One Word Quiz (but I choose to use more than one world....so there!)

Melanie had this on her blog so I figured I would do it as well!

Where is your cell phone? bedroom

Where is your significant other? parlor

Your hair? on my head - oh, brown

Your mother? my world

Your father? my hell

Your favorite thing? guitar

Your dream last night? don't remember

Your dream/goal? contentment and success

The room you're in? office

Your fear? losing my mother

Where do you want to be in 6 years? settled in a happy life

Where were you last night? la sallette shrine (should've been in Canada)

What you're not? fake

Muffins? corn

One of your wish list items? trip around the world

Where you grew up? providence, ri

The last thing you did? wrote a blog

What are you wearing? gym pants and grey sweatshirt

Your TV? large one in bedroom, medium in office and parlor

Your pets? six children

Your computer? healthy

Your life? unsettled

Your mood? anxious

Missing someone? my aunt

Your car? on it's last breath

Something you're not wearing? glasses

Your summer? road trip

Love someone? yes, my Melanie

Your favorite color? navy blue

When is the last time you laughed? about an hour ago

Last time you cried? yesterday

Out & About Travel 10 Year Anniverary

Tonight I was thinking about the fact that Out & About Travel, my company, will be celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this year. I feel gratitude for having this company and yet a sense of sadness that after 10 years it is still not where I hoped it would be.

Some good things? Go to www.google.com and type in GAY TRAVEL AGENCY and guess who is #1? Yup. Guess who doesn't pay a penny for that position? :) Pretty cool, huh? Try GAY TRAVEL AGENT. Not bad, don't you think? GAY TOURS, # 2 spot (::big smile::). GAY CRUISES, # 5 (pats self on back). Remember, this is out of millions of web sites - at zero cost. That is something to be proud of. It is because of that exposure Out & About Travel is still in business 10 years later.

Do you know how much money I spent on advertising this year? Close to zero. Sure, my web site cost money to host ($20'ish a month maybe). But that is it. Why don't I advertise more? Because it is tooooooo expensive and although I make a living from my agency I am still a LONG way from making a GREAT living. This is because even though I come up on the top in Google with many popular terms, I am still widely unknown! :(

I simply can't afford a fabulous web site. Just the one I personally design. And update. I am proud of it, but sure, it could be better. More fancy.

If I advertised in Out Magazine, The Advocate, Curve and local/national gay & lesbian newspapers I would be extremely successful, but again, no $$$ my friends. Advertising rates are CRAZY.

In 10 years of running this business, which I solely operate, I have never had ONE BIG write up. I am not (really) complaining, but c'mon! LOL! :) Go to all the other gay travel agency web sites online and compare the INFORMATION you find and I assure you, I have the most out of all of these sites. Not to mention the most up to date. I would love the gay media to throw me a bone. I have written them, but will keep trying. Maybe if I was a better writer they would give me a shot. I don't know. Maybe if my web site was "prettier". Maybe I am the UGLY BETTY of gay travel agency's? LOL!

I'll be honest with you all. I am feeling burnt out. Every year around this time I feel this way, but I am especially burnt out. However, I am grateful for at least staying the same, as far as sales go, year after year, but I NEED TO GROW. I need MORE BUSINESS. More referrals. My repeat business is fantastic.

Do you know we (err, I) don't charge a service fee???? When you e-mail us (a.k.a me) with your request, I personally spend time (sometimes days) researching a package for you, the client. It excited me to find the BEST deal. I am all about the best value for your dollar. It kills me when a client says they found "something similar" for $5.00 less. Trust me, I have had it happen. Argh!!!! Would you visit a dentist for free? Ask them to look in your mouth and tell you what is going on for free? Nope. They don't give me the opportunity to tell them I can MATCH that or beat it. Most times the quote they got doesn't include taxes and then they are too shamed to come back to me. How sad!

I am also there for my client 24/7. I provide all my clients with a personal cell number. I never want them to feel alone. In 10 years of running this business I have only had a handful of small problems, which were all quickly solved.

Anyway, I sincerely hope 2009 is the year Out & About Travel receives the recognition it deserves. I will do everything in my power to try and make this happen. If you are reading this and like to travel, please give us a shot! I have been sending clients around the world for over a decade (I have been a travel agent since 1996 and know all the ins & outs of gay travel).

You can check us out at http://www.gaytravelpros.com/, http://www.outloudcruises.com/ and http://www.gayskitrips.com/.

Here are some motivational quotes I found inspiring (click on image to make larger).

Scary Apple Pie - For a Cause??

So April calls me up this morning frantic about a very serious situation --- bad apple pie. Not just any, "Oops, I made a mistake!" type personal fiasco, no, worse. Much worse (que suspense music) - A charity apple pie. A $25.00 (wtf was I thinking) apple pie. April and her partner, Pepper, thought they were doing a nice thing by supporting the AIDS foundation by buying one of their holiday apple pies.

April was all "a twitter" as she drove from Chelsea, MA into the CITY of Boston, MA. Yah. A nightmare on a typical day, let alone the day before Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Her pie was to be picked up at some subway location (shady enough don't you think?), in the heart of the city.

April LUCKILY found free parking and eagerly pranced to scoop up her waytoooverpricedbutIamdoinganicedeed apple pie. Her first impression was how BEAUTIFULLY wrapped it was. She paid the nice man the $25 and proceeded back to her car. On the way back she noticed how "light" the box was. "Odd?" she thought but continued walking.

Once in the car, and back on the road, her curiosity got the best of her and she opened up the box like a kid at Christmas only to find....


What in God's name of Thanksgiving and crater like pies is going on with this thing???????

It looks like a llama yakked it up, sprinkled it with large croutons and some cocaine!

This is APPLE PIE??? LOL! Imagine if she didn't open this, took it to her dad's for Thanksgiving tomorrow and had the horror of seeing this in front of everyone!

BUT, at least the $25 went to a good cause, but, no one should present pie like this. It could effect people in ways unknown. I know I am effected just buy looking at it. Stare at the apple pie for at least 15 seconds....go on.....STARE AT THE FRIGGIN PIE....I dare you.....I think I see an outline of the state of Texas???? What is that starfish called in Sponge Bob??


Yum! ;)

I told April she needs to FREEZE this apple pie and bring it out every Thanksgiving for the rest of her life, as a special guest. She can even dress it up! I hope she listens to me. They can play a game and try to come up with a NEW character that can be outlined in the pie somehow.

Just a thought.

I love stories like this.

Oh man...lol.

-Des

I think it is time for a little Melanie tribute! ;)

I love you honey and I thank God for you each day of my life. You are my truest sense of joy and the thing I am most thankful for.

Love,

Des

Too funny...

Click on image to read captions better

I had to post this! My ex's new partner, Pepper, is an artist and designed the front of their annual egg nog party invite. How funny?? I guess you have to know them, but TRUST ME, she got April's festiveness down 100%!! LOL! April is like Mrs. (lesbian) Claus! :) I love the expression on Pepper's face and the cats in the background. THIS IS WHAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALL ABOUT! Having fun with each other. Starting traditions. Cooking and baking together. Having friends and family over. Spiking the egg nog. Getting your cats off the trees. Ya know, the usual! ;)

-Des

On a lighter note...

My ex, April, who is now one of my best friends, knows I am feeling ill so she sent me a virtual flamenco dance. Why you may ask? Well, because for whatever reason it makes me LAUGH HARD! April use to do this crazy flamenco dance whenever I was sick and for some strange reason it use to help.

Everyone needs a little flamenco in their lives!

More on yesterday's blog...

As I sit hear and wait for my Dr. to call with my blood work results confirming that I either have or (hopefully) don't have H. Pylori (don't ask - Mel has this stomach infection and it is contagious through saliva - yah - need I say more - I feel like a burning flame of indigestion - loooovely - lol) it dawned on me that my last blog may have come across as not understanding to people who are on a constant quest to be thin. I need to reiterate.

I completely sympathize with people struggling to lose weight. It just drives me crazy how we (women especially) feed into society's views of what a "nice body" should look like. It seems like every woman is struggling to lose that 10-20+ pounds to get down to a 2 or 4. Why? Do you honestly find this more attractive? Maybe I am the nutcase? I wouldn't be surprised! :) I just find a shapely body more healthy and just as beautiful. If I had a genie bottle and was told I could make my body any weight with just one rub (and for a 5'5 / 5'6 I should be no more than 133 pounds to be considered "healthy"), I would choose 160-165 pounds. This would make me a size 10'ish I believe. I honestly (may I have H-Pylori for the rest of my life) would NOT want to be smaller. At one point I was around 150 pounds and looked sickly. HOW CAN SOCIETY THINK THIS LOOKS BETTER??????????? How can people think those young women in Hollywood look sexy? I mean look at them??? They are skeletal. They all look like 10 year old boys, less the long hair and make-up. Where are the shapes? Then you get women like Kelly Clarkson, Jordan Spark, Kate Winslet and even someone like Rachael Ray and everyone (meaning the media) say they are overweight! LOL! REALLY? I mean c'mon? Does Star Jones REALLY look BETTER NOW? We all remember the Jennifer Love Hewett story. And what do these women do? Conform! Conform! Conform! Again, maybe I AM THE CRAZY one? It seems like most women agree with the "need to be skinny" mentality. Either that or I am one of the lucky ones that don't suffer from that constant voice telling me I am not good enough. I don't know. Don't get me wrong. Society has creeped into my thought process to some point. My brain has been slightly attacked. Case in point. Two years ago I was able to look at myself in the mirror at a size 12/14 and not feel unsatisfied. Now when I look in the mirror at a size 12 I find I judge myself, to some extent. I HATE IT! I try to shut the voice up but it is hard. I do sympathize.


With all that said, it is brave to talk about the obsession and need to lose weight. It is a thought process disease. If we could only re-train our brains. Sigh.

To prove my point I am posting picture of Jordan Sparks and the Olson Twins.

You tell me...

What looks better to you?

What is it that I am missing???? Why do so many women suffer with this disease? It is so, so sad if you ask me!

Another example:

Again, what looks better? Do Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks look BAD because they have "extra" weight on them? They look pretty healthy to me. Then you have Kiera Knightly and ??? Do women really think this looks good and Trisha Yearwood looks bad??

Don't feed into society's views! Love yourself the way you are! Be good to yourself. Your body. We are all beautiful and let me just say -- I have nothing against healthy, skinny bodies! My partner is a very healthy size, skinny even, and I think she is gorgeous. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with the way we THINK of our bodies and how they SHOULD be that drives me crazy.

I need an antacid....lol! ;)

-Des

Just shut up and eat, please!

First let me say I love, love, love Minivan Mom's blog (http://www.morethanaminivanmom.com). I have been reading it for well over a year and agree with a lot of what she writes about. I do have to say, however, that today's posting (Nov 19, 2008) just made me, well, a mix of sad and mad. If I hear one more woman complain about her body I think I am going to lose my mind. Maybe this is because I am more of a tomboyish lesbian who finds curves and an ACTUAL WOMENLY shape sexy or maybe it is because I am "Italian" and genuinely LOVE to eat. I am not talking obsessively. I am talking about the dining out or cooking experience. The sitting around the table and enjoying the meal part while socializing. I am not a "foodie", just a simple woman that doesn't fear eating. I am concerned about my health and watch what I eat to the best of my ability without losing my mind and I even exercise. Maybe not like the average person who is "INTO" exercising, but I try and do my part. Stay somewhat active and workout. This, if nothing else, allows me to enjoy food and maintain my weight.
What is it that drives me so completely INSANE about women complaining about their bodies and their quest to be thin? Maybe it is simply because I don't understand it. I don't know. I wasn't brought up in a family or around friends that judged you based on weight. My family always made me feel beautiful "the way I am". My friends, although many going through their own eating disorders, always made me feel good about myself. My first girlfriend was a severe bulimic. I remember it got to the point where she would throw-up even a hand full of cheese puffs. I would sit in her bedroom horrified, sad and angry. Angry that she felt the need and desire to do this. Sad that her surroundings supported it (judgemental parents/friends) and horrified at what it was doing to her physically and mentally. I was never a super thin girl but I was always never super fat either (I did have a period in my 20's of being overweight, a size 16/18, but even though I wanted to lose the weight I never beat myself up over it).

It seems as if all of my other friends suffered with either anorexia or bulimia. My best friends all had eating disorders. I was constantly surrounded by people with one form of an eating disorder. My mother was always overweight until recently and my partner of 10 years was, medically speaking, obese (also until recently).

The thing is I found each and every one of my partners, friends and family members sincerely BEAUTIFUL. Inside AND out. Truth be told I would look at super skinny girls (and guys) and cringe! I remember having a super skinny friend who I was afraid to hug because I felt like I would break her. She looked like an 8 year old boy and she was 18! She wasn't bulimic or anorexic, just really, really skinny. I would look at super skinny people and feel bad for them. To me THEY looked unhealthy. Stressed. Sad. This is how my partners looked. How my close friends looked. No one was ever HAPPY and skinny. They were STRESSED, SICK and, sure, skinny. Woo-hoo. The few people I knew that were an average or slightly above average weight were HAPPY. Always smiling, laughing, eating, RELAXED.

Yes it is true. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. It just blows my mind the number of women who feel they are fat. Even at 5'9 and 150 pounds. It makes me INSANE. Literally.

The other night my partner Melanie and I were at the gym. It was roughly 7:30pm. I usually go during the morning or early afternoon when there is a nice mix of ages and people genuinely trying to stay in shape or get in better shape. The environment was COMPLETELY different at night. True, no one bothered me. Yes, no one was rude or anything, but the environment represented EVERYTHING I AM AGAINST. It was like I was surrounded by complete narcissism. Guys flexing in the mirror every 5 seconds. Women who should be GAINING weight trying to lose more. Breasts hanging out. Muscles bulging out. People making flirty eyes at each other. It was like they were telling each other, I am beautiful - you are beautiful - lets hook up and do, um, beautiful things together. I hated it. I didn't see one AVERAGE sized person there, okay maybe a couple, but not ONE really overweight person. Nope. Probably for this very reason. I saw mostly women (who I am sure have eating disorders) feeding into their disease and men who probably have zero self-confidence making love to themselves in the mirror. Yuck. Am I being judgemental? NO! Honestly. I am sure these people are very nice. This is just what my observations were and my interpretation. If you want to call me judgemental, fine. But I truly am not.

What I have personally witnessed in my life is that skinny people (not all, but a lot), have this sense of superiority over what society (and Dr's) consider "overweight" people. This makes the majority of them arrogant, self-absorbed, narcissistic and to me - extremely ugly. They almost look down on the average or plus sized person. But what I have also witnessed is that average sized/plus-sized people are more laid back, kindhearted, giving, fun and genuinely happy. It is like they are just happy to have people be nice to them because they are use to the opposite. Maybe that "happy fat girl" saying is true. Hey, I'd rather be a HAPPY FAT GIRL any day thank you very much. Key word? Happy.

Most skinny people I am around COMPLAIN about one thing or another all the time. They are always talking about what they CAN'T eat or what they need to do to LOSE what they ate. They are always concerned with their looks. Does this make me look fat? Always looking in the mirror. Always judging themselves. Judging. Judging. Judging. And what does this do? It trickles down to the people around them. Moms? you do this to your children. Girls? You do this to your friends. Wives? You do this to your spouse. It takes a very strong person to NOT get an eating disorder in today's society since we are constantly surrounded by it. I am sick of it.

On the flip side it is no different than an overweight person pushing food on a healthy weight person. This drives me crazy too. Food is tempting. You have to respect peoples boundaries. Moms? You are making your kids overweight. They can't buy the food they want at the market, at school or in restaurants. That is your choice. Ladies? You don't have to binge eat and temp your friends to join you. Wives? You should always think of your spouse when cooking or making dining choices. There should always be something that they will like.

I know I am using "women" as the main focus here, but the same applies to guys as well.

Grrr, this all just makes me so frustrated.

Ladies, you were given a womanly shape because you are women. T & A are GOOD! Unless you WANT to look like a guy (and well, a'hem, I wouldn't mind some aspects, but that's another issue...lol). Please FUCK the BMI index. PLEASE! That is just ---- CRAZY. It will make everyone look sickly and truth be told, make everyone cranky and probably get an eating disorder.

I am not saying go out and eat an entire pizza or chocolate cake. Heck no. I'd like to live to an ripe old age. But I am saying it is OKAY to accept yourself as you are and endulge once and awhile.

Size 2 is no better than 12. Size 12 is no better than size 28.

You aren't prettier or sexier at a 2. You aren't gross and disgusting as a size 28.

You want to be a beautiful person? Love yourself. Love your body. Be happy. Don't base your self worth on the size of your waist. Your breast size. How flat your stomach is.
I mean just typing that seems stupid!

Base your worth on how much love you give out. What you give back to the world. How much kindness. How much joy. How good you are to others. How happy you make those around you. How happy you are inside. That is the TRUE WORTH OF A PERSON. Not their pant size.

And moms, friends, wives, dads, brothers, family members --- SHUT THE FUCK UP. I mean it. Keep your fucking, judgemental, holier than thou, mean ass comments about YOUR or anybody else's body to yourself! You are adding to the chain of bulimics, anorexics and overeaters by being so judgemental. Teach your children to love themselves the way they are. Regardless of size. Teach them to EAT HEALTHY and LIVE HEALTHY but don't base any of that on their BODY IMAGE. I mean c'mon!? You are all suppose to be these smart, intelligent people and yet you act so CRAZY when it comes to appearance. As if a size 4 will make you a better person. WTF????? Are we that stupid????? You may have a Masters Degree, but what the fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck?????

I am not a scholar and I am not the world's best writer - far from it...lol. I am just trying to get my point across!

WE ARE ALL EQUAL. WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL and yet society makes it seem as if looking like a bone is BEST and if you have any meat on your body you are WEAK or UGLY.

HOW SAD and STUPID! Think about it.

Skinny isn't better.
Fat isn't bad.

Thanksgiving is next Thursday. I encourage you all to bask in the JOY and FUN of this holiday. It is FUN to get involved in the meal. To eat the meal and not think about puking it out or running it off. Thanksgiving is a warm holiday. It is a holiday full of love. Cooking for someone is a sign of love. Love yourselves. Eat. Be happy. If only for one day. The gym isn't going anywhere. You aren't going to change. So be like us "average" folks. Enjoy the food. Don't beat yourself up.

And the next time you feel the need to attack your body or looks. Pay close attention to the people around you. Do you want to say this out loud? Will this possibly effect the people in your presence? Might you put the wrong idea in someone's head? Could your actions/words cause someone else to judge themselves in a negative way? STOP. THINK. If you want to torture yourself, well, I unfortunately can't stop you. But please, don't plant MORE words into minds of those around you. We all have to live on this planet and this planet feeds us ENOUGH negativity. You are paying the price now. Do you want to ADD to that? Do you want someone else to develop a negative perception about their body??

Seriously. Think about what you are putting out to the world on this topic. We are all beautiful. We are all special. No one is BETTER than anyone.

Wives? You were proposed to. You are going to get married regardless of the size of your dress. Stop killing yourselves.
We are constantly bombarded with how "bad" certain foods are for us and lack of exercise and we have no choice but to hear and learn from this. But we aren't taught that being TOO skinny and judgemental on your body is causing a chain reaction of severe proportions to (mostly) women everywhere. This very second someone is considering bulimia. Anorexia. Overeating. STOP IT, PLEASE. Don't add to this mess.

If only we could all live and treat each other with this basic principal. Maybe, just maybe there would be happier (full) people in the world.

-Des

Iceland Trip January 2009

It is official! I am going to Iceland! Land of fire & ice! My mother and I decided over the weekend to go on this adventure together January 10-15, 2009. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am. I have wanted to visit Iceland for almost a decade. It has been a dream of mine to witness the Northern Lights. Although they aren't guaranteed, January is one of the best times to be in Iceland to try and witness them.

ICELAND FACTS 101:

• In a single day you can walk on a glacier, drive by fjords, see icebergs, lava fields, geysers, waterfalls, swim in outdoor thermal pools, dine at a 5-star restaurant, dance at a (gay) nightclub, check out museums, art galleries, cafes, shop at a huge mall and my favorite (if lucky enough) see The Northern Lights!

• Iceland is the cleanest, safest country in the world. Reports also show that people who live in Iceland are the happiest and healthiest. They don't have a military base or any sort of organized army, like the Navy. As a matter of fact, since it is considered the most peaceful country in the world, Yoko Ono recently built a monument called, The Imagine Peace Tower, in honor of her late husband, John Lennon. The Imagine Peace Tower is a short tower with the words “Imagine Peace” inscribed in many languages from which emanates an immensely bright light pointing upwards which can be seen for many miles. The light is intended so shine each year from 9th October (Lennon’s birthday), to 8th December (the day he was assassinated).

• Iceland is the leading country - in the world - for clean air and the environment.

• There are no highways in Iceland. There is one major road that takes you around the entire country.

• Iceland is roughly the size of Ohio

• Iceland is not covered entirely in ice! Iceland is more green than Greenland and Greenland is more icy that Iceland.

• Iceland is home of the midnight sun. In the summer the sun never sets. It is sunny 24 hours. In the winter Iceland gets, on average, 4-6 hours of sunlight.

• The best time to view The Northern Lights is between November and March.

• Iceland is a short 4 to 4 1/2 hour, nonstop flight from Boston and less than 5 hours from New York and Baltimore. Icelandair also has regular flights from Orlando, Minneapolis and San Francisco.

• The average January temperature in Iceland is actually higher than those in New york.

• One of the top sports has an added flair in winter - swimming in a geothermally-heated outdoor pool in a blizzard!

• Iceland has a great cultural front as well including theaters, opera, symphony orchestra and a variety of musical events. There are also an international mix of art galleries and museums.

• Iceland's capital is Reykjavik (means SMOKEY BAY). It is the world's northernmost capital city. The best way to get to know the capital city is to take to the streets. The city center is remarkably compact and the efficient public bus system can quickly shuttle you around for sites a little farther away.

• Glaciers cover one-ninth of Iceland's land surface. Vatnajokull, at 3,300 square miles, is the largest glacier in Europe.

• Iceland's interior has magical moonlike landscapes. So much so NASA trained there before sending the Apollo to the moon in 1969!

• Be sure to take the elevator to the top of the imposing Hallgrimskirkja Church for an incredible view of Reykjavik, or explore the colorful neighborhoods of Thingholt and Vesturbaer.

• Iceland is known for having some of the world's freshest seafood and lamb. The Icelandic specialties include locally grown vegetables, game and ocean-fresh fish.

• Reykjavik is renowned as one of Europe's hottest nightspots, where the action in the friendly pubs and nightlife scene lasts right through the night.

• Reykajavik is one of the most gay friendly cities in all of Europe.

• Reykajavik boasts two large indoor shopping malls, Kringlan and Smaralind, as well as a pedestrian friendly shopping district in the city center, Laugavegur, a mile-long shopping street. The mall selection is diverse with designer labels, both American and European. Kringlan is located within walking distance of several of the city's main hotels. It is easily accessible by bus from the old city center and has ample free parking. Smaraland is in the town of Kopavogur, a short bus ride from the city center. It also has the city's largest movie complex (all movies are shown in their original language with subtitles in Icelandic).

• Icelanders have a great deal of affection for their atmospheric "old city center", which in addition to top-of-the-line stores, has a great number of excellent cafes, restaurants and bars. Starting at the top of Laugavegur (Reykjavik''s main shopping street, which is one mile long) and making your way westward, you will find a number of exclusive boutiques and fashion stores.

• Hafnarfjordur, a town down the road from Reykjavik, offers tourists offbeat attractions - including Viking feasts and even elf-spotting tours.

• Iceland's highest peak is 6,500 feet.

• Iceland has the largest glaciers in Europe. 11% of the country is covered by glaciers.

• Iceland's coastline is dotted with more than one hundred fjords.

• Iceland has over 20 active volcano's.

• Iceland has more than 10,000 waterfalls and countless hot springs.

• A large portion of Iceland is uninhabitable, with moss-covered rocks of ancient lava flows and tall treeless mountains, but these moonscapes are perfect for exploring this other-worldly looking place.

• The Icelanders still speak the language of the Vikings (Old Norse, now called Icelandic), however the majority of people also speak English.

• Iceland has a population of 300,000 and more than half live in the greater Reykjavik area.

• Some Icelandic "goodies" include Icelandic chocolate, licorice (or the popular chocolate-licorice combo!), Opal candies and snudur (frosting covered pastries). If you are visiting during the holidays be sure to pick up some jolaol (orange soda mixed with malt), some laufabraud, the fried flat bread of the season and when you're in town, don't forget to try a traditional hot dog with all the fixins' and some delicious soft ice cream.

• Coffee house culture is quite popular in Iceland. Most offer free wi-fi, free refills and a healthy supply of newspapers and magazines.

• There are over 170 restaurants in the greater Reykjavik area. Fruits and vegetables are grown organically in greenhouses and meat and dairy products are free of additives and growth hormones.

• The Icelandic nightlife needs to be seen to be believed. Locals dress to the nines - such classy wear is not a requirement for tourists - and head out in droves to the latest dance clubs, tiny music venues, and pubs.

• One of Iceland's top tourist attractions is The Blue Lagoon Geothermal Destination Spa.

• Iceland is a European island midway between North America and mainland Europe.

• Iceland's main airport, Keflavik International Airport, is 30 miles from Reykjavik.

• How should you dress? Dress much the way you would in New York City in the fall, winter and spring. In summer, carry a light, and preferably water-resistant, jacket. The weather can be extremely changeable. Always bring a bathing suit. Yes, a bathing suit! Icelanders' favorite pastime year-round is outdoor swimming in the countless geothermally-heated pools and lagoons, which are as warm as bathwater.

• What are the people like? Icelanders are descended from both the Vikings and the Celts, so while there are many blond, blue-eyed locals, there are also many with brown eyes and red or dark brown hair. Icelanders have a reputation as being a beautiful people. An Icelander has been crowned Miss World three times, the most of any country. The Icelanders are often reserved and stoic, sometimes even appearing shy at first. But they are proud of their country and very welcoming to visitors from all over the world.

• What is the currency? Iceland's currency is the krona (ISK). You can get money out of local ATMS or exchange money easily at the airport. Credit cards are accepted virtually everywhere.

• Will my cell phone work in Iceland? Most North American cell phones won't work, but you can rent phones in Iceland. To call home: 1) Dial the AT&T access number in Iceland; 00 800-222-55-288. 2) Then dial the phone number you're calling including area code 3) Wait for a prompt then enter your AT&T calling card number and 4-digit pin.

• Iceland's country code is +354. If you are calling Iceland from the United States, dial 011 to get an international line, then 354 and the 7-digit phone number.

GORGEOUS ICELAND PHOTOS

-Des