Let’s face it: Any country that has a museum dedicated to the world of penises is worth a visit no matter the time of year.
Keeping that in mind, don’t look at me funny when I recommend Iceland as a winter destination. Reykjavik, the capital, is one of the few cities out there that, while having a summertime Pride festival, has also a corresponding winter gay fest. So, come January 30 – February 2, the dark of eternal night is fabulously dispersed with Rainbow Reykjavik, a deliciously gay Viking take on a mid-winter festival. And who doesn’t like delicious gay Vikings?
First off, let me start by saying when it comes to gay-friendly countries, Iceland is about as good as it gets; they had a lesbian for a Prime Minister. Couple that with some rock-bottom airfares (who goes north for the winter? Besides us, I mean?), and the Land of Ice and Fire looks pretty good all of a sudden.
And your hosts start off right with a soak in the Blue Lagoon. No, not the movie—this is, somewhat unpoetically, a run-off pond for the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant, but in one of those happy accidents, that pond, laden with minerals and at a comfy 102°F, is one of the premier hot springs on the planet. In fact, just try getting away from hot springs; Iceland is one of the most volcanically active countries in the hemisphere. And nothing beats lounging in a steaming spring during a winter snowfall. It’s almost like anesthesia.
Moving on. After dinner at LAVA (with the all-caps, but very chic nonetheless), you’ll be given a hardy Icelandic welcome party at the fabu Slipp Bar. “Hardy” because while you’d never think it, Iceland is one of the partying-est nations around — be prepared to tip a few back.
After that, it is a rollicking tour of everything kick-ass and gay about Iceland, but not necessarily in that order. Daytime tours of the awesome majesty of Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir (or “Gaysir” as they like to call it) hot spring area and Þingvellir National Park segue right into saunas and Reykjavik’s notorious nighttime club scene. If the stars allow (literally) there is also on tap an “aurora hunt.”
Oh, and the penis museum? Technically, it’s the “Icelandic Phallological Museum,” and you swing through on the second day. The collection is composed of penises from all the animals in the world that have one, and you’d be amazed how many shapes the same organ can take, from something that looks like a unicorn horn to something Conan the Barbarian would club you with.
Ow. And kinky. ….no, just “ow.”
For more information, go to rainbowreykjavik.com. Steele Luxury Travel can organize your entire Icelandic experience. Visit www.SteeleTravel.com for more information!