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Post by innit Geezer on Dec 9, 2007 11:28:31 GMT -6
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Post by jo on Dec 9, 2007 11:59:13 GMT -6
uuummmm, isn't it COLD there, Gary??
Jo (a Canadian who really, really hates winter)
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Post by jefnlaura on Dec 9, 2007 12:30:14 GMT -6
Gary, I lived there for (2) VERY LONG Years...  My oldest son was born there. I do NOT recommend this place, but then again, I may have a biased opinion. Muffy |
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Post by DT on Dec 9, 2007 13:16:01 GMT -6
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Post by Irish Stu on Dec 9, 2007 13:27:16 GMT -6
I think an extended weekend in Iceland would be exciting. Restaurants, clubs and thermals, sounds like a fun weekend! Has anyone been there? Does this appeal to anyone? Count me in. I've heard good reports from friends who have visited Iceland. Simon |
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Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Dec 12, 2007 23:14:47 GMT -6
Gary I too have read positive reports about visiting Iceland. Now, I wouldn't want to live there, but a weekend trek during the summer would be fun.
I think we should plan a trip next summer. By golly I think even Playboy had a "Women of Iceland" pictorial once upon a time. It can't be all bad. You know how all that ice perks up those nipples!!
.............Bob
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Post by Irish Stu on Dec 13, 2007 6:12:42 GMT -6
You know how all that ice perks up those nipples!! That's good because it's always handy to have somewhere to hang your towel while you take a quick dip in one of those thermal hot springs. Simon |
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Post by innit Geezer on Dec 13, 2007 6:19:21 GMT -6
Or a small piece of caution tape so know one gets poked in the eye accidentally. This sounds like a good trip for July but I didn't think it would be so bad in the winter until Muffy posted.  You'll have to fill me in sometime about this place Muffy. |
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Post by Ozmale on Dec 13, 2007 7:54:35 GMT -6
Always been high on my list of places to visit. They have great beer and hot springs - what more could you want (although I dont think I am too keen on the local gourmet delicacies). If I found out that you could go nude to the hot springs I think it might move up to 1st or 2nd place on that list!
Oz
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Dec 13, 2007 8:14:21 GMT -6
uuummmm, isn't it COLD there, Gary??
Jo (a Canadian who really, really hates winter) I had to look this up, because Iceland sits in the Gulf Stream. Turns out that winters on the south side of the island are comparable to New York, more like Quebec on the north side of the island... Link |
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Post by Tex on Dec 13, 2007 8:37:46 GMT -6
I've been to New York City one time in the winter but it should count as two - my first and last time.
I'm sitting here in Texas looking outside at a dreary 40 something degree day with rain wondering why anyone would go to Iceland in the winter. I suppose that I detest cold weather more than anyone I know. My parents are feeble and very much dependent on me, but (God willing and the creeks don't rise) I plan to never see another cold day after they are gone.
We may be riding anchor down near Hank's place or in Negril or far south Texas, but come Thanksgiving, we will be out of here until March.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Dec 13, 2007 8:51:11 GMT -6
I have to agree Tex on the concept of a winter trip to Iceland. Going there IS one of our life goals. I had an uncle who was stationed there with with his family while in the Air Force in the 70's. They LOVED it, but I cant see leaving where I am now (80 inches of snow so far this winter) for that.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 13, 2007 9:08:31 GMT -6
I've been to New York City one time in the winter but it should count as two - my first and last time. I'm sitting here in Texas looking outside at a dreary 40 something degree day with rain wondering why anyone would go to Iceland in the winter. I suppose that I detest cold weather more than anyone I know. My parents are feeble and very much dependent on me, but (God willing and the creeks don't rise) I plan to never see another cold day after they are gone. We may be riding anchor down near Hank's place or in Negril or far south Texas, but come Thanksgiving, we will be out of here until March. I used to think it would be nice to own a warm-weather home to spend my winters after I retire; like in Key West or Arizona. But lately, I've had what I think is a better idea: pick someplace new each winter, and just rent a place for three months. Yes, a month of rental costs more than a month of ownership, but I don't think three months of rental costs as much as an entire year of ownership that you don't even use. And you get to see more places! Anyway, that's the current fantasy......Jake |
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Post by edie2u on Dec 13, 2007 9:17:41 GMT -6
It will be around 80 here today...Iceland...I don't think so.
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Post by New Mama on Dec 13, 2007 9:31:12 GMT -6
Iceland, no way. Maybe if I was wealthy and retired. It's friggen cold here in Chicago and I'd prefer something very south of here. Iceland is here.
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Post by Tex on Dec 13, 2007 9:35:23 GMT -6
Thailand wouldn't be bad either. You can rent a very nice upscale condo for $400 a month in winter. Thailand is pleasant and inexpensive. They have health care comparable to our own for twenty cents on the dollar.
I'm a boat guy and was thinking of docking a good sized sailboat at Galveston most of the year and heading south in November. If you get tired of one place, weigh anchor and set sail.
Over Thanksgiving, I had Hedo's hobie cat over in Bloody Bay and sailed alongside a 42' Morgan. The guy said he had been there six months and looked like he was enjoying it.
We like Texas the rest of the year but not the winter. Tomorrow we travel to Lubbock to see my oldest son graduate from Texas Tech. It is supposed to be in the low twenties - shit weather.
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Post by Irish Stu on Dec 13, 2007 10:44:57 GMT -6
Oh sorry Gary... I thought you meant THIS Iceland. Simon |
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Post by Bif St Lou on Dec 13, 2007 11:38:40 GMT -6
I remember seeing an interview with Quentin Tarantino a year or so ago in which he talked about New Years Eve in Iceland. He paints quite a different picture than what Muffy has to say about the place! Read this and this. |
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Post by innit Geezer on Dec 13, 2007 16:55:35 GMT -6
The thought of big thermal pools, friends and beer sounds good to me. Geri is mixed on the idea of a winter visit but she's up for mostly anything.
Glad to see you back Jef.
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Post by jefnlaura on Dec 14, 2007 13:42:48 GMT -6
OK, I DID say I may have a "biased" View of the Island.. I mean, I didn't have the luxury of leaving after a weekend.... I was stuck there for 25 MONTHS to be exact. The summers were INCREDIBLE as far as the Midnight sun, but the winters were Just plain HELL.
We did go do the "touristy" stuff, but that took all of a month.. Then, we were left to endure winds so fierce, all of the cars were blown to one end of the parking lot, bumped up against a dumpster. If you wanted to do the simple task of crossing the street, you had better walk at an angle against the wind, and opening your coat so as to allow the wind to use it as a parachute would work rather well to get you where you wanted to go in a swift manner.
Perhaps a SUMMER weekend might interest me, hell, it's STILL cool in July/August, but NO WAY in the winter, when it is never daylight.
Muffy (who does not miss that place)
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Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Dec 14, 2007 17:30:17 GMT -6
If we're going that far north I'd like to see the Northern Lights. But, if we go in summer, the sun don't set, right?? Iceland is north of the arctic circle, isn't it??
Damn.
So many issues . . .
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Post by jefnlaura on Dec 14, 2007 19:09:42 GMT -6
OK Bob, Yes, and No. Yes, in the summer it never gets dark. The sun does begin to set during mid summer around 2:30 AM, and then begins to rise for the next day approx 3:00 AM. So, for about 30 minutes, the sun is not shining brightly, but it is far from dark. THAT in itself took a LOT to get used to. On the flip side, in the winter, it never really got light. About 10:00 AM it would begin to get daylight, and poof, an hour to 90 minutes later, back to dark.
Now, about the Arctic Circle. Iceland is just south of the Arctic Circle, however, the Military does (or did then) spend your tax dollars to give many of us (me included) that were stuck there what was called a Blue Nose Flight, where we went to the Arctic Circle. It was a chance to get off of the Island, and I did try not to miss many of those opportunities, even if it meant flying at 7 months pregnant to go to England to shop for an afternoon. Even given all of that "neat to do shit" I have no desires to go back. Give me a sandy Island any-day over a moss covered lava rock with SHEEP running all over like Goats in Jamaica.
Muffy (who is going to go try to dig out some pics of the place)
edited to add: (The Northern lights were beautiful, and Bif and I were just discussing them last night in our Hot-tub as we were out watching the Meteor shower in St Louis area. They were only visible in winter months, and when the sky was clear. Definitely something worth seeing, but not at the price of another trip to Iceland)
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Post by innit Geezer on Dec 14, 2007 19:55:00 GMT -6
Give me a sandy Island any-day over a moss covered lava rock If Geri sees that post it'll be the end of my Northern Lights trip. She'll take sandy beach any day. I also overlooked the time consuming and tedious task of chipping ice off my nuts, that'll eat into valuable vacation time. Who's got a chisel?!! |
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