Been thinking of going to Iceland this summer.

[TransitJohn]

Who knows about it? Was thinking of taking my camping gear and mountain bike for a week to 10 days and tooling around by myself, with a couple of weekend nights in Reykjavik. Is it easy to get by speaking English? (I don't imagine my barely adequate Spanish skills will help out ;) ). Is the country by and large friendly towards we Americans? Thanks in advance.

[babylonsister]

1. I have a friend who has been there about 8 times, visiting

a mutual high school buddy. She loves it there, is American, and I don't think she faced any language barriers, though the mutual friend does speak English, too. Next time we chat I'll try to get more info for you.

[TransitJohn]

2. Thanks!

I really want to do this. :hi:

[babylonsister]

6. I haven't forgotten, John. Sent my friend an email, and am

still waiting for a response.

[spindrifter]

3. I also know

someone who went there last year with her kids. The whole family loved it. Thought the food was A-one. We met an Icelandic guy in S. America. Perfect English. I don't think you'll have any problems. It is more expensive than I can do, however.

[Jean Louise Finch]

4. It is the most amazing place

I was there for about ten days two years ago. Spent three days driving the coast, and then did the most amazing hike of my life from the center of the country down to the southern coast. If you're reasonably fit, you've got to do it. It's quite famous, and it cannot be fully expressed how completely amazing it is. There's never been a more fantastic way to see a country. I can't recommend it enough. We lucked out, had amazing weather, and honestly I don't think there's any better hike in the world. If the weather sucks, there are huts all along the way. It's like walking on a whole other planet. You can do a four day version and get bussed out at the end, but we did all six and coming over the last glacial peak and wandering down by a zillion waterfalls to the ocean? Jeepers me. It just doesn't get any better.

Reykjavik is cool -- !!!expensive!!! -- but very cool. You wouldn't need a lot of time as it's not a city, just a little village. But really very cool. Very easy to get by speaking english as everyone speaks it, usually better than you!

[Jean Louise Finch]

5. Porsmork - Landmannalaugar

That's the name of the hike. We started at Landmannalaugar and walked down.

[babylonsister]

7. Not much info, but here's what my friend wrote. I'll give her a call

soon and pick her brain.

Hiking around Iceland has been done and there are "tour-type" packages which specialize in this. Most people speak English, but in some of the rural areas, maybe not. He should do alot of research as to where he wants to go. By and large, Iceland is quite friendly to Americans.

[Inland]

8. Article in Sunday NYTimes, Travel section, 3/12/06 on Reykjavik

sorry, no link.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

9. I manage a time share resort and I have Icelanders who come

to the resort every year for six to eight weeks. They are all marvelous people, and extremely intelligent. I laughed at the post that said they will speak English better than you, because it is so correct. They learn proper English in their schools, where as we natives rely on slang so much. But yes, it is very very expensive. They come here for a variety of reasons, but one of them being that everything here is "so cheap". For them. Have a great time. It is a trip I hope to make in the future, although my friend tells me that Christmas in Iceland is the most magical time to be there.

[DrDan]

10. I can tell you about the airport

passed through there a week ago on way to Stockholm and return