h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My best mate & I both turn 50 next February and we're planning to have a few days away together to celebrate/commiserate

We've got as far as establishing that we both fancy somewhere Nordic (except Norway as she's been several times with her partner) but we're not really sure where so perhaps the combined power of h2g2 can help? The only option we've put on the list so far is Iceland. We're looking for a nice mix of chilling out , nice food & drink, great scenery and perhaps a bit of culture.

I know it's going to be pricey, but we don't want to have to remortgage our homes to do this. It'll be for 3-4 days so we need somewhere relatively easy to reach but don't mind hiring a car to see some sights.

Does anyone have any experience of any of the Nordic countries they'd care to share?



Deb

Do the Baltics qualify as Nordic? I enjoyed Riga and Tallinn in 2013. I doubt that they'd be especially pricey.

My memory of Iceland from the 80s is great scenery - the best in the world - but not much else. If you could go on a tour that included reading of the sagas in their original locations, that would be great, but I don't know if such trips are available.

The trip I went on was an organised adventure holiday with walking, rafting and skidooing, with all food provided, so I couldn't really judge the food available outside of a trip.

Norway is particularly pretty around Bergen and the Sogne Fjord, so if you haven't been to that part of Norway it is well worth going.

Somewhere in the Arctic Circle there's a hotel made of ice. It's in Norway or Sweden. A sightseeing trip to Elsinore castle in Denmark might be nice, if you like that sort of thing. Not that I've been there, except when I've dreamed that I'm hamlet.

Helsingor in Kronborg.

I'd vote Riga and Tallinn too but also add a trip to Helsinki by sea. Crossing The Baltic was a lovely trip with a Russian friend.

PP.

Thanks, guys, these are all great ideas. My friend will be coming for a visit soon (we live relatively distant from each other so rarely meet) to go over ideas and research so I'll show her this thread.

It's a shame Norway's out as I'd love to go (of course I want to see Slartibartfast's fjords ) but my friend and her partner love it and plan to go again - I don't want to encroach on "their" thing.

Actually the Baltic area might well fit the bill. I work with someone who spends a lot of time in Estonia and he says it's beautiful.

All food for thought

Deb

http://www.boredpanda.com/travelling-back-in-time-15-breathtaking-pictures-of-medieval-tallinn/

I'm not too far from Copenhagen. Some danish researchers may be interested too...

I agree that Tallinn is gorgeous. I haven't been to Copenhagen, but I hope to see it some day....

I had missed that you had Iceland on your very shortlist.

I thoroughly recommend the place. Budget for car hire or coach trips because, although there is plenty to see in Rekjavik, there are too many things up country that should not be missed.

Gullfoss - waterfall.
Geysir and Strokkur - stinky and fabulous.
The mid-Atlantic ridge which runs through the island.
The many hot springs.

There is loads to pack in AND you may get a good display of the Northern Lights (or not).

Good packages for hotel and flights are available.

PP.

We both do really fancy Iceland, but it does depend on cost. As our plans are so very hazy at the moment it's hard to narrow the search. But it's definitely top of the list

Deb

If you go to Iceland, you may want to try Brennivin. The Guideb has a guide article on Iceland, which mentions Brennivin briefly.

http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A243983

Ooh, thanks, Paul, I'll print that off to read later

Deb

I have a friend who has been to Iceland several times. He likes the country a lot. He fancies his drinks as well.

http://h2g2.com/entry/A319772

The edited entry on Iceland A487613, on the other hand, doesn't mention Brennivin, which is palatable but not my favourite.

I can see I have a lot of reading to do

Deb

Apparently there's drinking to go with the reading.