BIBLIOGRAPHY: Here are several articles from the popular periodical literature that you may enjoy: Jon Swan (text)and Enrico Ferorelli (photography), "Iceland Be Dammed," SMITHSONIAN (June, 2002), PP. 90 - 97. Iceland be dammed or Iceland be damned. Power to the plant or power to the people? Meryl Gordon, "Winter Weekend - in Iceland?," TRAVEL & LEISURE (November, 1989), pp. 91 ff. A couple defy the stereotype of an Icelandic winter and take a quick trip that stirs their desire to see the country again - in the summer. Pico Ayer, "Walks in the Twilight Zone," CONDENAST TRAVELER (April, 1992), pp. 168 ff. Where will you find Europe's oldest language and biggest disco? Not on this planet! Paul Vender-Molen, "Iceland's Wild Glacier-born River," NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (September, 1984), pp. 306 ff. How about descending 150 feet through a hole in a glacier to enjoy skinnydipping in a 95 degree (F.) pool? An international team traced a river from its origin inside a glacier to its outlet in the Arctic Ocean, using kayaks, inflatable rafts, and ultralight aircraft. Wright Britton, "Sailing Iceland's Rugged Coasts," NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (August, 1969), pp. 228 ff. Iceland's geography is certainly physical - and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC's photography is certainly beautiful. Tony Horwitz, "Iceland Has Elves, Who Live in Rocks, Nowhere to be Seen." NEW YORK TIMES, July 13, 1990, pp. 1 ff. Lots of countries have unseen economies, but Iceland has unseen people. Watch where you walk! Richard Morais, "Saga of Fire and Ice," FORBES MAGAZINE (October 23, 1995), pp. 160 - 164. Are Icelanders the happiest and most content people on earth? This author argues so. Loulie Meynard, "Who Put the Ice in Iceland?" MICHIGAN ALUMNUS (University of Michigan Alumni Magazine) (January/February, 1995, p. 51). The University of Michigan alumni association sponsored a tour to Iceland; afterwards, they wondered what took them so long to get there and why anyone would keep it a secret. Charles N. Barnard, "Freezing Saddles (home, home on the (Icelandic) range)," MODERN MATURITY (April-May, 1994), pp. 52-54, 82-83. To be a cowboy in the north country of Iceland for a month - what an experience! And Connecticut? It's back on planet Earth. Jonathan B. Tourtellot, "Ring Around Iceland," NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER (May-June, 1994), pp. 66 ff. A nine day, 1000-mile drive around Iceland's peripheral ring road reveals a unique culture. Michael Finkel, "Land of the Midnight Tea," SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (June 13, 1994), p. 4A . Iceland's Arctic Open Golf Tournament tees off at midnight on the longest day of the year. Peter Passell, "72 Hours of Iceland (spending the weekend in Iceland)." NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (June 12, 1994), p. 68. "Canada - or Iceland?" NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER (? May-June, 1994), p. 116. Gimli, New Iceland, is the largest Icelandic community outside Iceland. Located north of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the community was established in 1875 by settlers who fled the eruption of Mount Hekla in Iceland. Simon Winchester, "Fire Down Below," CONDENAST TRAVELER (August, 1997), pp. 82 ff. Photography (by Yann Arthus-Bertrand) of Iceland and illustrations demonstrating the mechanisms of the country's geology. Stephen D. Moore, "Gene Hunter Targets Isolated Iceland," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, July 10, 1997, pp. B-1,7. Here is a scientific article that recognizes the unique biology and genetics of a small and isolated nation that has self-propagated for over a thousand years. Steve Winter (Photographs by), "Iceland's Trial by Fire," NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (May, 1997), pp. 58-71. The 1996 eruption of a volcano buried beneath Vatnajokull, Europe's largest glacier, unleashed flooding and destruction that is documented in this photographic and artistic essay. Lawrence Toppman, "Iceland is a feast for the eyes," THE (Akron) BEACON JOURNAL, December 7, 1997, pp. H1, H3. The author says that that "Everything not all ice in land of sharp contrasts. Bring sense of adventure and lots of money." Lawrence Toppman, "Nine necessities for trip to Iceland," THE (Akron) BEACON JOURNAL, December 7, 1997, p. H3. The author says that "Trip to the rural parts of the country makes unusual demands on tourists." G. Paschal Zachary, "The Haziris of Kosovo Find They're Strangers In a Very Strange Land (Trading for a Fjord)," THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, July 13, 1999, pp. A-1 and A-10. Several Kosavar refugee families were placed in Iceland. "We have landed on another planet," one elder thinks upon touchdown. But the Icelandic sense of social security has made believers of them, at least until winter. David Wallis, "What Little Elves Tell Icelanders (Gnome Is Where The Heart Is)," NEW YORK TIMES, September 19, 1999. Elf-spotters (who also handle dwarfs, light fairies, and trolls) are an important part of highway planning and road departments in Iceland, according to Erla Stefansdottur, the country's most famous elf-spotter. The elves were unavailable for comment. Susan Salter Reynolds, Untitled LA Times article. A positive look at Iceland in the winter! What a refreshing place (especially to contrast with Cintra!!!! Kenneth Brower (with photography by Catherine Karnow), "On the Road in Iceland," ISLANDS, March, 2001, pp. 116 - 129 + "Iceland Bearings," pp. 147 - 148. What's one word that describes Iceland? Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. (You may even have to repeat it a dozen times!) Thomas Sancton, "The Unfrozen North," TIME, March 26, 2001, p. 60. Hard winters in Iceland are compensated for by hard partiers, and now foreigners are discovering the same lack of virtue! Kitty Bean Yancey, "Iceland's Beauties Beckon," USA TODAY, April 30, 2001, pp. D1 ff. Glaciers, an English-speaking population, stunning beauty (including the sixteen Miss Iceland contestants in killer heels, cheekbones that chisel ice, and bras optional) - what more could 260 American guys in their 30's want? Also have a look at my travel hints.