Iceland in Pictures

It was a tad windy in Iceland yesterday. Photo taken by Áslaug María Friðriksdóttir in the Vestmannaeyjar islands.

A lone fisherman just off the coast of Skagafjörður in northern Iceland accidentally had a humpback whale swim through his net. After making a few attempts himself to free the whale he called for assistance. Fortunately the Coast Guard was only half an hour away and responded quickly. They managed to cut a strand of the net that was hooked around the whale's fin. Not an easy task with such a giant animal up close. From a short distance away, a second humpback whale kept an eye on the whole operation.

It should be fine to stop in most places as long as you use some common sense and leave no mark.

Geoff Harper took his fat bike and rode along the black sand beaches on Iceland's South Coast.

What picture?

Photo by Alexandra Birgisdóttir.

Internet connections are good, in fact there are many ideas of building major data centers in Iceland in order to make use of the cold climate and cheap environmentally friendly electricity.

by Leslie Anthony There’s a natural human temptation to exaggerate over that in which we are in awe, and storms fall easily into that category. On a recent film shoot along the north coast of Icela...

Yes. In fact there are several times more sheep in Iceland than people.

Örvar Helgason a sailor on the Icelandic trawler Höfrungur III sent his friends this photo of himself hanging on the "wrecking ball" somewhere off the south coast of Iceland. There is no reason not to have a little fun when the winter seas aren't too rough.

You can however be sure that it is possible to get to the other end of the trail, Þórsmörk, in June. Þórsmörk by itself is a great hiking destination. You can do endless day hikes in the area and eventually cross the Fimmvörðuháls Col to Skógar.

My old school and Iceland’s oldest school, Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík (Reykjavik Junior College) has a statue in the yard of the school’s mascot, Pallas Aþena. The school is also the only high school that teaches ancient Greek.

What's cooking tonight? Þorri is the fourth winter month in the old Icelandic calander, mid January to mid February in modern speak. During this time, Icelanders typically go to one Þorrablót (Þorri feast) often organized by large workplaces, groups of friends, sport clubs etc. In these feasts you will find the traditional Icelandic food that would be the only thing left this far into winter. This is when Icelanders guzzle down their hákarl (rotten shark) with Brennivín as an appetizer before moving into the soured ram's testicles, salted seal flippers and the ever delicious blood pudding.

ALL SORTS OF THINGS. YES YOU WILL SURVIVE. JUST EAT BÆJARINS BESTU EVERY DAY.

Both countries are part of Schengen, so you don't even need your passport to get here and don't need any permit to stay for 90 days. I'm not sure what happens after those first 90 days, but it should be easy to sort out.