Iceland review - 2014, Qupperneq 94

92 ICELAND REVIEW
The Art of Shopping
Overlooking the beautiful Reykjavík Pond, The National Gallery of Iceland is an
essential destination for every art lover. There you will find an inspiring selection of
exhibitions mainly focusing on 19th and 20th century Icelandic art, although inter-
national art is featured as well. After exploring its spacious halls, make sure to stop
by the gallery shop. There, you will find a great selection of art books, catalogues,
cards and posters, published by the National Gallery to complement its exhibitions.
In addition, the museum shop offers a wide range of Icelandic art and design items
allowing for great gifts or souvenirs to bring back home. Open Tuesdays-Sundays
11 am-5 pm, closed Mondays. listasafn.is
sPECIAL PROmOTION
The Recipe for a Glorious Day
Reykjavík Excursions offers a range of exciting day tours, many of which include the
ever popular Golden Circle. Travelers get to visit the erupting hot spring Strokkur at
the Geysir geothermal area, the mighty waterfall Gullfoss, which tumbles 32 meters
down a crevice, and the historically and geologically significant Þingvellir National
Park. In addition to the classic stops, Reykjavík Excursions now also takes visitors to
the greenhouses at Friðheimar where they can learn how tomatoes and cucumbers
are grown in a sub-Arctic climate and taste the products.
Also, travelers can include snorkeling in the crystal-clear Silfra lake at Þingvellir,
in a rift between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates, relax in the hot tubs
and natural steam bath of Fontana Spa and Wellness Center by Lake Laugarvatn,
where locals have enjoyed the healing powers of the steam coming straight from
the ground for almost a century, explore nature from the back of an Icelandic horse,
or feel the thrill of snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier. For those with little time
to spare, Reykjavík Excursions also offer express afternoon and evening tours. re.is
Fly Me to the Moon
Norðurflug helicopter service may not take you to the moon but through a bird’s
eye view of Iceland’s moon-like lava landscapes you might get the illusion that you’re
looking at an alien planet. At least that’s the conclusion of Hollywood producers who
have shot their sci-fi thrillers, among other projects, in Iceland. Many of those have
taken advantage of Norðurflug’s services during filming, including the producers
of Oblivion, set to premiere in April 2013. The star of the show, Tom Cruise, was so
impressed that he also went sightseeing with Norðurflug.
Based in Reykjavík, Norðurflug offers versatile services and tours—since its launch
in 2008, the company has earned an 80 percent market share in Iceland and become
the country’s largest privately-run helicopter service. Priced between ISK 25,000 and
200,000 (USD 200-1,500, EUR 150-1,200), customers can choose between a wide range
of tours with the company’s three helicopters, carrying up to nine passengers. Or make
their own suggestions: a proposal on top of Mt. Esja is among the more memorable
ones. The most popular tour is to the crater of Eyjafjallajökull glacier, which erupted
in 2010. The aftermath is a unique sight as TV chef Gordon Ramsay can attest to.
nordurflug.is