So Iceland has a population of 320,00 with 200,000 living in the greater Reykjavik area (120,000 in Reykjavik proper) which gives it the lowest population density of any country in Europe (and explains many of the very lonely homes we saw in the countryside). And the low population explains why Icelandic phone books list people by their first names. There are no surnames or family names in Iceland. Reykjavik itself is the northernmost capital city of any countr...

We've traveled with the Killer B's a couple of times in the past and they've always been great travel partners. They aren't particularly fussy about accommodation or food and they tackle any adventures thrown their way with a good deal of enthusiasm. I'm sure that in the privacy of their own room, they question the sanity of blindly turning over the day-to-day planning to me. Even with DH, it's always a bit of a thrill to push her slightly...

Did I mention how expensive Iceland is? It's not to the point where it has any really negative impact on your enjoyment of the country but it does keep you moving quickly so as not to run the metre too high. That's the way it was as we did a long drive through the very eastern part of Iceland along the ring road. Given the amazing landscape it would have been nice to linger a bit but we were on a tight schedule. There aren't any big must-see stops but...

So today was supposed to be a day of Arctic adventure- the plan was to do both an extended glacier walk as well as some ice climbing. A degree of fitness would have been nice but DH was still sporting a dangling arm, a dragging leg, and a sore back/groin/thigh (although her teeth had stopped falling out). Dave B had hurt his knee while working out and Deb B... well Deb had spent her fitness membership on Yves Saint Laurent Arctic clothing and tattoos so there`s ...

Iceland was one of those many countries that we had hoped to see if the opportunity ever presented itself. Some years ago we were at a travel show in Toronto with Dave and Deb B, and the good folks of Iceland were offering up a special 4 day stop that was surprisingly affordable. Deeper digging suggested that most of the 4 day 'adventure' would be spent neck-deep in the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon trying for that ever-elusive dewy soft skin. When Dave ...