Viking verbal trickery: Why have Greenland and Iceland got the wrong names? Like Bob Holness, Vikings like to say what they see. Greenland was greener in 800AD when they stumbled across it, and it was snowing in Iceland when they arrived. There are also rumours it was a trick to keep foes away from Iceland where they really planned to settle.
Believe in fairies: The Vikings brought a still widely held belief in elves and trolls. Hidden people are thought to live in the lava fields, and the sea stacks at Reynisfjara are said do be petrified trolls. Icelanders build very cute elf houses in their gardens.
Crazy overachievers: 1/10 Icelanders will publish a book.
Land of fire and ice: 10% of surface is covered with glaciers and there are 130 volcanoes, 30 of which are active and at least 3 of which always seem overdue an explosion.
Feel the earth move beneath your feet: Taking papering over the cracks to a new level, a shopping centre has been built over the meeting place of 2 tectonic plates. Having discovered this half way through the build, they played it safe and only built one storey (!). You can see into the Earth’s core through a glass floor in the mall.
Eco friendly: No need to burn fossil fuels (good job as there are no trees) simply heat your home with geo-thermal energy from the volcanically heated water.
Things you will find in Iceland: The world’s oldest parliament, Northern lights or midnight sun, puffins and fermented shark as a delicacy, a volcanic eruption every 4 years, a town called Bjork, a campsite (!) and a smartphone app that lets Icelanders check if they are related or not.
And things you won’t: An army, navy or air force, trains, surnames, strip clubs, Mc Donald’s, trees, mosquitos, guns, crime. They do now have bee, but only from 1989.
It costs the earth: A bunch of grapes can set you back £10, a bottle of rum £80, a woollen jumper £300 and anorak £600. Playing guess the price can be quite entertaining, but shopping for souvenirs or even food could bankrupt you.
I love a good storm myself but I do enjoy it more when I am inside rather than out! Walking on the glass floor in Tower Bridge looks amazing – that must be knew, it wasn’t there when I visited so I will add it to my bucket list for when I get back there.
I love these ideas especially Iceland, Havana & The Grand Canyon! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve done the Iceland one and can definitely agree that it needs to be on anyone’s bucket list!
Great bucket list ideas, added more to my bucket list. Jordan definitely should be on your future bucket list. It’s so beautiful.
I adore Havana. We had fun roaming the streets, doing a cigar factory tour and seeing all the classic cars! Iceland is way up on my bucket list – I can’t wait to visit some day soon!
Iceland is on my bucket list to see. I would like to see aurora there. You’ve already have H in your list but I’ll add Hampi to your list 😉
This is such an amazing list! I really want to get to Greenland and Cuba. They both look incredible! 🙂
This is such a cool post! I especially want to see Greenland and Kathmandu 😀
What a fun list! I love all of the ideas. But if I had to puck one, the lightning storm over Grand Canyon sounds superb.
We had an amazing time with the kids at the Grand Canyon. It’s definitely worthy of any bucket list. Jamaica sounds amazing and a whole lot of fun. #mustseeplaces
Wow, some great bucketlist travel ideas here! I’m proud to say ive done some of these, but so many left to enjoy when we can get travelling again! #MustSeePlaces
Nice i really enjoyed reading your blogs. Keep on posting. Thanks