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Thank you for a very enjoyable seminar in Iceland. We were glad to have so many of you discussing in groups about obstacles of internationalisation and how to tackle them. Here you can find all the obstacles & possible solutions, great job everyone!

Annastiina, Heidi & Ulla from Finland NA

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Thank you for a very informative, useful and well organized seminar! And thank you for sharing your presentations with us. It was a pleasure to meet all of you and I hope we will have the pleasure to meet again at some point.

I am the international coordinator at Sámi University of Applied Sciences in Kautokeino, Norway, and we are still looking for partners who have courses in Teaching English as a second/foreign language and other courses that might be interesting for our Sámi teacher education students.

Best regards,

Anne Lovise Hætta

annelh@samiskhs.no
www.samas.no

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Hi everybody. Here's the group photo that was taken at the end of the seminar. Feel free to use it at will.

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It was the best and most useful  seminar I attended lately!
Thank you very much
Adrijana

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Greetings from a developing bombogenesis!

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Greetings from a developing bombogenesis!

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If you were cold last week in Reykjavik, think about how lucky we were not to have our event this week! At least I am :) No flights and a lockdown from 3pm today.

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This is the evening update on a developing powerful winter storm over Iceland through the next 48 hours. Models are is very good agreement in developing a very dangerous cyclone, rapidly intensifying from this evening through Tuesday night. Cyclone is now already developing west of Iceland with central pressure around 975 mbar. The central pressure is expected to drop for an additional 35 mbar until Tuesday night and could drop below 940 mbar! Extreme snowfall and life-threatening blizzard conditions are expected to develop across many areas in Iceland, including major 100-200 cm snowfall event across northern parts and *violent* hurricane-force windstorm with 200-250 km/h peak gusts across the SE parts of Iceland.
Evening satellite image of a rapidly deepening cyclone located SW of Iceland - notice the already cyclonic cloud bands.

Evening analysis reveal a rapidly deepening cyclone with its center west of Iceland right now. Central pressure is around 975 mbar and dropping. Notice the sea surface pressure graphics from the main Icelandic airport, Keflavik. Steadily falling pressure from around 1005 mbar in the morning hours to already near 980 mbar by the evening hours (25 mbar pressure drop in 18 hours). Sea-level pressure will additionally drop overnight as cyclone continues rapidly intensifying while crossing Iceland from west to east.

Icelanding Met office has issued orange warning for the whole country with northerly parts in the highest threat - red warning! Below is some strong wording regarding the development of dangerous weather conditions:

Northerly snowstorm (Orange condition)
10 Dec. at 08:00 - 18:00
Northeasterly and then northerly storm (23-30 m/s) and heavy snow or blowing snow can also be expected with very poor visibility and deteriorating road conditions. The weather is likely to cause...

Violent storm and severe blizzard (Red condition)
10 Dec. at 18:00 - 11 Dec. at 02:00
A violent storm, 25 to 33 m/s and a severe blizzard is forecasted in the region. Very poor visibility and dangerous road conditions. The weather is likely to cause transport disturbances and traveling is not advised while the weather warning is in effect. Higher sea levels, wave heights up to 10 m., are anticipated due to storm surge with the possibility of small boats being damaged or detached from the dock. People are advised to show caution and monitor weather forecasts. Traveling should be avoided.

Looking over the wind field across Iceland, windstorm with northeasterly wind direction intensifies by Tuesday morning, Dec 10th, across north and northwest Iceland, strengthening during the afternoon and evening hours and turning more northerly while also spreading across western Iceland. Overnight to Wednesday, Dec 11th, severe windstorm spreads across whole Iceland and become particularly intense along the slopes from the Vatna Glacier into the SE parts of the country. Extreme to violent windstorm with peak gusts in excess of 200 km/h is increasingly likely to develop there.

Detailed forecast for SE Iceland - violent winds develop overnight to Wednesday when cyclone continues deepening over the eastern Iceland. A powerful windstorm intensifies with time and peaks in the Wednesday late morning hours. High-resolution models are hinting impressive maximum sustained wind speeds, up to around 180 km/h! With obviously much higher wind gusts - likely well above 220 km/h possible!

Violent downslope winds will develop from the Vatnajökull volcano (Vatna Glacier) into the coastal areas of SSE Iceland, some models are hinting around 250 km/h peak gusts!

A detailed view of the intense snowfall developing with the low-level NE flow across the north-northeast Iceland. Snowfall begins tonight but significantly intensifies as cyclone deepens on Tuesday and becomes particularly intense through the afternoon and evening hours tomorrow, Dec 10th. With snowfall rates 10-15 mm of hourly precipitation, which is around 15-20 cm of snowfall per hour! Excessive snowfall should be going through a long period of time, so significant amounts are expected and snow will be accumulating fast - this will also strongly enhance avalanche threat along the slopes.

Detailed map of huge amounts of snow expected across northern Iceland, accumulating above 150 cm by Wednesday afternoon (36-48 hours period) as textbook intense orographic snowfall develops with the NNE winds. The mountain range to the west and southwest of Akureyri should experience the most intense and the most excessive snowfall. Could not exclude close to 2 meters (200 cm) of fresh snow until late Wednesday there!

Major waves will also develop on the rear side of the cyclone towards the northern Iceland. Significant wave heights up to around 13 meters are possible. Notice another broad area of significant wave height south of Iceland towards the Faroe Islands and Scotland, wave heights up to 12-14 meters and huge swell are likely there are well.

Previous discussion:

A 'bombogenesis' cyclone travels across Iceland - a life-threatening situation with a significant amount of snow (100-200 cm) and hurricane-force winds across the northern half of the country, Dec 10-11th

Severe Weather Outlook - valid for December 10-12th, 2019

Outlook DAY 1&2 (valid: 10/12/2019 - 12/12/2019)

Interested in our calendar? We are proud to present and promote the best weather photographers in Europe - see details:

Severe Weather Europe - Calendar 2020

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Dec 9th *UPDATE* on the developing powerful 'bomb cyclone' / winter storm across Iceland - violent windstorm and major snowstorm are expected " Severe Weather Europe

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spread the word- Please refer to the previous discussion for broad synoptic details and weather pattern analysis. This is the evening update on a developing powerful winter storm over Iceland through the next 48 hours. Models are is very good agreement in developing a very dangerous cyclone, rapidly intensifying from this evening through Tuesday night.

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Dear all, it was such a pleasure spending  inspiring time with you in Island, I really took a lot of food for thought with me back to Austria. Let's make this world more international! Kind regards, Evi
evi.hellweger@herbststrasse.at
www.herbststrasse.at

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Hi everyone!

It was a pleasure meeting you all... well most of you at least. I'm Rúnar Gunnarsson, the head of the International office of the University of Akureyri. I've been working with International affairs for 12 years now and meeting with colleagues is always so inspiring,  useful and such a pleasure. I would love to hear from you again and discuss further collaboration within teacher education.

Let's stay in touch!

Best regards, Rúnar
runarg@unak.is

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The community in Akureyri is active and diverse, offering everything from coffee shops to cultural institutions that attract talented people from all over Iceland. Concerts, theatre, visual arts, literature. It is simple to be environmentally friendly in Akureyri as everything is within easy reach. There is breathtaking nature everywhere around. Mountains that some climb and others slide down.

It's all up to you. Just like life. What you are after. What you want.
Everything about Akureyri

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The community in Akureyri is active and diverse, offering everything from coffee shops to cultural institutions that attract talented people from all over Iceland. Concerts, theatre, visual arts, literature. It is simple to be environmentally friendly in Akureyri as everything is within easy reach. There is breathtaking nature everywhere around.

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Hello everyone, I am the International Coordinator and  Event Manager for the School of Education of the University of Iceland. Thank you all for a wonderful conference with excellent presentations and fruitful discussions!  I did not get the chance to chat with everyone but you are welcome to contact me and discuss ideas for co-operation. Best wishes, Ása Fanney asafanney@hi.is

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Thanks again for this wonderful event!
Great organisation, inspiring presentations, lovely people.

Let’s keep in touch!
cecile.mairesse@ulb.be
www.ulb.be

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Runa Teacher education in Iceland  a brief introduction

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Hi all! On Wednesday, I mentioned a few impact studies that show how beneficial the Erasmus experience can be for transversal skills and employability. The EC has done extensive work in this regard, both in 2014 and 2019, and I also recommend reading about the Finnish study on hidden competences.  Such empirical evidence can be very helpful if you need to convince your faculty about the importance of internationalisation. Happy to discuss further!

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Hello everyone,
Here are my slides, the part I introduced and a link to the article
https://journals.hioa.no/index.php/nordiccie/article/view/2731
hermina@unak.is

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it was lovely to meet and interact during these past  few days here in Reykjavik. I happened to mention to some of you that I did my PhD about internationalizing teacher education. It is not about student exchanges but I dare put a link here any way so that if anyone is interested in skimming through it, you can find it easier:
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-51-2182-0
Have a safe journey home!
Best wishes, Kaisa (kaisa.hahl@helsinki.fi)

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Dear all,
It's been a most wonderful two days with you in Reykjavik. Thank you for your enthusiasm, ideas and companionship!

I can't believe it's already over -- it just started!

But our communication doesn't have to be over when we leave, so if there is anything that your like to know about and/or do together with the School of Educational Sciences of Tallinn University, don't hesitate to contact me. Or even when you're just visiting Estonia and would like to have a local contact :) My e-mail is liis.raudsepp@tlu.ee (www.tlu.ee/en/hti)

A huge thank you for the Icelandic team for the event! Please pat yourselves and each other on the back for an event excellently done!

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Dear all, my slides, as promised. Hope you enjoy.

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Teacing for global futures and a common world_evahar@hi.is

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Many thanks to everybody for nice and productive talks. Here are my contact details, should you need them:

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Many thanks to everybody for nice and productive talks. Here are my contact details, should you need them:

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ola.winberg@edu.uu.se
+467021614614

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For those who didn’t have time to take a picture ! Reference slide is at the end.  If you have any questions or would like to connect, I can be reached at E: joffybusiness@mail.com; LinkedIn joffyc; Tw: @wanderinghead

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I am Vesa Valkila and here is my email: vesaval@utu.fi
I want to share with you the information about the programmes that are available in our Faculty of Education in English both for student teachers and those who would like to do Master thesis in Education in English.
School experience course is very popular among international student teachers. They have a possibility to do teaching practice in our Teacher Training school. Another possibility is to do the Master's Degree in Education and Learning. See more: www.utu.fi/university/faculty-of-education/studying

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To boldly go

We spread our wings
discover new things
and think about who we are
where we come from.

Let us grow as a person
personalize and memorize
what we have learnt and experienced
and realize the impact
the enrichment and the empowerment
as a matter of fact.

To be part of this community
is a great opportunity
to share our culture
enjoy the variety of our societies
and take care of our identity
in this graceful embracement.

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, Post Doc, School of Education

Published on

Presentation from a pilot project: eTwinning in teacher education, in the semingar Erasmus+ TCA: Enhancing student mobility in Teacher Education, held at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura 3.-4. December 2019

1. A pilot project: eTwinning in teacher education Erasmus+ TCA: Enhancing student mobility in Teacher Education Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura 3.-4. December 2019 Dr. Svava Pétursdóttir Lecturer, School of Education, University of Iceland.

2. Teacher education at School of Ecucation UI * B.Ed + M.Ed. or B.A./B.S + M.Ed. * A large majority are distance students, one week campus session at the beginning of the semester one week * Many work full time * A challenge to broaden horizons * Opportunities in electronic communications

3. UISE previous eTwinningExperience -2014 to 2016: Best Practices... Activities Tools, technologies Introductions Padlet, Flipgrid Interaction - practice sharing (Facebook) Twinspace, Adobe Connect, Google Hangout, (Facebook) Interpretation - summing up evaluation Mindmeister, Mypad Brussels meetings Participants 2014to2015:Collaborationwithfouruniversitiesin threecountries:University ofthe BasqueCountry;Universityof Northampton; University ofDerby;University CollegeofNorthernDenmark.10teachereducators,50 teachertrainees 2015to2016:Collaborationwithtwouniversities in UKandDenmark:University ofNorthamptonandUniversity College ofNorthern Denmark Bothyears:teacherstudentsin field practice/placements. Summary from Sólveig Jakobsdóttir 2018

4. Selection of project * Theme befitting to eTwinning and the platform * Digital citizenship in schools * Professor Sólveig Jakobsdóttir

5. Icebreaking activities * Worked well * Technical difficulties and successes * Well travelled students!

6. Getting comfortable with the platform * a) share a news story/internet meme/web-page/something else you have come across about children/young people and digital media * b) Children are growing up in new and developing digital landscapes. What are the main challenges for schools, teachers, and parents?

7. Results: * Learning about digital citizenship * Successful fishbowl seminar on digital citizenship discussions based on experiences from teaching practice, literature research and eTwinning forums

8. Results * Using eTwinning live space * Off to a slow start but we gradually got there

9. Practical lessons * Synchronization of semesters * Student level of study * Choice of topic * Engaging students * Flipped learning * Assessment of tasks * Compulsory or elective? * Keep it simple!!!!

10. Keeping it short and simple Simple is not always simple Slide from eTwinning - TTI Workshop, Monday 27th - Wednesday 29th May 2019, Venue: Crowne Plaza, Brussels.

11. Slide from eTwinning - TTI Workshop, Monday 27th - Wednesday 29th May 2019, Venue: Crowne Plaza, Brussels.

12. Benefits * Broadening horizons * Students get to know eTwinning and the platform * Learn about teacher education in other countries * Developing skills * Language * Communication * Technology * Empathy * Fun :)

13. Lessons from first project Benefits Challenges, improvments...? Building relations Creation Innovation New target group - new approaches eTwinning trainee ambassadors Persistence, resilience, patience Better meeting platform, simpler webpage Countries to have same expectations, commitments Clarify structure, goals, More info about placement times More conference calls, communications Joint projects, f2f meetings Summary from Sólveig Jakobsdóttir 2018

14. Obstacles will eventually remove themselves? You need patience and mindfulness?Obstacles will eventually remove themselves? You need patience and mindfulness? Slide from Sólveig Jakobsdóttir 2018

15. Upcoming projects * Science across Europe: an experience with trainee teachers * Iceland, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden * Three partners from different parts of Europe will collect, exchange and evaluate the measurements related to locally dependent science phenomena. * Getting to know eTwinning * Iceland, Spain * Two partners with large 1st year cohorts planning a simple elective project

16. Takk , kiitos, danke, tak, merci, tusind tak! svavap@hi.is @svavap https://svavap.wordpress.com/

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Post Doc, School of Education Published on Presentation from a pilot project: eTwinning in teacher education, in the semingar Erasmus+ TCA: Enhancing student mobility in Teacher Education, held at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura 3.-4. December 2019 1. A pilot project: eTwinning in teacher education Erasmus+ TCA: Enhancing student mobility in Teacher Education Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura 3.-4.

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Further to Svava’s motivating talk about e-Twinning, I wanted to bring attention to another EU platform, ERASMUS Virtual Exchange, which uses several platforms including one called Soliya Connect, which also facilitates contact between university students and uses video conferencing.  I believe it is also free to use.
More information here: https://www.soliya.net/programs/connect-program
Joffy Conolly

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Hello everyone. My name is Guido van Ballegooijen from the Netherlands. I am a lecturer in teacher education at the Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences and I coördinate our international programme. We are developing a minor on Educational Design for both international and Dutch students to enable future-proof curriculum building. Email:dgballegooijen@che.nl
www.che.nl/en

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Hi everyone. It´s been so nice to meet you all. I’m Kristín M. Jóhannsdóttir, a linguist from UBC in Canada and now an assistant professor at the University of Akureyri. My Icelandic title is lektor. I’m in the department of education and primarily teach English and Icelandic to prospective teachers. I’m also department head which is quite easy compared to be head of factulty which I was last year, that shows that dealing with students is in many ways easier than dealing with faculty. My main main research is within the field of semantics and last few years I’ve mostly been looking at Icelandic in Canada and the US, a heritage language, spoken by the descendants of Icelandic immigrants to North America. I’ve also started at looking at immigrant children in Iceland and multilingualism in the school system and I hope that will lead to some bigger projects.

Email: kristinj@unak.is

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Dear all, thank you for the wonderful sessions, discussions and time spent together yesterday and today. Unfortunately I had to fly back to Akureyri today and will thus miss the amazing dinner and mingling planned for tonight.

I hope to stay in contact with you on issues concerning education and mobility in a global era. I would be happy to share slides, ideas, experiences or simply just to chat. My ongoing PhD research is concerned with refugee youth in Iceland, inclusive education and citizenship where I draw on the work of Hannah Arendt around the issue of statelessness and Alberto Torres on global citizenship and GCE as a framework for teaching and learning in an internationalized world.

Have a wonderful stay and enjoy the rest of your time in Iceland!

Email: evahar@hi.is and eva@ma.is

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Greetings from VIA UC, Aarhus, Denmark. Søren Iversen Hansen

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Greetings from VIA UC, Aarhus, Denmark. Søren Iversen Hansen

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas on enhancing internationalization  and in particular different types of mobility on different levels.
It is also very interesting to hear about new research in the field of intercultural competence and teacher education.
I hope to see you at our International Staff Week in March 2020:-)
You are welcome to email me if you have questions about student mobility to VIA UC.
We have nine semester programs in English for international students at the Faculty of Social Studies and Education www.en.via.dk
My email is: soih@via.dk

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Thank you all for a wonderful morning session. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn about how mobility works in other countries and even in my own. I Chair the Department of International Studies in Education at the University of Iceland. Here is a link to our BA program and our MA program. I look forward to mixing tonight to have the chance to talk further about opportunities and ideas for collaboration, new and futuristic endeavors. I am an avid sci-fi junkie (television, film and books) so the future is always a topic for me to laugh about, reflect on and look forward to.

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Hello all! I am Thorsteinn and I work at the Icelandic eTwinning National Support Service, before that I was an upper secondary level teacher in language and literature. I'll be some sort of a MC at the TCA. Looking forward meeting you all in Reykjavík next week!

email: Thorsteinn.surmeli@rannis.is

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Hi everyone! My name is Julie and I'm a Dean of Education (Policy, Practice and Society) in Marino Institute of Education, Dublin Ireland. I work with education students on topics such as professional development, placement and eportfolios as well as working on ways to build/ enhance our incoming and exiting student mobility programmes. I look forward to meeting everyone next week!

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Hi everyone! My name is Julie and I'm a Dean of Education (Policy, Practice and Society) in Marino Institute of Education, Dublin Ireland. I work with education students on topics such as professional development, placement and eportfolios as well as working on ways to build/ enhance our incoming and exiting student mobility programmes. I look forward to meeting everyone next week!

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My email is: julie.uichoistealbha@mie.ie
or follow me on twitter
@JulieUiChois

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Hello everyone! I'm Ulla from EDUFI, Finnish National Agency for Education, and I work officially in two but unofficially in three units in EDUFI. I'm a Senior Adviser and my work focus is in internationalisation services and promoting Finnish higher education. The three units are International Higher Education Cooperation, Internationalisation Services for Higher Education Studies and General Education. In General Education I concentrate in distributing  information to teacher students about international possibilities there are for teacher students while still studying and when teachers at schools after graduating. I've been working at former CIMO, nowadays EDUFI, since 1991. During my studies I was working in the USA through Inter Exchange, New York. I also did a work exchange at Inter Exchange, NY while working at CIMO. I'm an experienced NAFSA conference participant and also Poster Chair in Advocacy in International Education for NAFSA 2020.

My email is ulla.harma@oph.fi

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I am a lecturer and researcher at the School of Education, University of Iceland. Before coming to the university I taught in schools for 15 years. My fields of teaching and research are all related to teaching learning in schools, science education and the uses of ICT in teaching. I am here because of my participation in the teacher training initiative of eTwinning and will tell you about our experiences.   https://svavap.wordpress.com/
@svavap
svavap@hi.is

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I am part of the organising team for this TCA at Rannís, where I work as a team leader for higher ed. / Erasmus+. I hold an undergraduate degree in Education (and did my Erasmus in Berlin as part of that) and also master degrees in Intercultural Education and Applied Linguistics. I have worked on internationalisation in education since 2007, both for the National Agency and the University of Iceland, and was seconded to the European Commission from 2013 to 2017. Please feel free to contact me: runa.gudmarsdottir@rannis.is

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Hello everyone, I'm Frederik De Laere from Howest University of applied sciences in Bruges, Belgium (contact: frederik.de.laere@howest.be). I have been international coordinator in our teacher training department for 4 years now. I'm eTwinning ambassador in Flanders and have been involved in the Teacher Training Initiative for a couple of years. Furthermore, I am also project leader of the KA2 Erasmus project Digital Learning across boundaries (www.dlaberasmus.eu). At Howest, we offer an English-taught programme called We Teach The World (teacher training), you can find the details of the programme here: https://www.howest.be/en/programmes/english-taught-semester/we-teach-the-world
You can follow Howest international on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howestinternational/

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Hello from Belgium in a separate thread as requested ;-) 

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Hello from Belgium in a separate thread as requested ;-) 

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Hi everyone, I am Benjamin, I am from Belgium (French-speaking community). I am head of the education programs at the HELHa University College (helha.be). We train more than 2500 future teachers and educators. I am very much looking forward to meeting you all and seeing what kind of projects we could be interested in especially  since the training in Belgium might be lengthened and that would create even more opportunities to internationalize. You can contact me benjamin.colinet@helha.be

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Hey Everybody!
My name is Jón Svanur and I am part of the organising team for this TCA. I work at Rannís which is the Icelandic National Agency for Erasmus+ and I am the senior advisor and coordinator for the School Sector. I have a masters degree in Icelandic teaching and before I joined the Erasmus+ team I was a school teacher for 12 years. I am very much looking forward to meeting you all in my hometown of Reykjavík.

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Hello from The Netherlands! I'm Wilma, I run a small publishing company, give cooking classes and I'm a philosophy & citizenship student. I'm looking forward to meet and talk about global citizenship.

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Hello from The Netherlands! I'm Wilma, I run a small publishing company, give cooking classes and I'm a philosophy & citizenship student. I'm looking forward to meet and talk about global citizenship.

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Hello from Lithuania. I am Reda. I am working at Lithuanian National Agency with Erasmus+ KA1 projects in School education sector  and also I am a part of eTwinning team responsible for eTwinning initiative for Teacher Training Institutes. I am looking forward to meet you all. 

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Hello from Lithuania. I am Reda. I am working at Lithuanian National Agency with Erasmus+ KA1 projects in School education sector  and also I am a part of eTwinning team responsible for eTwinning initiative for Teacher Training Institutes. I am looking forward to meet you all. 

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Hello everyone, I am Eva Faithova, an assistant professor and international coordinator at Faculty of Education Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia). We prepare future teachers for all types and levels of schools as well as professional staff for social affairs and healthcare resorts. My field is literature and literature teaching. I am looking forward to the challenging seminar topics, exchanging good ideas, practices and to meeting you all.

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Hello there,! My name is Adrijana. I am assistant professor at  University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education. I  teach at the ECE department. I have been worked as  an early childhood teacher. I am taking part in several educational projects. My research interests are early childhood education, cooperation between families and educational institutions and early childhood teachers’ competences and professionalism.

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Dear all, my name is Annastiina Heiskanen and I am coming from Helsinki, Finland. I work at the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) and I will be facilitating World Cafés with my colleagues. I am very much looking forward to meet you all and to exchange good ideas, practices and experiences. We will have some interesting topics to discuss!

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Hello everyone, I am Joffy Conolly, Global Education consultant & researcher based at the University of Oulu. As an ex-head teacher, I'm interested how to develop global-mindedness in basic & higher education, hence my interest in student mobility. I look forward to presenting our latest research on increasing mobility for Teacher Education students in Finland and discussing the significance & relevance of the results to all of us in our different  contexts.
To contact me:
e: joffybusiness@mail.com
tw: @wanderinghead
linkedin: joffyc

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This is where we will have dinner on 4/12. Looking forward to enjoy the view with you all!

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Út í bláinn er einstakt veitingahús staðsett undir glerkúpli Perlunnar, töfrandi heimur þar sem skógur nemur við himinninn með óviðjafnanlegu útsýni í allar áttir. Út í bláinn er bistró með léttu og lifandi yfirbragði þar sem áherslan er lögð á á einfaldleika og árstíðabundin hráefni, þar sem matarhefðir íslendinga mæta klassískri evrópskri matargerð í óhefðbundnu umhverfi. Láttu okkur koma þér á óvart, verið velkomin Út í bláinn.

_____

Út í blainn is a restaurant and cafe situated under glass dome at Perlan. The restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients where Icelandic culinary traditions meet classic European cuisine. We offer simple dishes with a nostalgic flair, and only the best available ingredients from Icelandic producers. We put an emphasis on simplicity, quality and atmosphere.

OPNUNARTÍMAR

Veitingastaður / Kaffihús Kaffitárs: (354) 520 4050

Skrifstofa / Veislur / Hópur : (354) 520 4051
VEITINGASTAÐUR
Kvöldverður- alla daga 17:00 to 22:00

Eldhús lokar - 21:00
KAFFIHÚS
Alla daga 9:00 - 18:00
Eldhús opið frá 11:30 - 17:00

NOTE: DUE TO TECHNICAL ISSUES THE RESTAURANT DOES NOT ROTATE FOR DINNER CURRENTLY

VEGNA TÆKNILEGRA ÖRÐUGLEIKA SNÝST VEITINGASTAÐURINN EKKI AÐ SVO STÖDDU

PRIVATE DINING / VEISLUR

HOST YOUR EVENT AT THE TOP OF REYKJAVÍK

UPPLÝSINGAR

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The Perlan restaurant, one of the most popular in Iceland focuses on seasonal ingredients where Icelandic culinary traditions meets classic European cuisine. Futuristic glass-domed restaurant is located on the top floor at Perlan under the glass dome. The restaurant can cater for large groups on multi levels at Perlan.

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Dear All!                              My name is Helena Gregorc-Lööv and I work as an International coordinator and as a Lecture in Swedish as a second language at the Department of Social and Behavioral Studies University West in Trollhättan, Sweden.             I´m rather new on this position and my wish is to listen and learn of all experiences that presents during the days´ at Island. The University West has written and assigned a new strategy for International cooperation and mobility and in that perspective; it is even more interesting to try to awaken the curiosity and interest for mobility of various kinds. Looking forward to be a part of this conference.    

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Dear All!                              My name is Helena Gregorc-Lööv and I work as an International coordinator and as a Lecture in Swedish as a second language at the Department of Social and Behavioral Studies University West in Trollhättan, Sweden.             I´m rather new on this position and my wish is to listen and learn of all experiences that presents during the days´ at Island. The University West has written and assigned a new strategy for International cooperation and mobility and in that perspective; it is even more interesting to try to awaken the curiosity and interest for mobility of various kinds. Looking forward to be a part of this conference.    

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Best Regards

Helena

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Dear all - My name is Louise Flege. I am an assistant professor and international coordinator at University College Absalon, Roskilde, Denmark. We are interested in new partnerships both including study abroad and also internship/school placement. I am looking forward meeting you all soon. 

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Dear all - My name is Louise Flege. I am an assistant professor and international coordinator at University College Absalon, Roskilde, Denmark. We are interested in new partnerships both including study abroad and also internship/school placement. I am looking forward meeting you all soon. 

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My name is Ulrika Gidlund and I work as International Coordinator at the Department of Education at Mid Sweden University, as well as a researcher and senior lecturer. I hold a Phd in Education. We have 6 different teacher programs. Every semester we receive some 20 students from our Erasmus partners all over Europe, but unfortunately we seldom send any of our students on Exchange to our partners - only for workbased placement. This is something I would like to change so I look very much forward this meeting./Best wishes Ulrika
And Lina! It will be very nice to meet you again :-)

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Hello from Vilnius. I am Lina Pečiulienė, a head of the Educology Department at the Faculty of Pedagogy (Vilniaus kolegija/ University of Applied Sciences, Lithuania), we prepare future teachers for primary school and early childhood education settings and have a lot of experience with the international projects. Looking forward to see you all.

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Hello from Vilnius. I am Lina Pečiulienė, a head of the Educology Department at the Faculty of Pedagogy (Vilniaus kolegija/ University of Applied Sciences, Lithuania), we prepare future teachers for primary school and early childhood education settings and have a lot of experience with the international projects. Looking forward to see you all.

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I am sorry for a wrong e-mail below, please contact me:  l.peciuliene@pdf.viko.lt

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I am Hanne Tack. I am involved in the academic teacher education programme of Ghent University. My current assignment involves research, teaching and engagement in policy-making related to our teacher education programme. Related to research, I hold a PhD in Educational Sciences. In 2017, I defended my PhD research on teacher educators' professional development, with a focus on conceptualising, measuring and developing teacher educators' research competences. I teach the following subjects in our teacher education programme: 'Pedagogy of Teaching' and 'Teaching methods'. Moreover, I am involved in the Flemish-wide educational programme for teacher educators, where I teach the course 'Practitioner research'. Looking forward to meet you all next week and discover common themes of interest! Warm regards, Hanne

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Hi all, I am Tuija Turunen, Professor of Teacher Education at University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland. I am especially interested in the professional development during the teaching career starting from initial teacher ed. My other interest areas are multiprofessional teamwork and  promoting well- being at school and educational transitions. Looking forward to meeting you all in Reykjavik :) email: tuija.turunen@ulapland.fi

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My name is Mario Gielen. I work as a lecturer in the Educational Masters of Hasselt University, where I teach subjects e.g. creative project & pedagogical and didactical skills - The Art of Teaching - for future teachers. I hold a PhD in Pedagogical Sciences from Ghent University. I developed a few MOOCs to trigger / inform / assess (inter)national students before actually starting a university course. Also, I'm the founder of C.LAB - a creative lab in which we trigger young people in various creative areas to professionalize themselves in an informal context. Looking forward seeing you all next week. Kind regards, Mario

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I work at Storsthlm, who represents the 26 municipalities of the Stockholm region. I work in the field of education and I am part of the steering group together with the universities in the Stockholm region with teacher education. I´m looking forward to seeing you all. Contactinformation: karin.soffiantini-yildiz@storsthlm.se

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Hi everyone! My name is Kaisa Hahl, I am a university lecturer at the University of Helsinki in Finland. I teach our future language teachers, also in our international programme. I have experience of prior Nordplus projects and currently I'm involved in one Erasmus+ project (Playing beyond CLIL). I'm looking forward to meeting you all and finding common ground to create a project plan together!

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Hi everyone! My name is Kaisa Hahl, I am a university lecturer at the University of Helsinki in Finland. I teach our future language teachers, also in our international programme. I have experience of prior Nordplus projects and currently I'm involved in one Erasmus+ project (Playing beyond CLIL). I'm looking forward to meeting you all and finding common ground to create a project plan together!

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My email: kaisa.hahl@helsinki.fi

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Hi, my name is Evi, I am from the KunstModeDesign Herbststrasse School,  a fashion and art school in Vienna, Austria. I am an English & Spanish teacher and part of the international department, we have two Erasmus projects in full process at the moment, one for our students and one for our teachers. Looking forward to meeting you all next week. 

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Hi, my name is Evi, I am from the KunstModeDesign Herbststrasse School,  a fashion and art school in Vienna, Austria. I am an English & Spanish teacher and part of the international department, we have two Erasmus projects in full process at the moment, one for our students and one for our teachers. Looking forward to meeting you all next week. 

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Hello! My name is Ola Winberg. I work as director of studies at the Department of Education at Uppsala university. One of my main areas of concern is to encourage teacher training students to go abroad, and to organize courses for international students at our campus. I'm really looking forward to discuss these matters with all of you, and of course to visit Iceland, where I haven't been before. /All the best, Ola 

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Hello! My name is Ola Winberg. I work as director of studies at the Department of Education at Uppsala university. One of my main areas of concern is to encourage teacher training students to go abroad, and to organize courses for international students at our campus. I'm really looking forward to discuss these matters with all of you, and of course to visit Iceland, where I haven't been before. /All the best, Ola 

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Hi, my name is Ber Leurink. I am from The Netherlands. I look forward to meet you so that we can share experiences, learn from each other  and hopefully can make plans for exchanges/education. I am responsible for internationalisation at our school near Amsterdam and member of the steering group of 75 Dutch schools who want to take action on internationalisation.

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What to do in Iceland? What NOT to do in Iceland!

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What to do in Iceland? What NOT to do in Iceland!

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What are some of the silliest, most ignorant, or plain stupid things that visitors to Iceland have done? What common-sense decisions have recent travellers been failing to make? Is there anything you should be warned of before coming here and making a fool of yourself? Read ahead to learn about the dumbest things to do in Iceland.
Iceland attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, and this number is increasing at a staggering rate. While most coming are responsible, eco-friendly and well-informed travellers who seek to enjoy the nature, culture and wildlife using their common sense, others seem to be entirely lacking in this department.

While their actions are often simply amusing, sometimes, they're just downright dangerous.

This ranked list of the top twenty-four dumbest things to do in Iceland, therefore, will start by guiding you away from silly mistakes that anyone could make, and develop further into examples of such blind stupidity that under no circumstances should you emulate.

24. Bringing an Umbrella to Iceland

This one, you can be easily forgiven for since you've heard that Iceland's weather is wet and volatile, so you don't want a downpour to spoil your day out. The unfortunate thing is, however, that the rain isn't the only problem that you have to contend with when the weather turns to showers.

Iceland's most notorious weather condition is, in fact, its wind. It blows erratically from all angles, battering you with unpredictable gusts, to the extent that rather than falling straight down, the rain in Iceland shoots sideways, occasionally even whipping up at you from below.

An umbrella, therefore, will not only likely be wrenched out of your hand by a sneaky twist of wind, but will never be able to protect all of your body from the precipitation at once.

That is not to say you should let any adverse weather spoil your travels. Simply by bringing appropriate gear, no matter the season, you can head out in rain or shine. Waterproof and windproof outer layers, woollen jumpers, thermal underwear, hats, gloves and sturdy hiking boots are sufficient to protect you from most conditions in the land of ice and fire.

As the saying here goes, 'there is no such thing as bad weather in Iceland; just bad clothes'.

23. Buying Bottled Water

Bottled water isn't just discouraged in Iceland because of its enormous environmental impact―it's discouraged because it is completely unnecessary. 11% of Iceland's surface area is capped with glaciers, while much of the meltwater of these glaciers sinks into and filters through the porous lava rock that covers the land. This emerges in thousands of pure-water springs, all around the country.

Iceland is thus leaking at its pores with freshwater. It has an excellent infrastructure in pumping it up and distributing it across the nation so that what comes out of your taps is pretty much the same as what fills, say, the Silfra ravine, a spring of some of the cleanest and clearest water in the world. It has no chemicals added but is packed with natural minerals.

Companies that sell bottled 'Icelandic Mineral Water' usually have their labels written in English for a good reason. Icelanders are aware that the very concept is a scam, and that they are using the same water as comes out of the taps. Just bring an old bottle from home or reuse a soft-drink one, and you'll find yourself saving a ton of money.

Always run the tap a little first, however, as the hot water is also pumped up and tastes a bit like sulphur―although it is harmless, the flavour is unpleasantly eggy.

22. Going Out Partying and Giving Up at Midnight

While most world capitals are increasingly dubbed 'cities that never sleep', Reykjavík still has quite a long siesta. Rather than moving seamlessly between bustling days of shopping to pumping nights of drinking and dancing, it tends to be quite quiet during the evenings.

For this reason, many expect the up-and-coming party atmosphere they've heard so much about when heading out, yet end up returning to their beds before midnight disappointed, having only seen a few dedicated locals and other tourists with waning anticipation.

The reason for this is the price of drinking at the local bars, so most Icelanders prefer starting the night at home with friends before taking to the town.

Over the weekends, the scene won't come alive until after midnight, but will take off with gusto and continue until three, four or five in the morning, depending on where you are.

This is changing a little as establishments start extending their happy hours and offering drinks prices that are actually comparable to other European cities, but it remains to be the trend. For a great night out, therefore, hover around the happy-hour venues until midnight swings around.

21. Not Going to a Swimming Pool Because it's Cold Outside

All the swimming pools in Iceland are heated, the vast majority geothermally. With so many hot springs and thus a wealth of naturally warm water, it is no wonder that the national winter tradition of warming up in the pool is still thriving.

Few activities can be both so bracing and yet so relaxing as basking in geothermally heated waters, surrounded by snow, with even more being whipped around you by lashes of wind. The experience is unique and classically Nordic, so not something that should be missed out on by anyone seeking to participate in authentic Icelandic culture.

20. Not Bringing a Swimsuit

Every town of significance, and even many villages that are otherwise without attraction, have swimming pools. The vast majority also haa hot-tubs, many have saunas and steam-rooms, and some even have healing minerals in their waters.

Some, such as the Blue Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Mývatn Nature Baths and Fontana Spa, are large, popular and well-known, while others, such as the Infinity Pool in Hofsós and the Lýsuhólslaug Pool on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, are more remote and secretive. All, however, are worth visiting.

The country also has a wealth of natural hot-springs, nestled into the nature and at a temperature perfect for bathing. At Reykjadalur, you can choose where in a river to sit, based on how cool or hot you want the water to be; at Landmannalaugar, the pools are surrounded by incredible rhyolite mountains; and the highland and glacier views are unmatched to those bathing in the hot-springs of Hveravellir.

No matter what your plans are, therefore, you will always be grateful to have your swimsuit with you no matter where you go.

19. Relying Solely on Your GPS

This point is best illustrated with reference to the now famous tale of Noel. A 28-year-old tourist visiting from New Jersey, he picked up his rental car as usual from Keflavík Airport after a long flight, and tiredly typed the street-name of his Reykjavík hotel into the GPS, Laugarvegur.

Unfortunately, however, his hotel was on the street Laugavegur―note the missing 'r' ―and there is no road in the capital corresponding to what he wrote.

The journey from the airport to Hotel Fron should have taken Noel less than fifty minutes. However, his exhausted mind and the certainty of his GPS meant that he ended up driving for over five and a half hours to the charming northern village of Siglufjörður, which does have a street called Laugarvegur.

Although all worked out in the end, when the first suspicious and bewildered, then thoroughly entertained, staff allowed him to stay the night for free at Hotel Siglufjörður, this story shows the importance of spelling out Icelandic place names carefully, having a vague idea of where they should be located and not blindly trust GPS devices and technology.

Another thing to look out for is that several place names are the same across the country, so if heading to Keflavík Airport, make sure you don't instead start driving for Keflavík in the Westfjords. It may seem old-fashioned, but having a backup, foldable map is a great idea.

18. Trying to Book a Room in an Ice Hotel

Iceland doesn't have ice hotels. In spite of its name, it is not cold enough to sustain one. For an ice hotel, you'll have to look to Norway, Sweden, Finland or Canada.

If you want to experience the world surrounded by ice, however, there are still opportunities here to do so. Man-made tunnels have been carved into the glacier Langjökull and you can visit throughout the year to look within its halls and many rooms (one of which is a chapel). If travelling in the winter months, you can have a more natural experience, by exploring the blue ice caves that become accessible beneath Vatnajökull glacier.

17. Coming in Winter to See the Midnight Sun, or Summer to See the Northern Lights

The midnight sun in Iceland, when the sun never fully sets and the nights are basked in light, occurs the weeks before and after the summer equinox from late May to early August. However, the skies will never turn dark, even when the sun is below the horizon. With so much light pollution, it is thus absolutely impossible to see the Northern Lights, even though they are still dancing above us in space.

You must, therefore, wait until the skies begin to darken in late August. From then until the start of May, the auroras can be seen clearly and regularly. Of course, at this time there is no midnight sun.

When visiting Iceland, therefore, it is important to prioritise which of these phenomena you would like to enjoy most, as you will never find them occurring at the same time.

16. Bringing a Flashlight to a Camping Trip
Photo credit: Philip Gunkel
Camping in Iceland is largely only possible throughout summer; it is simply too cold after September and before May to even consider it. These months, however, are the months of the aforementioned midnight sun, so there is no need to bring a flashlight with you as you would on a camping trip in most other countries. You'll be much more appreciative of a sleeping mask.

The only reason you might need a flashlight in Iceland's summer is for lava caving, but these are always provided by your guides on tours. Due to the darkness of the caves, and how easy it is to get lost in them, it is only encouraged to enter one on an official excursion.

15. Trying to Photograph the Northern Lights with a Flash

For anyone who knows anything about photography, light and exposure, this may seem obvious, but for photography novices, it's important to note. Due to the darkness required for the aurora borealis to show, you need to allow your camera a long exposure time to capture them properly, and a flash will simply wash them out in an instant.

The flash will also affect your eyes as they adjust to the said darkness, so it will impact on your viewing experience (as well as the experience of those around you). If you want to capture the auroras on cameras but don't know how, the guides on a Northern Lights tour will be able to assist you.

14. Leaving for a Day Out in Winter at Sunrise

In the weeks surrounding the winter equinox in December, Iceland has but four-hours of daylight. If you set out on a sightseeing journey at sunrise, therefore, it had better be to some very nearby locations, as night will be swinging around before you know it.

Some destinations that many ambitious self-driving visitors attempt to reach and return from in a day, such as the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, take more hours to get to than you have hours of light (and in winter we'd recommend at least 2 days to visit this destination). Although seeing this site beneath the aurora borealis is a dreamlike experience, embarking on the return journey in total darkness on icy roads promises to be quite the nightmare.

13. Throwing Coins into the Pools and Hot Springs

I'm afraid to say that throwing a coin into a hot spring and casting a wish will only come true if your wish is to release heavy metals into our nature and water supply. We therefore kindly request you keep your money in your pockets; considering the cost of groceries, we are sure you'll end up very grateful for it. Moving on.

12. Only Staying in Reykjavik

The one tourist I have ever encountered who did not enjoy their holiday to Iceland had booked a two-week stay but did not rent a car or join any tours outside of the capital.

While Reykjavík is a great city, with a wealth of museums, galleries, cultural sites, theatres, historical locations, parks, pools and public artworks, it is hardly Iceland's greatest attraction, and anyone staying longer than a weekend really should seek out more.

To truly appreciate this country, you must see its nature. Even if you just take the classic Golden Circle tour, you will expose yourself to a bursting geothermal area, a historical UNESCO World Heritage Site located right between two visible tectonic plates, and an incredible waterfall. A day-tour of the South Coast will reveal to you more waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, geological wonders and black-sand-beaches.

On the drive from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík, you will see lunar lava landscapes, and from the city, incredible peninsulas and great flat-topped mountains across the bay. To only admire them from a distance, however, is like going to Orlando and only driving past the theme-parks, or on a safari holiday to Kenya and not leaving your lodge.

You might have a pleasant time, sure, but you are not making the most of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities available.

12. Littering

This point needs little explanation. No matter where you are in the world, it is inexcusable. Reykjavík is renowned for being a clean city, and our nature's beauty is only so because of how little impact people have had on it. If anyone sees you compromising the environment by littering, prepare for an earful, as well as some harsh fines and a bad dose of karma. This includes dropping cigarette butts and gum.

10. Trying to See a Penguin or Polar Bear

Penguins only live in the Southern Hemisphere, so if you are eager to see one in the wild, you had best head to Argentina, Chile, or south New Zealand, since you'll be looking for a long time in Iceland.

While we lack penguins, we still have a huge wealth of birdlife, including their distant cousin, the puffin. Iceland, in fact, has 60% of the world's North Atlantic Puffin population, so avid birdwatchers need not despair.

Polar bears, conversely, only live in the Northern Hemisphere, but do not reside in Iceland. They require colder temperatures, found in places such as Norway, Canada and Greenland.

Very occasionally, these Greenlandic bears do end up in Iceland, caught on loose icebergs drifting to the Westfjords. They arrive starving, however, and as one of the few animals to actively hunt people for food, are not something you should be seeking out on your travels.

9. Not Filling Up on Alcohol at Duty-Free

Iceland has unusual laws when it comes to purchasing alcohol. While you can buy drinks from restaurants and bars as easily as you can in most other European countries, they are not available in supermarkets or corner-shops. The only places you can purchase them to take home are at the airport and in the government-run liquor stores, called Vínbúðin.

Vínbúðin shops, however, have relatively narrow opening hours, are not located in easily accessible locations all over the country, and sell their products with high duty and taxes. To avoid both of these, you are instead recommended to buy as much as you think you'll need at the airport, where all alcoholic drinks tend to be around half the price.

8. Not Dressing According to the Weather

This was insinuated a little earlier, but it is important enough to warrant its own point. The weather in Iceland, even in summer, can be unpredictable, cold, wet and violent, so you will need to be prepared at all times with waterproof, windproof, and warm clothing, especially if travelling out in nature for an extended period.

It is also important to dress according to what is required for any tours you might take. If embarking on a glacier hiking tour in midsummer, for example, it is very important to bring sunglasses with you; the reflection of the sun against the white ice can be blinding.

If taking a snorkelling tour in Silfra, you should be sure to bring extra-warm socks regardless of the season, as while your undersuit and drysuit will warm your body, the dry-suit boots are not always padded, so the glacial water can chill your toes in minutes if just wearing thin cotton beneath.

7. Leaving Marked Trails in Geothermal Areas

Iceland's geothermal areas are magnificent places, where you can see seething mud-pots, bubbling hot-pools, hissing fumaroles and even exploding geysers. This is all possible because of the boiling water running just below the surface of the ground and because of Iceland's active tectonic activity. These factors, however, are always changing, which can lead to highly dangerous circumstances.

Areas of the earth which may seem stable might, in fact, be a thin layer covering a pocket of scalding water. Streams trickling in one place may be far hotter than in others, while in certain areas, pools that are usually temperate may suddenly start to boil.

As such, it is important to take extreme care in these geothermal hot-spots.

By far the easiest way to protect yourself is to stay on the marked paths. These guide you through the most stable areas, and will often have fences holding you back from the more volatile sites. Even though the collapsed walkway in the middle of the country's largest mud-pot at Gunnuhver is a stark reminder that unpredictable activity can occur anywhere, you are still a lot safer following the approved trails.

6. Writing in the Moss

Iceland has few forests, and though it is home to Arctic flora, it is not renowned for it. Its main 'vegetation' is the moss that has colonised huge swaths of the landscape, such as many of the old lava fields and the crags of mountains and cliffs. Though outsiders usually find it haunting and unusual, Icelanders consider it to be beautiful and precious and are determined in their protection of it.

The reason for this is that it is incredibly delicate, and if damaged, takes decades to recover. Try to see it like a coral reef―impacts made on it by humans, intentionally or mistakenly, will remain visible and notable to later visitors for years to come.

The tracks from off-road drivers (see the point below) will snake across otherwise untouched landscapes and campers who peel sections off for a bed to lie on exchange one comfortable night for decades of damage.

But the most obnoxious thing that travellers to Iceland tend to do with our moss is carving their names into it. This is nothing except vandalism and environmental degradation. Initials of travellers from the late 19th Century are still visible on hillsides outside of Reykjavík, and while they may not have known any better, modern visitors are expected to showcase less ignorance.

5. Driving Off-Road

Iceland's moss is not the only part of the Icelandic nature the people seek to protect. The lava fields, glaciers and black-sand-beaches are also known to be delicate and are treated as such by the locals. For this reason, driving off-road is completely forbidden in all corners of the country, unless you are in immediate danger.

If you wish to see the interior of Iceland, you can do so by renting a four-wheel-drive vehicle and sticking to the F-Roads. You will be able to go down bumpy, barely used tracks, across rivers and up winding mountain passes, taking you deep into nature, surrounding you with uninterrupted views, and posing no risk to the environment.

If you do drive off-road, prepare for punishment that may seem disproportionate but is considered entirely necessary and fair by this country's nature-loving populace. You will face fines of 500,000 ISK (over 4,000 Euros), potential jail-time, and a lecture you will never forget.

4. Going for Highland Roads in a Two-Wheel-Drive

Sticking to the roads as you travel is essential, but for your own safety, you also have to make sure your vehicle is up to the challenges of the route you decide to take. A two-wheel-drive is perfect for the ring-road in summer and is even manageable for traversing the South Coast and Golden Circle in winter for those experienced with dark, icy conditions, but they are very dangerous to take into the Highlands.

To navigate the Highland routes, F-Roads, and even many of the major roads in the East and North in winter, you will need a four-wheel-drive. Ice, pot-holes, snowbanks, loose gravel, rock-falls, rivers and steep slopes are not safely navigable in a normal car.

The one exception to this is the Kjölur Highland Road, which any vehicle can take in the heights of summer, but even so, no rental company will insure you to take a two-wheel-drive there.

3. Underestimating the Forces of Fire and Ice

Iceland is often nicknamed 'the land of ice and fire', two elements which are not renowned for being particularly forgiving. Visitors, therefore, have to understand the lethal power that the extreme natural forces of Iceland hold and give them their due respect.

Take, for example, the element of fire. When the volcano Holuhraun erupted in 2014, many visitors were eager to see the spitting lava. While the responsible took sanctioned tours to fly above it, there were some who decided to head right up to it for a photo opportunity. Not only did their off-road driving damage the surrounding nature, but they put their lives at enormous risk.

Liquid lava, when thrust into the air, usually comes down as raining rock, a form of precipitation that even the most well-packed traveller cannot easily prepare for. Not only that, but the gases coming from the earth are incredibly toxic―in the 1783-4 Laki eruption, 80% of the nation's sheep were killed by the poisonous fumes.

Even in Reykjavík, there were days during Holuhraun's eruption when those with respiratory problems, as well as the old and young, were encouraged to stay indoors. Standing right at the ravine, therefore, is about as good for your system as breathing the air on the edge of a chemical factory's chimney.

The element of ice is no less dangerous. Unknowing visitors often attempt to scale the glaciers or explore the ice caves without guides, exposing themselves to hidden, plunging crevasses and icefalls respectively. These activities are very safe when taken with an expert, but for those without experience, become markedly more life-threatening.

Because most of the nation is tundra, the water which emerges from the natural springs is often nearly freezing, so extreme care must be taken at such places too. Springs such as Silfra in Þingvellir are around two-degrees-Celsius year-round, so can only be entered with protective equipment such as wetsuits and drysuits.

One particularly notorious family encouraged their child to jump naked into a spring here and were too busy laughing to notice that the child was too cold to climb to safety. Thankfully, a ranger discovered them and helped the near-hypothermic child out of the water (before giving the parents a thorough, humiliating and well-deserved dressing down), and these tourists have gone down in history as some of the dumbest ever to come to Iceland.

2. Climbing on the Icebergs at Jökulsárlón

Some very bad―and very widely publicised―examples have been set here, even by Icelanders who should know much better. In music videos and even tourist promotional videos, people are seen climbing on the icebergs of Jökulsárlón, Fjallsárlón and other glacier lagoons, seeing them as the best places to have a little dance or play their songs.

Any other location in Iceland is much more suited to these activities. The icebergs that pass through these lagoons are incredibly slippery, constantly moving, breaking apart and rotating, and thus anyone standing on them is in immediate danger of falling into the freezing waters below.

Once in the water, the temperature and shock will cause an immediate panic. The movement of the bergs mean they could easily tilt on top of you, and, often boasting the size of multistory buildings, are nearly impossible to escape from.

Jökulsárlón is particularly dangerous because it is the deepest lake in Iceland, connected directly to both the ocean and a crumbling glacier, and thus has powerful currents that can drag you deep underwater.

Standing on an iceberg to emulate the behaviours you've seen in videos, or for the perfect photo opportunity, is thus the second dumbest thing you can do in Iceland. It is more than enough to appreciate these incredible lagoons from the shore for unbelievable pictures and perspectives, and if you want to immerse yourself further, there are boat tours available.

Jökulsárlón has tours on RIB and amphibious vessels, while you can also enjoy a RIB excursion on Fjallsárlón.

1. Playing in the Surf at Reynisfjara Beach

Topping the list of the dumbest things to do in Iceland is taking any risks at all at Reynisfjara beach on Iceland's South Coast. This incredible stretch of black sand is a very popular sightseeing spot, for its fascinating geology such as the Reynisdrangar sea-stacks, but it is not a place to be underestimated.

No landmass divides the Atlantic ocean from the Antarctic all the way to Iceland. The waves that build across this distance, which stretches for thousands of kilometres, arrive at the South Coast with immense power.

Due to the seabed at Reynisfjara, they often rise suddenly before making land and are dubbed sneaker-waves as a result. They can rush high up the shore, and have caught many people off-guard who ventured too close to the water.

After several tragedies in the area, where lives have been lost, the site is now home to dozens of warning signs and cordoned off areas, protecting visitors and locals alike. Due to Reynisfjara's popularity, there will almost always be tour guides on site too, ensuring that these rules are abided to.

Even so, individuals who can only be described as dumb continue to cross boundaries for that perfect Instagram shot or to see how cold the water is. These people are not only putting their lives at risk but the lives of anyone nearby who may attempt to save them, as well as the lives of the hardworking volunteers of the Rescue Teams who will be deployed if they are washed away.

Reynisfjara's otherworldly beauty can be appreciated in full while respecting the safety guidelines. Even if taking a single step past a boundary might make for a slightly better photo, I can promise it will not be good enough for you to endanger your life and the lives of others.

Hopefully, with this list, we can help provide some much-needed guidance to the most common-sense-averse travellers and give a little advice to those who are looking at coming here for the first time not knowing what to expect.
Is there anything we missed on this list? Did you do anything you instantly realised was pretty dumb to do on your travels here? What was the most unusual thing you saw another traveller doing? Let us know in the comments.
By just doing a little research, using your mind and listening to the advice of locals, you can ensure you have a safe and thoroughly enjoyable holiday in Iceland―while maintaining your rep' of not looking a total fool.

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Things Not To Do In Iceland | Guide to Iceland

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What are some of the silliest, most ignorant, or plain stupid things that visitors to Iceland have done? What common-sense decisions have recent travellers been failing to make? Is there anything you should be warned of before coming here and making a fool of yourself?

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Getting to know each other before we meet. Please add a comment and tell us about yourself.

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Answers to all your questions, including: What can I expect from the weather? (Answer: nobody knows!)