Reykjavik's Mayor Jon Gnarr Speaks on Bicycling in the City

Reykjavik's Mayor, Jon Gnarr, is a bicycle enthousiast. Wasn't always, but in this video (in Icelandic) he speaks about his recent love of cycling. Getting to a meeting in the city is way faster than riding in a car. Getting wet and sweaty is no problem - it doesn't happen very often, but when it does, then it is a novelty and the rest of the members at the meeting make comments like: "I should start cycling".

What I noticed is that he's got an electric bike. There's a sticker with the coat of arms for the city of Reykjavik on the powerpack. Gnarr is dressed in a suit with a stylish black helmet, and the clip was shot on the north-west side of the City Hall (Ráðhús Reykjavíkur).

Reykjavik Bike Tours on Iceland TV

Reykjavik Bike Tours was featured on a favorie TV show "Ísland í dag" on Stöð 2 (Channel 2) Thursday 2 October. The theme of the programme, hosted by Sigríður Elva Vilhjálmsdóttir, is Reykjavik as a tourist attraction for the local people. Bicycling is one of the best things to do on Reykjavik for both foreign and local tourists. Reykjavik Bike Tours offers scheduled and private guided bicycle tours around Reykjavik and to places such as Gullfoss and Geysir geothermal area for local and foreign travelers. Watch minute 1:45-4:45 to see the bicycle part and an interview with Stefan. Click here to watch.

Rick Steves Bicycle on How to Fight Jet Lag

Rick Steves, the great American travel guru, has the perfect solution against jet lag, namely biking! This video is posted here especially for all our North American visitors who usually arrive at around 6.30 AM :-)

RIFF Iceland Movie Locations in Reykjavik Explored by Bicycle

Tour participants, organisers and guides, on the first guided bicycle tour of Reykjavik film locations get ready for the ride.

Ever wanted to know where young Hlynur (Hilmir Snær Guðnason) in the film Reykjavik 101 lived with his mom and Lola the flamenco dancer (Victoria Abril)?

The small number of participants who joined this first ever guided Reykjavik film location bicycle tour got to see just that... and plenty more. What an amazing whirlwind tour of locations made possible by a fantastic invention - the bicycle.

The tour was organised by "Icelandic Cinema Online" in co-operation with Reykjavik International Film Festival (RIFF), and Reykjavik Bike Tours.

Two guides, Sunna Guðnadóttir and Eysteinn Guðni Guðnason, kept the the tour interesting throughout. They spoke knowledgeably about films, scenes, characters and storylines which included locations from movies Mamma Gógó (Mother Gógó), Börn náttúrunnar (Children of Nature), Djöflaeyjan (Devil's Island), Bíódagar (Moviedays), 101 Reykjavík, Englar alheimsins (Angels of the Universe), Bjarnfreðarson, and Mýrin (Jar City).

A high point of the tour, in more ways than one, was a visit to the Grillið restaurant on the top floor of Saga Hotel. The place afforded the participants a great view of Reykjavik bathed in the orange glow of the late afternoon sun. At least three scenes from memorable Icelandic films were filmed at this restaurant.

The house of Hlynur in the film 101 Reykjavik was the last stop on the tour. The owners recently replaced the corrugated metal sheets on the entire house except they've kept the entrance, the part of the house seen in the film, intact - obviously proud of the fact their house was used in the film.

After enjoyable two hours of cycling, sightseeing and learning about Icelandic films and film locations in Reykjavik the tour ended. Most participants then went to Kaffibarinn bar to view the screening of the film 101 Reykjavik and socialise.

Hopefully this event will be repeated at the RIFF 2013

Icelandic Cinema Online is a non-profit organisation who's aim it is to make Icelandic films available worldwide through the Internet.

Pictures from the Reykjavik Bicycle Ride, click on the link to see them on Facebook.

Barack Obama: First European in America - Leif Erikson

Leif Erikson was the first European in America and 9 October is the official Leif Erikson Day in the United States. This was acknowledged recently by the US President Mr. Barack Obama.

Many people believe that it was Christopher Columbus who was the first European in the Americas, thus "discovered the Americas." Columbus was there in 1492 whereas Leif Erikson was there around the year 1000.

In 1964 the White House publicly declared 9 October as Leif Erikson's Day to comemmorate the fact that Leif was indeed the first European in the Americas.

In a statement released in 2009, Mr. Obama said: "Today, our Nation continues to welcome those descendents of Leif Erikson to our shores. Nordic Americans have contributed immeasurably to the success of America. Their cultural accomplishments have enriched the diversity of our country. And their pioneering spirit continues to embody our Nation's unbounded enthusiasm for discovery and learning."

And continued: "To honor Leif Erikson and celebrate our Nordic-American heritage, the Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law 88-566) approved on September 2, 1964, has authorized the President to proclaim October 9 of each year as "Leif Erikson Day.""

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2009, as Leif Erikson Day, and I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to honor our country's rich Nordic-American heritage."

Best place to see the northern lights

Northern lights in Iceland over one of Reykjavik Bike Tour's favorite hotels in Iceland.

Northern lights are best viewed from Iceland, Canada, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Alaska, Scotland and Greenland. Iceland is surely one of the most accessible places to view the elusive northern lights since it only takes 2.5 hrs to fly from Scotland, 3 hours from London, 3.5 hours from Frankfurt and 5.5 hours from New York.

On a clear night in winter you may experience the northern lights as soon as you‘re out of the terminal building at Keflavik International Airport 35 miles from Reykjavik.

Best time to view the northern lights is around midnight and the best place to view the northern lights is anywhere away from the city lights in Reykjavik.

Northern lights cannot be seen every night due to cloud cover, unfavourable magnetic field conditions or lack of solar activity. But man! When you do see the northern lights it is all worth it.

The 2013 winter season is forecasted to be particularly good for viewing.

Reykjavik Bike Tours offers private northern light tours in winter.

To enquire, or to book a northern ligths tour, please send an e-mail to bike_at_icelandbike_dot_com

Russel Crowe bicycles around Reykjavik

Actor Russel Crowe enjoyed his stay in Iceland during the filming of the big Hollywood film Noah's Ark in many different ways. Russel Crowe spent time cycling around Reykjavik and he sang with the famous singer Patti Smith in small local places. Patti Smith has been to Iceland before and given concerts.

Noah's Ark is one of the largest film assignments in Iceland ever. Director Darren Aronofsky is said to have been particularly happy with the quality of the work of his Iceland production team, and the hospitality of the Icelandic people.

One third of Noah's Ark was shot in Iceland at these locations: Djúpavatnsleið, Sandvík, Sandvíksklofi, Lambhagatjörn og Undirhlíðanáma við Kleifarvatn; Sandvíkurskarð, Stapahraun, Stampar, Hafursey, Reynisfjara, Raufarhólshellir, Leirhnjúkar, Hamragarðaheiði and Svartiskógur.