See the Northern Lights

by Erik Olsen on

Neil posted a few times here about the Northern Lights, and what an exhilarating experience it can be. I confess that seeing, photographing them is an item high on my personal life list. Yet, despite almost five years of living in Seattle and numerous trip to Canada (ski trips to Whistler mostly), I’ve still never laid eyes on this amazing natural spectacle.

But I could, if I was willing to fork over the cashola to haul my arse up North. Just haven’t done it yet. But part of me think that to finally do the Northern Lights I should to it in style. And that is why I found this trip so appealing. First of all, you head to Iceland, a fascinating country rich in culture and natural beauty. Second, and equally important, you make the trip with Sky & Telescope magazine editor Paul Deans who, presumably, will be on hand to answer all your silly questions (what makes the sky glow like that? Magic fairies? Why don’t the lights make a sound?)

So check it out and let us know if you take this trip or any other to see the lights.

Word for the Travel Wise (05/19/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Here’s a bit of world music news hailing from the country of Iceland – It appears Björk will be releasing a seven album box set titled Surrounded. The hot metallic pink dual disc set will include the artist’s full catalog in Dolby 5:1 and DTS surround sound including all music videos. (I know – be calm everyone.) For those arguing Björk’s position as a true world music artist need to get with it. If you’re in America and she’s from Iceland and some of the tracks happen to be in the Icelandic language, then that my friends is world music. I know I’m not the only one inspired to visit Iceland because of the artist!

Today’s word is an Icelandic word used in Iceland:

velkomin – welcome

Use this one during your travels as much as you can stand. I’ll be using when my own Surrounded box set arrives sometime in June.

In the meantime and from afar we will work on our vocab. Háskóli Íslands, one of the universities offers an excellent free starter course to learning Icelandic. Pictures, text, and audio for sample conversations are included. European Youth Portal points out other sources of study within the country and distance learning. I’ve met several speakers with My Language Exchange. Lastly, check out the BBC for a few easy phrases to help get you around the town.

Past Icelandic words: söngkona/söngvari, himnaríki

Greenland Nonstop Next May

by Erik Olsen on

I have one place that has been on my
mind that I absolutely have to visit someday. And given the perils of global warming ,it’s probably better for me to do
this sooner rather than later. I want to visit and paddle around Greenland. But getting there is not easy…or at least
it hasn’t been…until now….OK, until a year from now. What’s changed? Well, it seems that starting May of 2007, Air Greenland will introduce nonstop service
from Kangerlussuaq to Baltimore during the summer months. Why not New York? I have no idea, but a flight from the East
Coast good enough. So pack that parka and plan your trip.

Spend Your Tax Refund

by Erik Olsen on

If you’re one of the lucky souls to
actually get a tax refund this year, you might be interested in ways you can spend it on travel. That’s what I’d be
doing if I were getting a refund…which sadly I’m not. But if you’re coffers will soon be filled with some disposable
cash then  MSNBC has got a list of things you can do. Of course, spending money on travel is, IMHO, pretty much
the best thing you can do with it. Forget expensive gew gaws, travel is all about experience, it is the spice of life,
and so that’s where a good deal of my income goes. I was actually surprised at the data released by Forbes.com which reports
that the average tax refund this year is likely to be about $2,480. That’s some serious cashola. The folks at MSNBC
recommend you blow it on Europe, in particular Iceland. And to be
honest, that’s one place I’ve never been but would happily go tomorrow. They also give the thumbs up to Bermuda, which
is heating up just about now so you can buy a pair of funny-looking shorts and ride a Vespa around looking tres Euro.

Travel and Leisure's 50 Romantic Places

by Erik Olsen on

For the most part, I don’t do a lot
of linking to Travel and Leisure Magazine. I think it’s a fine glossy,
and I’ll often pick it up and thumb through it, but the clientele it serves, I think, tends to be a bit more, shall we
say, sybaritic, that the average gadling reader. The magazine tens to be about luxury travel, and the ideal gadling
experience, I think more often involves tents than gilded bathroom fixtures. Now that said, we are very much into
romance and love. It’s a wonderful thing to take an adventure with your spouse or significant other, and sometimes
along the road, you really want to find a place that caters to your every whim,  where you might drop a bit more
cashola than usual because you feel like you deserve it.

And so I offer this great little list of places to
go on your next romantic trip. From exotic places like the Capella Lodge at Lord
Howe island in Australia,  to the Losari Coffee Plantation Resort & Spa in Indonesia, and the Snaefell Peninsula in Iceland, there are some seriously cool recommendations here,
enough adventure, love and luxury here to experience in a lifetime.