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Rucksack reads for the curious traveler
As always, summertime marks the arrival of flowering growth, funny looking birds and an abundance of new travel books. Here's a brief look at this season's crop of rucksack reads.
Proving that one need not always look far for interesting sights, Reynir Ingibjartsson's brand-new 25 Beautiful Walks: Walking Trails in the Greater Reykjavík Area, published by Salka, lists twenty-five easy hikes and excursions in and around the capital. Each route description is accompanied by a map and a review of the sights and attractions along the way.
For younger readers, there is Rikka and her Magic Ring in Iceland, also published by Salka. The book, which is written by Hendrikka Waage and illustrated by Inga María Brynjarsdóttir, relates the adventures of the young Rikka who, with the aid of a handy magic ring, journeys across time and space in Iceland. Intended for children aged 5-11, the book is overflowing with information on the environment and ecology of Iceland, and a sense of the importance of doing good in the world. The book is available in Icelandic and English.
This summer, Skrudda released Huts and Lodges in Iceland by Jón G. Snæland. It lists roughly 400 mountain huts around Iceland, available for hikers to seek refuge in. The book contains various tidbits of information on the huts, clear routes laid out on maps, and lists the GPS coordinates of each one. For travelers who aren't afraid of getting their feet wet, Skrudda also offers Thermal Pools in Iceland by Jón G. Snæland and Þóra Sigurbjörnsdóttir. The book contains information on the naturally occurring thermal pools around the country, listing the location of each one on detailed maps, and providing their GPS coordinates.
While on the road, it doesn't hurt to have a rough sense of the country's history. A revised edition of Gunnar Karlsson's A Brief History of Iceland, available in Icelandic, English, German and Swedish, is intended to fulfill that need. Concisely and accessibly written, it's a handy little thing to bring along.
Just as enjoyable, if less factually accurate, is comic artist Hugleikur Dagsson's new map of Iceland, published by Ókeibæ-kur. Brimming with Dagsson's trademark black humor, the map's illustrations of the country's history, geography and nature are crude, frequently in bad taste, and a pleasure to those who have the stomach for that sort of thing.