Ingi Gunnar Johannsson points out destruction and danger at Geysir Geothermal Area

Kastljós (Spotlight) a news-related talk show on Iceland’s State television channel interviewed tourist guide Ingi Gunnar Johannsson in Thursday's programme.

Tourist guide Ingi Gunnar highlighted the importance of the area by comparing it to the fish product of Iceland. "Geysir geothermal is for the tourism industry what fish is for the fishing industry," said Ingi Gunnar.

Shocked by the condition of the area he said. "This natural wonder is like a painting made by Kjarval, Iceland's foremost classic painter, and it is being destroyed by visitors."

A two-year old girl fell into Blesi spring two weeks ago. A quarter of her body burnt but fortunately her legs and most importantly, her face, did not hit the water.

Tourist guides have for a long time ranted about the area. Personally, I am ashamed to bring visitors there because the geothermal formations are damaged by people's feet. It is broken up instead of being illustrious.

Watch Kastljós video 19 August 2010, click here.

Ursula and Anna in Thursday's Frettabladid newspaper

Ursula and Anna are on a picture published by Frettabladid newspaper today 19 August 2010. The article is about cycling and the picture shows Ursula and Anna bicycle together. Anna is on her red bike with support wheels. Click here to see the picture and article which is in Icelandic. It is called Kynning á tilraunaverkefni.

Reykjavik collective bicycle ride on Culture Night

"We'd like to bring attention to bicycling as an attractive option both for the environment as well as the pocket. And it is good for the spirit and mind as it releases a sence of freedom and happiness," says Morten Lange in an interview in Frettabladid Thursday.

Thora Bryndis Thorisdottir was the mastermind behind a collective bicycle ride through part of Reykjavik for the purpose of bringing attention to cycling and cyclists.

The ride starts behind Kjarvalstadir Art Gallery on Klambratun and heads towards the centre of town. Those who dare must take off their shirts and write slogans such as "green is good," etc.

New bicycle path in Reykjavik not a good idea

Shopkeepers including a bicycle rental shop along Hverfisgata Street describe their dissatisfaction in the video clip below. They complain about losing parking spaces for their customers.

Friday this week the idea is to designate a part of Hverfisgata Street in Reykjavik as a bicycle path. The path is underway and has been painted green. Saturday there is Reykjavik Marathon and Culture Night – both sure to attract crowds in town. Hverfisgata is parallel to Laugavegur street, Reykjavik‘s main shopping street.

One argument against the bicycle path is that it is on the shadow side of the street – it would have made more sense to build it on the sunny side.

Shopkeepers and residents got less than five days notice of the temporary change which authorities say will last one month.

See the green path along Hverfisgata Street, click here.

Bobby Fisher not the father of the girl

DNA - retrieved from the exhumed body of Bobby Fisher, proves that he is not the father of alledged daughter.
Bobby Fisher fell into disfavour with the US government for playing chess in the former Yugoslavia while the country was being boycotted. He was apprehended at an airport in Japan and imprisoned on the grounds that his visa was about to expire.
Sæmundur Pálsson, or simply "Saemi rock" who was Bobby Fisher's personal body guard during the world championships against reigning world champion Boris Spassky in Iceland in 1972 - single handed got him out of prison, with necessary help of Iceland's prime minister Davíð Oddsson, who granted Bobby Fisher citizenship without the usual 5-year application process.

Mit dem Fahrrad mobil – von Anfang an

Das Reykjavik Bike Tours-Team bekam Verstärkung! Kaum auf der Welt, ist Andri David (8 Wochen) schon mit dem Fahrrad unterwegs. Während Mama Ursula radelt, genießt der kleine Mann im Fahrradanhänger den Ausflug auf seine Art. Auch die große Schwester Anna Karlotta (4 Jahre) ist begeistert von dieser Art der Fortbewegung.

Von der Familie für Familien: bei Reykjavik Bike Tours sind Kinder jeden Alters willkommen – vom Baby über das Kleinkind bis zum Teenager. Ausgerüstet mit Fahrrädern und Fahrradhelmen in verschiedenen Größen, Fahrradsitz und Fahrradanhänger zeigen wir gerne auch Familien mit kleinen Kindern Islands Landeshauptstadt.

Bicycle path instead of parking spaces

Parking spaces will temporarily make way for a bicycle path along Hverfisgata street in Reykjavik on Friday.

The experiment will last one month and the idea is to promote bicycling in Reykjavik.

Some residents were not notified that parking along the street would no longer be available. They‘re told that they can use a parking garage for ISK 4,000 per month (GB 20, US$ 32, EUR 25). Residents complain as they have to walk much further carrying groceries and tools etc. Source; mbl.is, visir.is.

Bicycle around Iceland to raise funds for children with cancer

The Njardvik Lion's club in Iceland wants to raise funds for children with cancer. Members of the club are cycling around Iceland right now, according to the State news agency. Today, they were in Akureyri in the north, and tomorrow in Skagafjordur valley.

Reykjavik Marathon 2010 record attendance

Runners from 43 countries have signed up for the Reykjavik Marathon. Nearly 1.200 runners have signed up which is 10 percent increase over last year which saw record attendance.

Runners can choose from six different distances; whole marathon; half-marathon; relay; 10 k run; 3 k fun run; and Lazy Town run for the smallest children.

Most foreigners who have registered for the Reykjavik Marathon 2010 come from the USA, Germany, Canada and Great Britain.

Reykjavik Bike Tours in Dutch De Telegraph

Toch is die zon verraderlijk, vertelt Stefan Helgi Valsson van Reykjavik Bike Tours, als we bij Austurvöllur, een klein plein in het centrum, een zwerver zien zitten op een bankje in de zon. ,,De zwervers kunnen gemakkelijk sterven van de kou, zelfs in de zomer. Ook toeristen die de natuur ingaan worden vaak door de kou overvallen. Source: De Telegraf - Reiskrant

Golden circle for a million

The Golden Circle tour is the most popular day tour in Iceland visited by about 500.000 people annually.

Today, we learnt about a new way of sightseeing Geysir geothermal area and Golden waterfall – Gullfoss. Twenty minutes in a helicopter will give you a bird‘s eye view of Geysir geothermal area; Geysir; Strokkur and Blesi springs, and Gullfoss waterfall which is Iceland‘s most famous waterfall. And the price is ISK 39,000. Hypothetically 8 hours would then cost close to one million ISK, 936,000 to be precise.

Anyone interested in a helicopter flight over Geysir geothermal area and Golden waterfall - Gullfoss, check out helicopter.is

Reykjavik Marathon 2010

The 27th Reykjavik Marathon takes place Saturday 21 August in Iceland's capital city.

Over 700 participants from abroad have already signed up and couple of thousand from Iceland. Needless to say, some people were reluctant to sign up in May and June due to the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajokull volcano. The volcano's name proved difficult for foreign news media professionals to pronounce. Some took a shortcut and just called it “The volcano”.

The inhabitants of Reykjavik and the whole of Iceland are very excited about the Reykjavik Marathon and Culture night which takes place on the evening of the Reykjavik Marathon. It is just perfect to run a marathon in the morning, rest, and enjoy free museums, music and fireworks in the evening.

Reykjavik Bike Tours departs at 10 AM as usual from Reykjavik‘s Old Harbour, next to Elding Whale Watching company, but there will be no scheduled evening departure. Private tours in Iceland are available HERE upon request.

ETOA produces its own ID badges for Europe and tourist guides are not happy

The Federation of European Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) is outraged over European Tour Operator Association’s (ETOA) decision to produce its own pan-European ID-badge for anyone who guides tourists — seemingly to circumvent the need for area-specific professional qualification - by using the non-existing term "tour guide" for these persons. Source, click here.

Reykjavik Bike Tours goes to Vestnorden Travel Fair

Reykjavik Bike Tours will be present for the first time at the Vestnorden Travel Fair in 2010.

As a new company at the fair, it is bound to attract great interest. Bicycle travel is getting more and more popular in Iceland with hundreds bicycling around the country every summer.

Reykjavik Bike Tour's city tours by bicycle have been very well received by visitors in town. Read guest's reviews on Trip Advisor.

Bombay Bicycle Club comes to Iceland

Bombay bicycle club indie teen rock band is on its way to Iceland to perform at Iceland Airwaves. Members of the band, please contact us to join a free bicycle tour of Reykjavik. Read more here.

SEED volunteers propose a 10 km bicycle route in the south of Iceland

A group of seven volunteers belonging to SEEDS and Bicycle competency is going to be bicycling in the south of Iceland. They'll be spending some days in Hveragerði, Þorlákshöfn and Eyrarbakki to speak to sport- and leisure representatives in the area regarding setting up a 10 km bicycle route in the area.

While the group stays in town the locals can bring their bikes for repairs.