Saturday 31 July 2010

Whales in Iceland

Whales are best viewed alive – except when the bones are from the 7th century.
Whale skeleton of a large whale was found 20 metres above sea level on the north coast of Iceland. The bones were used in a whale-bone dwelling, with ribs supporting the walls and jawbones forming a doorway.
Source: The Independent.

Thursday 29 July 2010

Miss Iceland visits Winnipeg Canada

Miss Iceland is in Winnepeg today, according to the Winnepeg Free Press. Guðrún Dögg Rúnarsdóttir - "Guorun Dogg Runarsdottir (pronounced Goothroon Duk Roonarsdoe-tyr)" is visiting Winnipeg for the day before heading up to Gimli to be a part of the 121st Gimli Icelandic Festival, where she will act as parade marshal.

The annual festival runs from July 30 to August 2.

Wednesday 28 July 2010

French family bicycles around Iceland on a tandem bike with trailer

How does a family trip around Iceland on a 100 kg tandem bike with a trailer sound? This is what Damien Artero from France, his fiancé Delphine Million photographers and filmmakers and their eight-month old daughter Lirio are doing right now.

They started their journey around Iceland in Seydisfjordur which is the place where Norraena (Norræna) ferry arrives from the Faroe Islands, Norway and Denmark.
Next, they’ll travel across the Kjolur highland route to Akureyri.

What a way to spend six weeks in Iceland.

They’ve been here for two weeks and will stay for another month.

Interviewed by Iceland Review – they said that travelling around Iceland was far from being the hardest country to cycle in. Bolivia and the Himalayas were the hardest.

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Rick Steves spills his beans over the benefits of bicycle tours in Europe

Some travelers are surprised when I tell them to consider biking in Europe. I explain that it's not only a cheap way to travel, but it gets you close to the ground and close to the people. Whether you rent a bicycle for a day in a bike-friendly city like Copenhagen, or decide to pedal across France for a month, you'll experience a more local side of Europe that many travelers rarely see.
Source: eTurboNews

Gay Pride Reykjavik Iceland centre is open

The Pride service center opended Saturday 17th of July at the bookstore Ida in Laekjargata-street down town Reykjavik. The centre is open every day 11 AM to 8 PM.

Gay Pride Reykjavik 2010 programme / program

Friðrik Ómar - one of Iceland's Eurovision stars - sings the theme song of Gay Pride Reykjavik Iceland 2010. To listen to it in Icelandic, click Friðrik Ómar, and enjoy. The chorus is:

Ég er dáinn úr ást.
Finndu hjartað hamast stöðugt í brjósti mér.
Ég er dáinn úr ást.
Er það eins hjá þér?
Um alla storð
ég ber á borð þetta þriggja stafa orð.
Ég er dáinn úr ást.
Heltekinn af þér.



I've died of love.
Feel my pounding steady heart beat.
I've died of love.
Do you feel the same way?
Around the world
Say to all
This tree letter word
I died of love.
Posessed by you.

Gay pride Reykjavik Iceland 5-8 August 2010

Gay Pride in Reykjavik Iceland is getting closer. Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson - Paul Oscar - and Haffi Haff made a warm up with a joint performance over the week-end. This fabulous event that takes place once a year is expected to draw a crowd of about 80.000 this year.

Gay Pride Reykjavik Iceland starts 5 August and lasts until 8 August 2010.

Here is a sample of what goes on during the parade.

Amazing stunts on a carbon road bicycle



As if bicycle stunts like those seen in this video are not difficult enough to do on a specialized bike - think again. This dude rides where ever he wants on his road bike. I'd love to see this kind of stunts done in Reykjavik Iceland.

Sunday 18 July 2010

Matthew Cull's 47 day cycling trip around Iceland

My journey around Iceland by bicycle continued south along the east coast. At first it was fjords, those familiar channels of blue, or grey, below towering cliff bands and dotted with lonesome farms raising sheep from tundra.

This is how Matthew Cull describes his experience of bicycling in Iceland.

Danny MacAskill makes amazing tricks on a bike



A video shot in Edinborough Scotland of some amazing tricks on a bike. Song is called Funeral by Band of Horses.

Pokemon - Bicycle theme



Pokemon bicycle theme - instrumental.

Pink Floyd - I've got a bike you can ride it if you like



I've got a bike and you can ride it if you like.

Grave Architects. First love of my life - a bike



I knew that to learn to ride a bike it was for life.

Sweet Joyce Ann - Bicycle song



Grease up the chain - it is a little bit rusty. Wipe off the seat - it is a little bit dusty.

Having so much fun riding on my bicycle



Riding along on my bicycle - I am having so much fun.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Bicycle song



How can I forget to mention bicycle? A bicycle is a good invention.

Thursday 15 July 2010

Gay Pride Reykjavik Iceland – same sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is legal in Iceland. The bill was accepted by the Alþingi (Icelandic Parliament) 11 June 2010 and came into effect 27 June 2010. Iceland is the ninth country in the world to publicly allow same-sex marriages.

Iceland's Prime Minister, Ms Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir who is the world's first openly gay PM in the world, got married to her long time companion 27 June.

In August the greatest party in Reykjavik takes place. Some 80.000 people are expected at the Gay Pride Parade on Laugavegur street.

The popularity of the event has grown tremendously since its inception – from 1.500 to 80.000 expected in 2010.

The party starts Thursday 5 August and lasts until Sunday 8 August.

Elding Whale Watching offers a Queer Cruise Friday 6 August at 21:30. Admission is ISK 1.500. Look for the Elding Whale Watching ticket booth next to Reykjavik Bike Tours, down by the Old Harbour.

Ali Fedotowsky & Kirk DeWindt's One-on-One Date in Reykjavik Iceland

Bachelorette Ali dates Kirk in Reykjavik Iceland. Look at some great footage of Reykjavik's landmark church Hallgrímskirkja Memorial Church, local café, sweater shop, and streets with houses clad with corrugated iron. See glimpses of Reykjavik while Ali and Kirk explore the relationship.

Gay Pride comes to Reykjavik 5-8 August 2010

Reykjavik Gay Pride takes place 5-8 August 2010. As usual the city will come alive with a cacophony of colours and party feeling. This year, 70-80.000 people are expected to show up for the Gay Pride Parade along Reykjavik’s main shopping street Laugavegur Saturday afternoon at 14:00.

The gay community in Iceland organises Gay Pride for the twelfth time this year. Only 1.500 people watched the floats in the first year. Since then the event has become firmly established as a fun event not only for the gay community but for everyone wanting to have fun in Iceland.

The celebrations start Thursday 5 August 2010 and continue through to Sunday 8 August in the evening.

It is an absolute must to join the Queer Cruise Friday 6 August at 21:30. Cost ISK 1.500. The cruise is operated by the Elding Whale Watching Company — located next to Reykjavik Bike Tours down by the Old Harbour.

Monday 12 July 2010

Yohanna Iceland's Eurovision star and runner upp in ESC 2009 sings about bicycles

Yohanna took 2nd place at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009. In this video she sings about white bicycles. Reykjavik bike tours uses black Trek 2.0 bicycles ;-).



Clearly, it it is much better to ride a bicycle three blocks than use the car. If you like Johanna's (Yohanna's) voice, go to youtube.com and search for her name.

Reykjavik Bike Tour

Reykjavik Bike Tour
Click on the picture for information on bicycle tours in Iceland