a good name for a pet if you were of a mind that naming your kitty after a volcano sounds like a great idea.)
There’s definitely a Tierra del Fuego vibe in Iceland and that is due to the similar climate. While both TdF in the Southern Hemisphere and Iceland up in the North are situated in extreme latitudes, (Iceland is almost “Arctic”) both locations enjoy milder average temps than you would expect because they get the warm ocean currents. And by mild I mean an average range of 32F – 48F pretty constantly. (And, wettish with an average precipitation of 118 inches annually.)
Secondarily, the “vibe” you will enjoy in both regions, north and south, is about their social cultures which likewise bear some similarity. Both Ushuaia in Patagonia and Reykjavik in Iceland are distinctly “young” towns. There don’t seem to be any old folks around. I asked a few locals, “Where are all the parents?” They seemed quite amused by my observation that the whole place seemed like a gigantic college campus. Not to say that there’s anything wrong with that, but in both cities, after a couple days I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had flown in for “parents’ weekend” but I couldn’t find my own kids.
There’s lots to do in Reykjavik and a good way to scope things out is the Segway tour that you can pick up down on the harbor. (They rent bikes, too.) You’ll cover most of the city in less than a half a day with a guide included in the price. (Iceland is relatively expensive like all of the Nordic countries and you will need their currency, the Krona.) Outside of town you might want to take the low-rent option and ride a tourist bus out to the various (but majestic and other worldly) tourist traps. You can also upgrade to a rental car and drive out to see the natural wonders on your own. Another excellent option, but it takes a full week, is the cruise that circumnavigates the island and covers the whole Icelandic enchilada. Speaking of food, you won’t starve, but, neither will you swoon. You’ll be deliriously happy if you are a big fan of mutton. Reykjavik is a super safe city with virtually zero crime.
A little random trivia for you:
· Internally, Iceland is almost 100% independent of non-renewable energy sources. Exceptions are for oceanic vehicular transport. (Ships and boats, if you will.)
· Iceland was one of the very first global nations to legalize same sex marriages and Iceland became the first country in the world to have an openly gay head of government. (When Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became prime minister.)
· Iceland has both Universal Health Care and the fourth highest life expectancy in the world (81.8 years). Kind of odd because they are nowhere to be seen! Maybe they’re all in Miami!
· According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, due to its lack of armed forces, low crime rate, and high level of socio-political stability.
· Handball is the national sport of Iceland. (Ha!)
· Just about the only negative thing about Iceland is that Iceland gave the world Bjork. (Go ahead. I’m ready for the hate, Bjork fans. Bring it.)
