“The principal industry (in the Westman Islands) is commercial fishing, and the wharf is lined with unassuming seafood restaurants. ‘They’re packed during lunch and dinner,’ Zimmern says. ‘I’d walk down the row and pick a different one for each meal.’ The just-caught fish—cold-water species like cod and halibut—are usually prepared in a traditional European style, sautéed in brown butter. ‘In the States, cod gets kind of a bad rap,’ says Zimmern. ‘But here, it’s the most pristine, beautiful, flaky white fish.’”
– Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, a Travel Channel series devoted to exploring local cuisines that keeps Zimmern globe trotting for about 30 weeks each year. Source: Beth Collins, writing in Budget Travel magazine. (See the story here: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052501812.html)
“From the summit ridge on Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest peak, the world dropped away to a blanket of clouds. It was late May, and I’d come from far below, a daylong climb up from near sea level to Hvannadalshnúkur’s 6,922-foot ridge in the sky.
“As mountaineering adventures go, the climb on the hard-to-pronounce Icelandic peak is a slog. But what a beautiful slog it is, including an ascent from misty highlands, past waterfalls, and up a rock ridge.
“You pass through the clouds, then onto the snow. Finally, on a high plateau, snow stretches miles in all directions, a glacial scene unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
– Stephen Regenold, editor of gearjunkie.com, in the Redding, Calif. Record Searchlight, June 19, 2010. (See the complete story here: http://gearjunkie.com/highpoint-climb-in-iceland)
“Volcanoes are at the heart of this remarkable country, which lies only about five hours from New York’s JFK. With its hot springs, snow-covered mountains and lunar-looking rocks, Iceland offers one of the most dramatic natural landscapes on earth. Meanwhile, the capital city of Reykjavik appears to have been assembled from colored Lego blocks and has a legendary weekend nightlife that goes way past dawn (note: when you’re this far north, dawn can arrive at 2am.).”
– Everett Potter, “Closer Than You Think: Iceland”, Everett Potter’s Travel Report, June 24
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