May 3, 2010

All Quiet on the Northern Front

The world media has for the last weeks been reporting on volcanic eruptions in Iceland and the consequences it has had on air traffic around Europe. Among the accounts there are several written by people that seemingly have little or no idea what´s going on. Pictures of people shovelling ash from roof tops with their faces covered by masks have been published all round, making it look like it is part of everyday life in Iceland. This is far from the truth. Everyday life in Iceland is as normal as can be, considering the circumstances. The airplanes are flying again and the airports are open. Spring is tiptoeing nearby and migrating birds like the arctic tern and the golden plover have already come over for their summer habitat. Daffodils are blooming in parks and gardens and multicoloured crocuses flourish, a little late for all standards, but admired and loved by onlookers. The blue colour of the mountains surrounding the capital is slowly taking over the white crust of winter´s snow. The volcano is however still spouting ash and fumes, but not to the extent that it did before. Experts say that it could stop tomorrow, after a month or in a year.

As of May 1, 2010 Kynnisferðir/Reykjavik Excursions will be operated separately – the bus and coach part of the company will from now on be known as Kynnisferðir and the travel agency part will be run under the Reykjavik Excursions logo. The management of the company will be the same as before the separation.

In Iceland we look forward to spring and summer, hoping the aftermaths of the eruption will be minimal. We also look forward to GPN´s meeting in Reykjavík in the early fall and we´ll do our best to make the stay a memorable one.

Business as Usual as Spring Comes to Iceland

Business as Usual as Spring Comes to Iceland

April 22, 2010

GPN, the Network of the Best Bus Companies in the World, Proves its Mettle 

For the last 3 years, since its inception in July of 2006, Global Passenger Network, the organization that brings together the best bus companies in the world, has been constantly improving its international products and services.  The recent events caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland has given GPN its first real chance to prove itself as a globally-acting network. 

In the two hours after the crisis began, GPN was able to coordinate from a central point coach activities in all areas of Europe and other regions, such as Asia.  Within hours, GPN received hundreds of requests for help from all corners of the world.  A small and efficient team of GPN specialists, experienced in logistics and all aspects of bus travel, coordinated help for stranded clients through its national member companies, utilizing a wide variety of vehicles, from minivans to minibuses to Gran Turismo coaches.  The practice of transfer optimization, or the filling of empty legs, long a GPN specialty, was especially helpful in this situation. 

Through this experience, GPN has been able to successfully implement policies put in place by the Board of Directors in the last 2 years, including: a 24-hour response time, guaranteed high quality and standards and strict adherence to the EU regulations regarding driving times and security.  Our member companies have demonstrated that they can serve the needs of various clients, including large international clients, within just a few hours, even in an emergency situation.  As the travel industry gets back on its feet after these difficult days, GPN will further develop its position as the network offering the best bus service in the world.

 For further information, please contact Jennifer Swatzell, Executive Assistant: info@gpn.travel

March 26, 2010

Spectacular Video of Icelandic Volcano

Volcano in Iceland

March 23, 2010

New Tours Show Spectacular Volcanic Activity in Iceland

Dramatic Volcanic Eruptions in Iceland

Dramatic Volcanic Eruptions in Iceland

After observing continuous earthquakes for months in the vicinity of glaciers Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull in southern Iceland, it came as no surprise when a volcanic eruption began on March 21st in Fimmvorduhals, a pass between the two glaciers. The mountain pass is a popular hiking site during the summer months. Iceland is a geologically young land and its location astride the Mid Atlantic Ridge and on the Iceland Hotspot means that it is highly geologically active and has many volcanoes. Eruptions occur on average every five years and also we have several eruptions beneath ice caps, which can generate glacial bursts, most recently in 1996. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American Plates are moving apart, is partly responsible for this intense volcanic activity, along with Iceland being a hot spot, which means volcanism due to a rising mantle plume. The fissure 0,5 km long on the northern part of the pass. Due to a strong gale in the vicinity of the eruption it has not been easy to view it, but Reykjavik Excursions has set up evening tours for those who want to experience a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

December 11, 2009

GPN Iceland: Sour-faced descendants of the vikings?

When tourists come to Iceland for the first time they sometimes complain about our bus drivers´ lack of smiling. It therefore comes as a pleasant surprise when they learn that these -  most of the time – solemn and grave looking individuals are usually soft spoken and highly service minded. Being serious is for them being normal, not a statement of being grumpy or sour. An old Icelandic idiom states that a fool laughs at own joke and in Iceland nobody wants to be considered a fool. Living on the outskirts of Europe is a serious matter and quite different from the frivolous rest of the world. Being descendants of the Vikings also counts in being serious, the said probably didn´t smile a lot when they raided Lindisfarne in the eighth century. Winters in Iceland are long and dark, in Mid-December the daylight lasts less than 4 hours. Thanks to the Gulf Stream Icelandic winters are not as cold as one might think. All in all the Icelanders are a serious people, bus drivers no exception. The grave appearance is only skin deep though – once you start communicating, the barriers are easily broken and the real Icelander appears: Helpful, caring, warm-hearted and proud. Proud of being an Icelander and proud to work for a company that cares. Visit our web site www.re.is

Sour-faced descendants of the vikings?

Sour-faced descendants of the vikings?