The Iceland year-book - 01.01.1927, Page 55

about the middle of the day. Ladies are strongly
recommended to ride astride, as it is both safer
and more comfortable. Icelandic ponies are re-
markably gentle creatures and easy to manage.
Motor-cars now run long distances from Reykja-
vik and various coastal villages. Thus Thingvellir
—• for more than nine centuries the seat of the
Althing, and the place Lord Dufferin thought it
worth going round the world too see -—■ is now
reached in one hour and a half by a taxi or an
omnibus from Reykjavik.
For camping out it is advisable for the tourist
to bring with him his own tent and sleeping bag,
as well as light waterproof or tarpaulin ground
sheet. He should provide himself with strong warm
clothes, woollen underwear, a complete set of oil-
skins, and waterproof top-boots, though, of course,
all these articles may be bought in Reykjavik.
On inland journeys those who do not camp
out will have to seek night quarters at farm-
houses or parsonages, which as a rule are very
clean.
Almost any sort of wine is obtainable in
Reykjavik and the other larger towns, but spi-
rits can only be had when prescribed by a quali-
fied doctor.
English is now fairly generally spoken by
the younger generation, and all educated Ice-
landers are able to read that language. In every
good class shop there is unfailingly somebody
who speaks English.
The best season for travelling in Iceland is
from the middle of June until the end of August.
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