Rick Steves on Iceland

Rick Steves interviewed writer Bill Holm about Bill's experience of Iceland. Bill speaks passionately about Iceland and Rick Steves shows his skills as an interviewer.

Listen to Rick Steve's podcast on Iceland.

There's two kinds of tourism in Iceland, Bill says; - the quick - the party in Reykjavik on the one hand, and then the - slow - countryside on the other.

You cannot say you've seen the USA if you've only be to New York!

Great wisdom.

Iceland is Ian McCarthey's favorite place to bicycle

Ian McCartney a former geography teacher has cycled hundreds of thousands of miles in his life and thinks Iceland is the best of all places he ever visited.

Read the article in the Southern Reporter: Two Wheels Better.

NY Times says Iceland is one of the best places to visit

Iceland features in 4th place on a list of 41 places to visit in 2011 compiled by the NY Times. Journalist Sally McGrane wrote:

Where a country’s hardships are a visitor’s gain.

Iceland’s economic crash has had an upside, at least for tourists. After the devaluation of the krona that followed the country’s 2008 financial crisis, the breathtakingly beautiful island is a lot more affordable, meaning that a hotel room that was $200 before the crash might cost $130 now.

While traditionally a must-see for nature tourists — who come for thermal springs, glaciers, volcanic landscapes and the Northern Lights — Iceland is stepping up the cultural offerings with Reykjavik’s new Harpa-Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre, a symphony and opera house whose stunning glass facade was designed in collaboration with the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Opening ceremonies begin in May, with performances by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Icelandic Opera and local rock bands. Another draw is the third annual DesignMarch (in March), a festival that showcases Icelandic design, from clothing and textiles to furniture. And the Iceland Airwaves music festival, every October, is perennially cool.

Source, NY Times.

First person to bicycle around the world 1884

Today, 4 January 2010, it is 124 years since Thomas Stevens from England set out on his tour around the world on a bicycle. He used a penny farthing bicycle for the journey. He packed a 38 Smith and Wesson hand gun just in case which would no doubt be useful in some countries today.

The first part of his world journey took him from San Francisco to Boston and became the first person to cross the US. From Boston he travelled to Liverpool, then south Europe to Iran. Then he travelled to the Middle-East and India and Asia.

For more information about his trip, see the Thomas Stevens first to bicycle around the world website.