Getting a good start on the year 2010

I have been thinking how to create the best start of the year 2010 possible.

There is nothing like trial and error, best way to get a step further down Experience Lane.

My latest attempt, that I will try out with my wife this weekend is the 101 renew package that I is launching in January and valid throughout March 2010. The 101 renew package is a weekend getaway package, primarily aimed at couples on a romantic getaway.

ok, here is how it goes.

Stay at the luxurious, hip and trendy 101 hotel in Reykjavik. The room is actually a Deluxe upgrade, with all the bells and whistles, free standing bathtub and the

Aveda line of toiletries However, in the mini bar there is a selection of Blue Lagoon bath salts, relaxing foam bath flakes, body scrub and stuff I can't spell the names of.

Add a Cosmopolitan and a bottle of beer for me, and we are talking happy times. Honestly, it is a touch of the high life, really 2007 revisited.

Then it is basically about getting downtown, finding a great restaurant and enjoying a good night out on the town.

In the morning, day after, I have booked a time at the Blue LagoonSPA in Glaesibaer. They have the most amazing treatments, unique to Iceland and what can be found here. I tried the Blue Lagoon Lava Treatment the other day and can only say that it really got me relaxed and a huge smile on my face. What they do is they cover you in all kinds of skin condition stuff made from silicas and algaes of the Blue Lagoon, then, when the skin is soft and ready, they exfoliate with a gentle rub of crushed lava rocks. The lava rocks, basically grinded down to miniscule corns of sand adds a edgy side to this treatment. After the exfoliation process, I got covered again in soothing creams and got a full body massage. Total treatment time approximatelty 90 minutes. This can be extended with a longer body massage treat, up to 120 minutes. Absolutely mindblowing and I can highly recommend it.

Then there is the geothermally heated saturated salt solution they have in the facility. It is like floating in the Dead Sea, totally without a care in the world. Rumor has it that when you float in this solution and relax, each 30 minutes of total relaxation is equivalent to 8 hours of sleep. I have yet to try this extension, but will go for it.

The 101 hotel has the rooms at 101hotel.is, the blue lagoon spa can be found at http://bluelagoonspa.is/Blue-Lagoon-spa-Reykjavik/

but the package combo can be booked at Icelandtotal.com.

I will be posting a video on this at www.youtube.com/letstryiceland, so stay tuned.

Looking forward to the weekend.

Flying to Höfn in Hornafjörður

I have been creating a program in which a group of 70 people are flying to Höfn in Hornafjörður.

One of the suppliers that I have been talking with is absolutely fantastic. Asgeir at Ernir domestic flights and flightseeing tours, really loves his job and has all the creative solutions one could ask for.

The group I am putting together will be flying in a flightseeing tour over Vestmannaeyjar Islands, looking at Surtsey island, recent UNESCO World Heritage Site, then straight to Höfn for a full day of activities and scenic experiences.

At Höfn we will be doing an ATV tour from Stokksnes and over Austurfjörur black sand beach.

From Höfn we will then continue to the glacial lagoon, Jökulsárlón, but stop at Flaajökull for lunch. To make it into an interesting activity, the Flaajökull glacier stop, we have engaged Icelandic Mountainguides to set up a short ice hiking tour up to the glacier where the chefs of Smyrlabjorg restaurant have created a glacier buffet of all the most interesting courses from the local area. Most prominent in the local menu is the langoustine and lobster dishes, absolutely stunning.

After lunch we continue to the Jökulsarlon glacial lagoon and get on the amphoebe boats. As we sail around the icebergs, the guides picks up a small piece of an iceberg and this we break into smaller parts, so that the guests can enjoy in a glass of single malt whiskey. The ice is just stunning, compressed for thousands of years and melts in hours, not minutes.

After the tour, on our way back, we will stop at Hoffellsjökull where the local choir will be meeting us and sing a couple of songs. The locals have prepared a refreshment corner, serving local smoked lamb, cakes, coffee, and other delicacies, all homemade of course.

As we then arrive at Höfn, the local restaurant will have set up their most luxurious dinner presentation for the group to feast on until late in the evening.

I really think this is the best possible way to have an rich, full experience of Höfn in one day. If we had more days, then of course, I would suggest tours into the glacier area, or a tour into Skaftafell National Park, see Svartifoss and more. For the adventureous, hiking and climbing to the top of Hvannadalshnjukur is also something that needs to be done.

I am also trying to do videos of the different elements of this tour suggestion,

Here is

Jökulsarlón - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGwtmVr3x70

hope to publish more later.

please comment and bring in suggestions if you have any.

all the best

Toddi Goði

My entry into Blog world

Just had the curious experience of Blogger.com identifying my blog as SPAM. I know that I am not good, yet, but that was a pretty harsh first entry :-)

Meet Iceland

Meet Iceland

is about the people of Iceland, who they are and what they do.

I will visit outdoor enthusiasts, musicians, artists, craftsmen and women, singers, actors, public speakers, photographers, store owners, restaurant owners, producers, critics, politicians and CEOs and have them tell the world their stories.

Icelandic culture, traditions, way of living, interests and hobbies. Everything that has to do with life in Iceland.

The video's will be published at youtube.com/meeticeland