Iceland in January

[Sig]

I want to take a trip to Iceland this winter for a couple of weeks, going to do some site seeing and snowboarding. It looks like i'm going to have to do it solo though, everyone thinks i'm crazy for wanting to go to such a place, but I've always been facinated with it. I've been feeling a little nervous about the idea at first, being my first solo trip and all, but after reading all the posts about solo travel i don't think it will be so bad. Although since it will be in January at the low point of the tourist season, only getting 5 or 6 hours of light each day, and the expensive cost of everything, will there even be anyone else around to hang out with at the hostels? i'm a bit on the shy side, i think it'd be hard for me to mix with the locals, with other tourists it's fairly easy since everyone has something in common and we're all going through the same things. Any tips on fitting in and not sticking out like an annoying tourist?

Anyone been to Iceland before? what would be some must-see sites? how's the snowboarding? coming from Canada i've probably been spoiled in that category but i'm not picky. I've searched the board but didn't really find anything, just a possible tpunks meet-up, so did you guys end up going or did it get scrapped?

[tumblezweedz]

I don't know anything about snowboarding, in Iceland or anywhere else, so can't help you on that account. Also, I've never been to Iceland, in summer or winter. So why the heck am I replying? Well, having visited a couple of different northern European countries in the dead of winter, I can at least suggest that you probably won't be totally alone in the hostels - often locals travel at that time of year, which gives you a great chance to meet people who speak the language or might invite you to their homes in other areas. Also, any "foreigners" who happen to be around will likely be long-term travelers, and you'll be amazed at the stories they have to tell, and the knowledge they've gained.

Meeting people at the snowboarding venues should also be fairly easy - you automatically have a shared interest, and during the off season people tend to be a bit more open to strangers than during the frenetic high season. Keeping in mind that in general, northern Europeans tend to come across as a bit more aloof than southern Europeans or Americans, for example, in our experience once you get through the initial barriers, you can make some of the greatest friends.