Question by: Tiny1217

Who would take a vacation to Iceland?

Reykjavik or Bust

(February 11, 1949. Via U.S. Air Mail)

Hi Peter,

Just wondering: Have you ever been to Iceland? Because I'm going in July, and it might be really fun to get together there. It's been a year since I saw you in London, and it would be a short hop for you on BOAC. You can share my room. What do you think?

Your friend,

Andrew Carter

(February 19, 1949. Via Royal Telegram)

Carter,

Are you mad? What's in Iceland?

P. Newkirk

(February 20, 1949, Via U.S. Air Mail)

Hi Peter,

You're in luck, buddy! I'm leading my Geology 201 students on a tour focusing on volcanology and seismology, and I'm finishing up the student-travel brochure right now.

We're going to visit the Golden Circle of Geysers. One of the best-known attractions is Strokkur, which means "The Churn." Neat, right? It erupts every 10 minutes and shoots boiling water 100 feet into the air. Boom! The whole area is a geothermal park sitting on top of a vast boiling cauldron! We'll see belching sulfurous mud pots of unusual colors, hissing steam vents, hot and cold springs, warm streams, and primitive plants.

Come on, Peter. How can you say no?

Your pal,

Andrew

(March 1, 1949, Via Royal Air Mail)

Carter,

Easy. N-O. You've gone 'round the bend, mate. I can spend my free time in a nice cozy pub in London and observe all the belching I want, at a safe distance from hissing steam and boiling cauldrons. And isn't sulphur that yellow rubbish what smells like rotten eggs? I inhaled enough of that poison in your lab in Stalag 13, thank you very much. It's spelt with a "ph," by the way.

Enjoy the trip, mate. Let me know when you're going to Spain or Hawaii, would you?

P. Newkirk

(March 14, 1949, Via Western Union Telegram)

Peter,

Too bad. I was hoping we would try the brennivín together.

Andrew

(March 15, 1949. Via Royal Telegram)

Carter,

All right. I'll bite. What's brennivín? This better be good.

P. Newkirk

(March 17, 1949. Via U.S. Air Mail)

Hi Pete,

Brennivín means burning wine! It's a strong, clear schnapps. It's part of Iceland's rich cultural heritage, so naturally we will need to sample it. Probably every night, actually.

Also, we'll be doing some ethnology studies. For credit, of course. It's interesting to note that the women of Iceland are overwhelmingly blonde, and we'll take a deeper look at the reasons. I realize we're both married men and all, but this is a scientific study tour, so we'll need to take notes. Of course, our University of North Dakota co-eds will include some brunettes and redheads. I hope the presence of these outliers won't throw our studies off too badly.

Andrew

(March 19, 1949. Via Royal Telegram)

Andrew,

Co-eds? I don't know what that means, but I'm warming up to this idea of yours. What's the food like? My stomach can't take anything rich.

P. Newkirk

PS, "Liars" is with an "a," not an "e." I'll never understand your American bloody English. What's an outliar? These "co-eds" must be rather naughty if they've got so much to lie about.

(March 21, 1949. Via Western Union Telegram)

Peter,

Oh, how bad could the food be? You've had bouillabaisse.

I'll explain outliers when I see you. Please book your tickets at least 90 days before we arrive in Iceland on the evening of July 19.

Andrew

(April 17, 1949. Via Royal Telegram)

Andrew,

It was a battle, but Rita finally agreed that I needed a little time with me old mate. I'm booked on BOAC Flight 72, arriving every other day at 2 pm. I'll meet you at the Hotel Borg in Reykjavik on July 19.

Cheers,
Peter

(July 26, 1949. A long distance call from Reykjavik to Paris)

Louis? This is Peter. Yes, Pierre.

Fine, fine. Rita's fine. The kids are fine.

Where am I? Well, the sign says Reykjavik General Hospital.

Yes, in Iceland.

Can you come get me? Please, little mate?

No, don't worry. I'm not bleeding. Not externally, anyway. God only knows about my insides.

Well, yes, I do need you.

Yes, now. They won't let me go home alone.

The doctors, that's who.

I didn't do anything! I swear it's not my fault! I was here with Carter!

Well, it's complicated, Louis.

Yes, I know you've heard that before.

Oh, come on. Let me explain.

You see, Andrew and I found ourselves in a bit of a sticky wicket on our collegiate geothermal energy study tour.

Oh, yes, I learned a lot. I learned that I can't eat the local cuisine, for one thing.

Andrew? Oh, he's out of hospital already. Heading home to North Dakota. With the "co-eds," whatever that means.

Believe me, I wanted to kill him myself. I can't believe his consumption of the local putrefied shark didn't do the trick for me.

Me? I'm pretty sure it was the pickled ram's testicles that landed me in hospital. Or possibly the singed sheep's head jam.

Well, yes, it is bloody disgusting. I'm glad you agree. You know I've always had a weak stomach.

No, mate. It was definitely, definitely NOT the brennivín. That stuff went down like liquid gold.

Oh, come on. Please, Louis?

No, YOU call Rita. I'm afraid. She told me I'd be sorry if I went without her.

Please, little mate?

Yes, I apologize for everything I ever said about your cooking.

Yes, I will try the fish stew again. Once the doctors clear me to take solids.

Ah, merci, Louis. You're a real china. Did I ever tell you you're my best mate ever?

No, definitely NOT Carter. He just gets me into trouble.

You can get away from the restaurant? All right then.

Arriving tomorrow? That would be grand, mate.

Oh, one more thing. When you take me home, do you mind telling Rita my black eye came from a spelunking injury and NOT from a blonde with a wicked right hook?

(August 7, 1949. Via U.S. Air Mail)

Peter,

Wow, that was sure a fun trip to Iceland! Hey, there's this amazing volcano in Costa Rica called Arenal. Wanna go?

Andrew

H=H=H=H=H

Author's note: This question was asked and answered on March 1, 2015. My original answer was: "Carter would take a vacation in Iceland because he's heard about those exploding geysers and HAS to see them go boom! Actually, I could see geothermal energy holding great fascination for him, and maybe he'd even lead a university study group there. Professor Carter would have a hard time containing his joy at those explosions!"

Also, a co-ed is an anachronistic term for a female student at a North American university that accepts both men and women (i.e., is "co-educational.) It's a fine example of normative language, in which men pursuing an education is the norm and women pursuing an education is the aberration. All the details about the food are real, I'm disturbed to say. And the Hotel Borg is the oldest luxury hotel in Iceland.

My interest in this topic was piqued by the fact that my parents actually lived in Iceland in the 1950s.