Iceland

View of the glacier Vatnajokull from a mountain ridge in Skaftafell national park.

Caterpillars? At a rainy 35 degrees? More power to them.

The glacier is receding. The post marks where it reached in 1980.

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Some Fun Iceland Cultural Facts

Iceland is about the size of Kentucky. It has 500,000 residents, 250,000 of whom live in Reykjavik.

The Icelandic word for "yes" is pronounced "yow!"

Most Icelanders speak fluent English, in a charming Berlitz-tape-like British accent.

The Icelandic language has changed very little from the Old Norse spoken by the Vikings. In fact, a modern Icelander can read and understand the sagas and eddas as they were first written down 1,000 years ago.

Fermented shark meat is a delicacy in Iceland, traditionally washed down with a shot of Brennevin (schnapps). I did not try any fermented shark meat, but I did try the schnapps.

Only 10% of Icelanders have actual surnames. The rest still use patronymics--their father's first name followed by "son" or "dottir." Phone book entries are by first name.