The Telegraph highlights the mostly-intimidating descriptions of Scotland that pop up in a series of 13th century Icelandic chronicles. “Icelanders who want to practise robbery are advised to go there,” reads one section. “But it may cost them their life.” The chronicles, the story explains, “were often used as route guides for raiders, traders, crusaders and explorers, effectively a road map of medieval Europe and the Middle East.” Apparently, they’ve remained accurate enough over the centuries that they’re still used by archaeologists today.

Sigurdur Helgason, who died Feb. 8 at the age of 87, is credited with growing the airline that became known as the “hippie airline.”

“Mr. Helgason built up the United States market, carrying tens of thousands of budget travelers to Europe on what is known today as Icelandair,” his obituary reports.

The article quotes his daughter, Edda, as saying, “He opened up the opportunity for people in America to appreciate the value of Europe, and Europe of America, and there was Iceland, perfectly located, in between.”

Icelanders are famous for knocking back Brennivín, a local version of schnapps so lethal it’s also known as “black death,” but beer was illegal on the island for 75 years, until March 1, 1989. To honor this momentous occasion, the first of March every year is celebrated by the hard-drinking islanders as “Beer Day” – basically another excuse for a party to stave off the chill. Bars and restaurants host special events, but drinking out in Iceland is a pricey proposition at all times. Do what the locals do, and hit the Víking Gylltur before you head out. To quote our resident international booze expert, the Thirsty Traveler: “Nothing screams Iceland like Viking Beer!”



You can find out more about Iceland’s staunch drinking culture by following Kevin as he quaffs everything from volcanic vodka to black death, and lives to tell the tale.

– Tagged: Beer

What will Stephen Colbert be doing on his week off? The Colbert Report host dead-panned to Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” Thursday night: “Jon, I’ll be launching an intense seven-day investigation into the Royal St. Barts Golf Club and Resort, the Caribbean’s ritziest retreat, so my travel agent would have me believe. But I’ll lay down for a one-on-one Swedish massage with a masseuse who isn’t even Swedish. And then, parasailing: Is it really the coolest thing ever? A grueling five-hour examination. Then, I’ll access one riding stable whose occupants live like animals. The Royal St. Barts Golf Club and Resort: It’s the one Stephen Colbert exclusive you can’t afford...boy, you can’t afford.”

Related on World Hum:
* Jon Stewart on the Zagat Prison Guide

A good guidebook can go a long way towards making or breaking a trip, but the best travel experiences still come with the thrill of discovery attached: secret spots and personal landmarks known only to locals, with directions sketched out in hand-drawn maps. Paris-based photographer Ami Sioux has taken that idea and transformed it into an art project. Sioux followed maps created by locals she met of their favorite spots in five different cities: Reykjavik, Berlin, Paris, Tokyo and New York, and photographed what she found at the end of the trail. Scintilla Ltd., is publishing books of the results from each city, starting with REYKJAVIK 64°08N 21°54W this December. I love the contrast of the precision of geographic coordinates in the title with the vagueness of these out-of-the-way places, which can’t be found on ordinary maps, but really matter to at least one person. (via Cool Hunting)

The author of The Ice Storm and The Black Veil reflects on a pre-9/11 trip to Iceland in the latest issue of Conde Nast Traveler. “In those days, international tourism seemed an American birthright,” he writes. “Today, we are less secure in our travels. Before was the magical aspect of Gjáin, the heavily symbolized gorge of flowers in the middle of a somber landscape. After, life can feel all about the security screenings. Gjáin was out of a fairy tale; it was out of a movie. And it still exists in South Iceland. To those who visit it now, in a more jaundiced and fearful world, I’m sure it seems even more precious.”

Related on World Hum:
* Whistling at the Northern Lights
* We Are Vikings!

Photo: Reykjavik, Iceland, from JimmyOK’s flickr photo stream. Rights: Creative commons.

Now that summer is hitting its stride in the Northern Hemisphere, which in NYC today means heat and humidity in the high 80’s (mmm-mmm!), cue lots and lots of stories about frosty, faraway and sometimes inaccessible places where you can leave both the human crush and summer temperatures behind:

- “A national park to yourself…Canada’s Arctic Preserve awash in silent beauty” (SF Chronicle)

- “Iceland’s Ring Road: The Ultimate Road Trip” (NYT)

- “Going native up north (Canada’s Charlevoix region)” (LA Times)

- “Where Sweden meets Denmark” (Chicago Tribune)

- “A pilgrim’s trail (Tibet’s Mount Kailash)” (SMH)

You too can have a view like this all to your lonesome, if you’re willing to pay a few (or many) extra króna for it.

A recent story from CNN Travel, has me thinking that Iceland — party location du jour for global hipsterdom via its affiliation with Björk, Sigur Rós, badass Viking design symbology, and a reputation for unhinged nightlife — may have finally jumped the fermented shark as a destination.

In 2005, 370,000 foreigners visited Iceland, more than the country’s population. The top three points of origin were Britain, the United States and Germany…

Like many other visitors, we felt relaxed and had a good night’s sleep after swimming in the Blue Lagoon and rubbing some of its white silica mud over our skin. The only drawback was the price—$44 each for the entry fee and the bus ride from our hotel. “Wow, we’re staying here all day just to get our money’s worth,” Peter Rowan, 38, who works for a bank in London, said in the Blue Lagoon’s restaurant. He and his wife, Natalie, were each limiting themselves to a sandwich and a cup of tea.

“This country is beautiful, the people are wonderful, but the prices stop you in your tracks,” he said.

Given that there are only 300,000 Icelanders, more than half of whom live in Reykjavik, that must lead to some pretty steep tourist to local ratios. Add to that the high cost of everything, including the infamous local booze, and it seems that the party may be grinding down.

Elsewhere:
– Reykjavik Grapevine: “Quentin Tarantino, You Should Work for the Icelandic Tourist Board”
– Turn Here: Reykjavik
– Jaunted: “Land of the Midnight Sun, Tourist Board”


Image courtesy of tobyloc’s photostream