Destination: Iceland
The Medieval Icelandic Guide to Marauding
by Eva Holland | 09.22.09 | 12:35 PM ET
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.
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Yahoo! BuzzTurn Up the Tunes, Break Out Your Phrasebooks
by Elyse Franko | 09.09.09 | 8:44 AM ET
Elyse Franko wonders: Is the United States at the beginning of a linguistic musical revolution?
European Flesh and the American Prude
by Rick Steves | 09.08.09 | 12:54 PM ET
Alexandra Beier/Reuters Exploring Europe, exploring travel as a political act
Eight Photos to Inspire Wanderlust
by World Hum | 05.01.09 | 8:12 AM ET
REUTERS Indulge your armchair traveler. We've gathered eight wanderlust-inspiring travel photos from around the world.
See the full photo slideshow »
Morning Links: Bible Park, Pizza Vending Machines and More
by Eva Holland | 03.16.09 | 9:03 AM ET
- The Wall Street Journal goes way beyond Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
- Planning for Lebanon, Tennessee’s Bible-themed amusement park, has been suspended indefinitely due to “political differences”; the park’s developers are eyeing Kentucky instead. (Via The Book Bench)
- Coney Island’s famed Totonno’s pizzeria has been devastated by a fire.
- The San Francisco Chronicle has the little-known story of Iceland’s pizza pioneer.
- And in more pie-related news, the New York Times dishes on Northern Italy’s pizza vending machines.
- World Hum contributor Jenna Schnuer gets the local scoop on Houston’s finest cuisine, culture and more.
- New York City’s High Line may not be quite ready for visitors, but it is in bloom.
- Audrey and Daniel from Uncornered Market have just headed out on the road again; they reflect on five things they’ll miss about America.
- In the Huffington Post, Alison Stein Wellner goes looking for Jewish Barbados.
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Morning Links: Michael Lewis Asks About Bjork in Reykjavík, Yoko Ono’s Travel Daydreams and More
by Michael Yessis | 03.05.09 | 8:06 AM ET
- The always compelling Michael Lewis goes to Reykjavík.
- When Yoko Ono daydreams, she daydreams of going to ... Geneva?
- A Canadian traveler refused to turn off his engine, insisting that a U.S. border guard say “please.” The guard didn’t say please. Instead he apparently broke out his pepper spray.
- Frugal Traveler Matt Gross writes about flying with his 6-month-old daughter. Comment madness ensues.
- The Guardian reveals some secret bars around the world.
- Jaunted speaks the five unspoken rules of seatmate etiquette.
- Here’s a Google map of a day of air traffic in the United States. (via Gadling)
- The New Yorker looks at the Van Dykes (abstract), “a roving band of van-driving vegans who shaved their heads, avoided speaking to men, and lived on the highways of North America for several years.”
- New Mexico pueblos to train travelers: No photos, please. (via The Morning News)
- Finally, there goes another piece of our childhoods: The View-Master, with its “iconic reels of tourist attractions,” is being discontinued.
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R.I.P. Sigurdur Helgason
by Rob Verger | 02.19.09 | 12:41 PM ET
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.”
We’re All Icelanders Now
by Eric Weiner | 02.16.09 | 10:26 AM ET
REUTERS/Ints Kalnins Global Positioning: On the intersection of place, politics and culture
A Polymath in Iceland and Greenland
by Michael Yessis | 07.28.08 | 11:12 AM ET
The Freakonomics guys recently carved out some space in their blog for the freakishly accomplished Nathan Myhrvold, who turned in three interesting posts—and a bunch of terrific images—from his travels to Iceland and Greenland.
Related on World Hum:
* A Very Long Way to the Hong Kong Cafe
‘We Have Reached a Gilded, Rococo Age of Service Journalism’
by Jim Benning | 07.25.08 | 12:30 PM ET
Jason Wilson has a fine essay about the trouble with travel and “lifestyle” journalism in The Smart Set.
Eric Weiner: On Following Your Bliss
by Julia Ross | 02.13.08 | 2:03 PM ET
Photo by Chuck Berman. What's the relationship between place and happiness? Julia Ross asks the author of "The Geography of Bliss" about happy nations, "hedonic refugees" and the benefits of ma?ana and mai pen lai.
U.N.: Iceland Rocks. Sub-Saharan Africa? Not so Much.
by Jim Benning | 11.27.07 | 11:57 AM ET
Reports Reuters on the United Nations’ annual Human Development Index report: “Norway had held top spot for six years but was edged into second place by Iceland this year because of new life expectancy estimates and updated figures for gross domestic product.” Australia, Canada and Ireland rounded out the top five. The U.S. is 12th. Sub-Saharan Africa is the worst place to live, according to the rankings, and worst of all is Sierra Leone.
Related on World Hum:
* Whistling at the Northern Lights
* Rick Moody on Iceland’s ‘Garden of Eden’
Iceland photo by Gunna via Flickr, (Creative Commons).
‘The Condé Nast Traveler Book of Unforgettable Journeys’
by Tyler D. Johnson | 10.05.07 | 10:23 AM ET
A new anthology gathers some of the most memorable stories from the magazine's 20-year history. Tyler D. Johnson says it contains the humor and wisdom only travel can deliver.
Stephen Colbert’s ‘Investigation’ into a Caribbean Resort
by Jim Benning | 02.16.07 | 6:25 PM ET
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
* Jon Stewart on Osama bin Laden’s Latest Tape
Rick Moody on Iceland’s ‘Garden of Eden’
by Michael Yessis | 01.03.07 | 9:25 AM ET
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.
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