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A Journey Coming Up (anyone here live in Iceland?)
3 years ago
So next week I'll be heading to the land of Ice and Fire, and no, I don't mean the Ralph Bakshi film of a similar name. It's where 
karno's originally from.
I've been watching a ton of videos on Youtube on 'what to do', 'what to bring', 'what not to do', 'what to wear', '5 to 10 tips for first-timers visiting Iceland', cetra-cetra, because I'm paranoid and am also deathly afraid of coming off as the 'annoying asshole from such-and-such country'.
I am amazed at all of the 'what not to do's' people are saying on these videos, and they are more or less repeating most of what the other Youtubers are saying. It's common sense, really.
Some examples:
"Don't go off-roading" Yeah, why would I do that? I don't know this place.
"Don't go and pet the farm animals. Farmers don't like that." Who the hell does that? I live in Iowa. We're surrounded by farms. NO ONE does that here. Unless maybe they're high?
"Don't go to the restroom just anywhere." Well. Duh.
"Don't ask the locals if they know any elves." I am not five. I won't ask. I didn't even think of asking.
Simply amazing the shit of which they have to remind people. Are there that many tourists out there who lack this brand of common sense?
Here's a few I likely didn't know:
"Don't bring an umbrella." Apparently, the wind there murders umbrellas. It's fine. I hardly use an umbrella anyway.
"Don't park off the side of the road to take photos." Iceland apparently doesn't have any shoulders, so yeah. I can see why that is a hazard and liable to annoy the locals.
"Buy your booze at the duty free after you get off of the plane." Didn't know. Don't care. I don't drink, but if y'all visit Icyland and like to get your booze on, go there, I guess. You'll save some money.
"Take your shower and scrub all of the bits before getting into the pool/hot spring. Oh, yeah, others will be there, including the opposite sex. No one cares." I wasn't planning on bathing out in public, so no one has to be horrified.
Oh, and my personal favorite one, and am glad to know:
"Do not use a credit/debit card at a gas station and choose the 'fill the tank up' option." Apparently, that will place your card on hold for a good while.
I guess they don't let you control how much ya squeeze the handle there like they do here. *shrug*
I'm sure I'll learn more odds and ends whilst I'm there, but in the meantime, wish me luck, God Speed, good journey. I don't know anyone there, and I'll be driving in a foreign land for the first time, so... I'm a tad nervous. :)
If there's anyone here who lives in Iceland and frequents my page, feel free to let me know. It's good to have contacts in other places. :)
-D!!
karno's originally from.I've been watching a ton of videos on Youtube on 'what to do', 'what to bring', 'what not to do', 'what to wear', '5 to 10 tips for first-timers visiting Iceland', cetra-cetra, because I'm paranoid and am also deathly afraid of coming off as the 'annoying asshole from such-and-such country'.
I am amazed at all of the 'what not to do's' people are saying on these videos, and they are more or less repeating most of what the other Youtubers are saying. It's common sense, really.
Some examples:
"Don't go off-roading" Yeah, why would I do that? I don't know this place.
"Don't go and pet the farm animals. Farmers don't like that." Who the hell does that? I live in Iowa. We're surrounded by farms. NO ONE does that here. Unless maybe they're high?
"Don't go to the restroom just anywhere." Well. Duh.
"Don't ask the locals if they know any elves." I am not five. I won't ask. I didn't even think of asking.
Simply amazing the shit of which they have to remind people. Are there that many tourists out there who lack this brand of common sense?
Here's a few I likely didn't know:
"Don't bring an umbrella." Apparently, the wind there murders umbrellas. It's fine. I hardly use an umbrella anyway.
"Don't park off the side of the road to take photos." Iceland apparently doesn't have any shoulders, so yeah. I can see why that is a hazard and liable to annoy the locals.
"Buy your booze at the duty free after you get off of the plane." Didn't know. Don't care. I don't drink, but if y'all visit Icyland and like to get your booze on, go there, I guess. You'll save some money.
"Take your shower and scrub all of the bits before getting into the pool/hot spring. Oh, yeah, others will be there, including the opposite sex. No one cares." I wasn't planning on bathing out in public, so no one has to be horrified.
Oh, and my personal favorite one, and am glad to know:
"Do not use a credit/debit card at a gas station and choose the 'fill the tank up' option." Apparently, that will place your card on hold for a good while.
I guess they don't let you control how much ya squeeze the handle there like they do here. *shrug*
I'm sure I'll learn more odds and ends whilst I'm there, but in the meantime, wish me luck, God Speed, good journey. I don't know anyone there, and I'll be driving in a foreign land for the first time, so... I'm a tad nervous. :)
If there's anyone here who lives in Iceland and frequents my page, feel free to let me know. It's good to have contacts in other places. :)
-D!!
As of right now it doesn't seem to be causeing problems but you know how quickly THAT can change. If you do go have a GREAT time and get there and back home safely.
Also it's not Elves you need to worry about it's TROLLS! : https://youtu.be/uvwEyHeRSvE
Of course this was in Finland but still... ;D BTW if you get a chance to watch this do so. It's one of THE BEST movies I've EVER seen found footage or otherwise! :D
That movie was fantastic!
Yeah, I am aware of Fagradasfjall explodin', and on the last day there I plan to do the hiking tour of it, providing nothing drastically changes. :)
All I ask is you take and post LOTS of pictures!!!! :D
( ᐢ (oo) ᐢ )
Thanks for the contact!
ICE*LAND IS NOT MALL*WART!So, don't act like a Wal*Martian and it's cool.
They do have a Costco in Reykjavik, though.
These sorts of hold are hardly unique to Iceland, I know the gas stations here in Canada use them. If it's specifically an issue to be noted in Iceland I would guess it would mean that the remainder of the hold isn't released quickly after the transaction, (e.g. it places a $250 hold then when you are finished pumping it charges you for the $55 of gas you pumped but you don't get the remaining $195 of your credit limit back for a couple days), the way they are here.
1: As opposed to selecting that you want, say, $50 of gas. Since they know the pump will stop at that point they can put in a hold for just $50.
1: Also, from the company's perspective, having people who only really want $18 of gas hitting the $20 button is a good thing.
Then you can horrify everyone with a phone's worth of dick pics when you get home!
Plus, I bet Whitney would find the whole place fascinating.