Day tours in Iceland, Akureyri and Reykjavik

The Yule Lads, or Yulemen, are figures from Icelandic folklore who in modern times have become the Icelandic version of Santa Claus. Their number has varied throughout the ages, but currently there are considered to be thirteen. The Yule Lads were originally portrayed as being mischievous, or even criminal, pranksters who would steal from or harass the population, at the time mostly rural farmers. They all had descriptive names that conveyed their particular quirks and predilections. The Yule Lads are traditionally said to be the sons of the mountain-dwelling trolls Gryla and Leppalúði. Additionally, the Yule Lads are often depicted with the Yuletide Cat, a beast that, according to folklore, eats children who don't receive new clothes in time for Christmas ! So, there ! In modern times the Yule Lads have been depicted as taking on a more benevolent role, comparable to the conventional Santa Claus, by putting small gifts (or potatoes if the child has misbehaved) into shoes placed by children into their windows the last thirteen nights before Christmas Eve. They are occasionally depicted as wearing the costume traditionally worn by Santa Claus, but are otherwise generally shown wearing late medieval style Icelandic clothing.

This year there has been a boost with passengers flying with Icelandair. Figures indicate that at the end of the year they will be as many as 1.8 million, which is a new record. Of these 1.8 million passengers, approximately 600.000 passengers do enter the country as tourists. The advertising campaign with the name Inspired by Iceland is said to have been a success. A new campaign is about to begin where Iceland will be promoted as a winter destination.

The domestic flight company Ernir has decided to offer scheduled flights to Húsvík, beginning on the 15th of April 2012. They intend to offer seven flights per week – two flights on Tuesdays Thursdays and Fridays and one flight on Sundays.

The Fireworks show at Jokulsarlon will take place Saturday night 27th of August at 11 pm. Illuminated icebergs bathed in colour from the magnificent firework show in natures most spectacular surrounding creates an extraordinary experience for spectators. The fireworks show is an annual event and this is the twelfth time it is held. Number of visitors has been escalating every year and last year 1300 people came to enjoy the show.

Birgitte Mars will offer an open course on ways to improve where she talks about aspects such as infertility, changes in hormones, mood swings, menstrual problems, prostate problems and more. Natural ways to strengthen the hormone balance for men and women. Begins Wednesday 8th of June from 19:00 in ISI. Costs 5.900 isk. You can win a ticket at our facebook page. Birgitte has been working with naturopathy for 40 years and has written many books about herbs, health and nutrition. She published a book called Sexual herbal last year.

Program: Kundalini yoga in the afternoon and early morning. Lectures and events during the day for example bird watching, breath walk, small hikes, healing with herbs, concerts, mantra evenings and yoga disco. Read

This summer the Cultural center at Thingeyjarsyslur will stand for exhibitions in different places. Exhibition in Husavik The Culture House in Husavik has set up a new exhibition called “People and Nature – 100 years in Thingeyjarsysla”. There are shown natural objects as other objects from the Culture house in Thingeyjarsysla. The show is very interesting because the guests can feel the connection between man and nature at Thingeyjarsysla from years 1850 to 1950.

Last Saturday, the 28 of May, MSC Poesia arrived at the port of Akureyri. This was the second ship to arrive to Akureyri this summer. The passengers of the ship were very curious about our house and the activities that we offer. Brynjar at Café Bird served beer and coffee; the handcrafts sellers introduced themselves and their products for interested tourists. We at FAB travel sold trips to Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss along giving tourists information at the tourist center. We at FAB are very pleased with the start of our tourist center. We are now making final adjustments to our new travel guide manual which focuses on the Nordic area of Iceland.

Here in Strandgata 49 is preparation for the opening in full swing. ITA (Iceland Travel Assistance) employees are working hard to set up their shop. Brynjar at Café Bird is also preparing the machines, arranging tables and make sure everything is up and running before the opening. On the second floor will be a handcraft sale as well as FAB Travel’s office. We at FAB Travel are preparing the information center as well as organizing the activity that will be available in the Tourist Center this summer. The Tourist Center is much livelier then it has been for a while. We are very excited to see how foreign tourists as well as the local will welcome us. We’ll promise to welcome you and hopefully we’ll see you this summer.  

The next Kundalini yoga class at Akureyri will be held next Sunday from 10:00 to 11:15. Both beginners and advanced are welcome.