Information Sheet

Information Sheet
WF1
WF18 Sólheimar Eco village
11/0
11/07
/07 – 25/0
25/07
/07 2008
Your workcamp see also www.wf.is
Sólheimar Eco-village, founded in 1930, is the first community of its kind in the world where so-called
able and disabled people live and work together. Inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner, Sólheimar
has focused on cultivating the individual and the environmental and is the first community in
Scandinavia to practice organic cultivation. Today, Sólheimar is a charming village of about 100
inhabitants, renowned for its international, artistic and ecological atmosphere, which prides itself on its
varied cultural, social and sporting activities. The volunteers have free access to the swimming pool and
gym. Volunteers are also encouraged to take part in social happenings in Sólheimar like in sports, music,
the theatre group, etc. Sólheimar Arts Summer festival will last until the beginning of August. The
program is varied with all sorts of arts exhibitions, an outdoor market, and theatre and cabaret
performances at 4 o’clock every Saturday and every Sunday in the theatre and café Græna Kannan.
Volunteers are welcome to participate in the singing groups and cabarets.
We will be working for 6 to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week with free weekends.
We will mostly work in the Ölur Forestry Centre (the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland)
and in the Sunna Organic Cultivation Centre. More environmental tasks in which we can help out
may pop up for us as well. The work in Ölur and the other environmental tasks might consist of
making paths and planting trees in the South Iceland Farm Forest. In Sunna we will be planting
vegetables, digging weeds out and doing other kinds of garden work.
The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible.
Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for
unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
1
We will be staying in one of the houses in Sólheimar and the
accommodation is very nice. Beds will be provided and
everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.
Our host in Solheimar is offering a prepared lunch every working day. We
will be responsible for our food our selves on weekends and daily for
breakfast and dinner. Everyone is expected to do their fair share of the
shopping/cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different
dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes and ingredients which
might not available in Iceland from your own countries
It is, of course, up to us how we use our free time and we will decide what to do together as a group, so
we hope you will think of some good ideas as well! We can get to know each other better through
activities in the town.
Possible activities could be hiking, visiting sites of interest and generally having fun and enjoying
Iceland’s fantastic nature together. Be sure to bring along your swimsuit, as we will have the opportunity
to go swimming in an Icelandic hot pot.
2
Furthermore, we hope to be able to organize some activities with local people, like sports tournaments,
a barbecue or whatever else you come up with and feel like doing. We will have free access to the local
swimming pool.
Definitely yourself and plenty of enthusiasm, loads of good energy and a huge smile!! As you might
know Icelandic weather is very dynamic and changes rapidly. Therefore, even though the work camp
will take place during the summer season, we strongly advise you to bring:
☺ Rain coat and trousers
☺ Warm and waterproof clothes and shoes
☺ Working clothes and shoes which you don’t mind to destroy
☺ Hiking boots
☺ Warm sleeping bag
☺ Swimsuit
Remember to inform us in advance about any special health conditions and be sure to bring along any
medication you need and to tell us in advance about any special needs, dietary requirements or other
important information. In Iceland there are many different kinds of hay, so if you suffer from hay fever
it is advisable to bring all your medicine along.
Furthermore, please pack your favourite tapes, CDs, games, instruments and recipes, as cooking and
other social activities will greatly depend on your own initiative.
We would strongly advice you to take out private insurance for the duration of your stay here in Iceland.
If you take out private insurance, bring along your insurance card as well all the important phone
numbers and leave a copy of the insurance details and phone numbers at home as well.
Veraldarvinir will provide you with basic medical insurance for the duration of the workcamp.
However, it is a very basic insurance and will not cover you for travel before or after the camp or your
belongings.
3
Also, if your country of origin is part of the European Union, make sure to bring an E 111 form with
you as this will entitle you to healthcare services in Iceland.
On arrival at Keflavík International Airport, the cheapest way to get to Reykjavík is taking the Flybus
(http://www.flybus.is), which leaves towards the city after every single flight and costs 1300 ISK one
way (about €12 or USD18). It’s about a 45min drive to the main bus station (BSI) in Reykjavík from
where there are connecting buses to all parts of the country.
However, previous years experience has taught us how high the prices for local public transport (both
bus and national flights) are in Iceland. In order to make it easier for our participants, in past years we
have rented a minibus to take them to the camp-site ourselves. This means that we can start the
workcamp a little earlier and stop of at sites of interest along the way to take some pictures, which is not
possible if you travel by public bus.
As it will make the organization easier for all of us, we strongly recommend the minibus option.
Please inform us if you are interested in taking the minibus as soon as you receive this info
sheet (short reply to [email protected] ).
Of course some of you may arrive in Iceland a couple of days, or even weeks prior to the beginning of
the camp and may choose to travel independently to the camp. Therefore we set up 2 meeting points;
one for the people that are taking the minibus option, and one for the people that are travelling
independently to the work camp-site.
The price of the minibus is 17 euros per person for one direction.
For participants travelling with the minibus from Reykjavik to Sólheimar the meeting point is at
the BSI bus station www.bsi.is 11/07 at 09.00
For participants travelling individually to the work camp, the meeting point will be on 11/07 at
14.00 in Sólheimar.
For Information about public transport Please have a look at www.bsi.is. According to experience the
schedule will be published in late May.
4
Before or/and after the camp WF can arrange sleeping bag accommodation in a house in
Reykjavík at a cheaper price than anywhere else in town (20 Euros per night). We will let you
know where that location is, as soon as you book accommodation (short reply to [email protected], for
details see further below).
We start all our minibus trips to the camps in the Main bus station called BSI www.bsi.is if you
decide to stay in this house the night before the camp starts than you don’t have to go to the
meeting point in Reykjavik, we will pick you up at the accommodation.
WF Iceland – Veraldarvinir
Iceland
Tel:
+354 -552 52 14
Fax: +354 -552 52 14
[email protected]
For further information take a look at our website www.wf.is
•
•
+ 354 849 2860 Emergency phone – open 24 hours
+354-868 2324 Toti, Director of the Organisation
You can contact us for all your questions concerning the camp.
5
Once you have received this Information Sheet and read it carefully, please inform us (via email to
[email protected]) about the following points:
Participation Fee. Are you aware of the 90 Euros to be paid on arrival to WF as an
extra participation fee for your work camp?
•
WF Iceland charges a participation fee for the following reasons:
1. Lack of support from the Government and other sources.
2. In some of our work camps WF itself has to supply food which is quite expensive in
Iceland compared to other European countries.
3. Most of our partner organizations in other countries cover their administration costs
through the fees they charge to the volunteers they send abroad. We do not send enough
volunteers abroad in order to cover our administrative expenses so we need to charge a
participation fee from the volunteers we receive.
Travel to the camp site
Are you taking the minibus option? If not, please inform us as well to be aware of your travel
means and possible arrival time.
•
• Accommodation in Reykjavik
As advised and in order to be able to join the camp on time and fully, participants are asked to
arrive to Iceland the latest one day prior to the starting date of the camp and to leave the country
the earliest one day after the camp ends. WF can arrange sleeping bag accommodation at a flat
located in Reykjavik at a cheaper price than anywhere else in town (20 Euros per night). Please
let us know if you need accommodation in Reykjavik and for how many nights, stating the dates.
It is also possible to book the sleeping bag accommodation for stays after the camp.
6
Further Information
Veraldarvinir/Worldwide Friends (WF)
WF was founded in 2001 as a non-governmental, non-profit organization
promoting nature and peace orientated activities for people interested in
spending some time in Iceland as volunteers. WF also sends Icelanders abroad
who wish to have similar experiences as volunteers. The main activities offered
are work camps, exchange programs and educational seminars. All our activities
are suitable for anybody over the age of 18.
In our present time the endeavour of attaining world peace has become a tangible reality, and the
development and strengthening of bonds of cooperation and friendship through contact with people
from other countries and cultures has proven to be one of the most fruitful means to achieve
understanding and unity among nations. Veraldarvinirs main aim is to increase intercultural
understanding through offering foreign volunteers the opportunity to take part in nature and peace
oriented activities.
For volunteers coming to Iceland, such projects will give them a unique opportunity to not only explore
and directly interact with Iceland’s unique culture and landscape, but also to work with other
international volunteers as well as with local inhabitants in demanding and unfamiliar contexts. The
direct interaction with unspoiled nature and with people from different backgrounds sharing common
interests generates challenging situations and provides the participants with invaluable opportunities to
learn more about themselves as individuals, their international fellowmen, their respective cultures, and
the human and natural richness of Mother Earth. These are all unique possibilities for harnessing world
union and understanding in an integrated manner.
The 2 main airlines that are flying to Iceland are:
•
www.icelandair.com
•
www.icelandexpress.com
The following airlines are flying to Iceland (Keflavík Intl.) as well:
•
•
www.aigleazur.net
www.bhairlines.com
7
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
www.britishairways.com
www.futura-aer.com
www.ltu.de
www.scandinavian.net
www.spanair.com
www.swiss.com
www.travelservice.aero
www.heimsferdir.is
We strongly recommend you to book your flights so as to allow sufficient time to travel by the means of
transport (here in Iceland) you choose to reach the camp-site (for details, see below). Please book your
flights at the very least one day before the camp begins and one after it ends and note that it may be
necessary to allow significantly more time if you are travelling by public transport within Iceland. This
way, you ensure to have enough time available to get to the airport on time and catch the plane without
having to miss the last day(s) of the work camp.
Citizens from the European Economic Area (comprising the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), US,
Canada, Australia and New Zealand need only a passport valid for at least three months after the
planned date of arrival to enter Iceland for up to three months. For more detailed information on visas
and procedures, please visit http://www.utl.is/english
As regards customs regulations, all visitors to Iceland, irrespective of country of origin, can bring in the
following: either one litre of spirits and one litre of wine, or one litre of spirits and six litres of beer, or
one litre of wine and six litres of beer or two litres of wine. In addition to this, 200 cigarettes, or 250g of
other tobacco products, are also permitted. If you want to get more updated and accurate information,
see http://www.tollur.is/displayer.asp?cat_id=300
Branches of Iceland's three banks – Glitnir, Landsbanki Íslands and K.B Bankí are found all around the
country, including in many single-street villages, and most sport and most sport an ATM, often located
in a weather-proof lobby that can be accessed outside opening hours. Normal banking hours are
Monday to Friday 9.15am to 4pm, though a few branches in Reykjavík have longer hours.
All banks handle foreign exchange, with the Glitnir charging no commission and the others a nominal
fee per transaction. Outside banking hours, you could also try major hotels or The Change Group,
which has three branches in Reykjavík and one in Akureyri – rates, however, are poor and commissions
high in both cases.
8
Travellers' cheques that are available in advance through banks and travel agents, are the safest way to
carry your funds around, as they can be cashed in all Icelandic banks and many hotels, and can be
replaced if lost or stolen – just keep a list of the serial numbers separate from the cheques. Credit cards
are widely used in Iceland for just about everything (even for buying hot dogs!). MasterCard and Visa
are the major brands, valid not just for shopping but also for cash advances over the counter at all banks
and a few of the larger post offices.
Iceland's small scale makes getting around fairly straight forward, at least during the warmer months.
From Reykjavík, it's possible to fly or catch a bus to all major centres, and in summer there are even
scheduled buses through the Interior. It's also easy enough to hire cars or four-wheel-drives, though
those on a budget will find cycling a more practical alternative.
On the ground, whether you're planning to take buses around the country, hire a car or cycle about,
you'll probably spend a good deal of time on Route 1, or Hringvegur, the Ringroad, which largely
follows the coast in a 1500-kilometre circuit of the country via Reykjavík, Akureyri and Egilsstaðir. With
the exception of a long gravel run in the northeast between Mývatn and Egilsstaðir, most of the
Ringroad is surfaced, and in winter snow ploughs do their best to keep the route accessible to
conventional vehicles, though you'll still need to take care and use snow tires.
Elsewhere, while stretches around towns might be surfaced, the majority of Icelandic roads are gravel.
Some of these are perfectly decent if bumpy to travel over, while many others – such as roads through
the Interior – are only navigable in high-clearance four-wheel-drives. Note that interior roads are only
open between June and August: exactly when each opens and closes each year – or whether some open
at all – depends on the weather, and the going can be difficult even then. You can check on the current
road conditions anywhere in Iceland by logging on to www.vegag.is, a continually updated Web site in
English and Icelandic that shows maps of the country with roads colour-coded according to their state.
a) BUSES
Buses are pretty much the most convenient way to get around a large chunk of Iceland, and Iceland's
umbrella long-distance-bus organization, BSÍ (www.bsi.is), based at the bus station in Reykjavík, puts
out a free, comprehensive timetable of scheduled departures and tours run by various companies.
Between May and October, scheduled services cover the entire Ringroad and many other routes, with
regular tours tackling interior destinations once the roads open around June – about the only way you'll
get to see these remote places unless you've considerable off-road driving experience and the right
vehicle. On the down side, bus travel is expensive, especially for the relatively small distances involved.
In purely point-to-point terms you may find it costs less to fly, and if you can get a group of three
people or so together, car rental works out even cheaper.
9
b) HITCH HIKING
Hitch hiking around Iceland is possible, at least if you have plenty of time. Expect less traffic the further
you go from Reykjavík, and even on the Ringroad there are long stretches where you may go for hours
without seeing a vehicle though it's likely that the first car passing will stop for you.
The best places to line up lifts are either at campsites, hostels, or the fuel stations which sit on the
outskirts of every settlement; it's possible, too, that staff in remoter places might know of someone
heading your way.
Having said this, holidaying Icelanders will probably already have their cars packed to capacity, so make
sure you have as little gear as possible – without, of course, leaving behind everything you'll need to
survive given the climate and long spaces between shops. And though Iceland may be a safer place to
hitch than elsewhere in Europe, Australia, or the US, doing it still carries inherent risks, and the best
advice is not to do it. If you must hitch, never do so alone and remember that you don't have to get in
just because someone stops. Given the wide gaps between settlements it will probably be obvious where
you are heading for, but always ask the driver where they are going rather than saying where it is you
want to go.
c) FLIGHTS
The main domestic carrier is Flugfélag Íslands www.flugfelag.is , who fly all year from Reykjavík to
Vestmannaeyjar, Ísafjörður, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir and Höfn (Hornafjörður) almost daily.
Other airlines out of Reykjavík and Akureyri concentrate on connections to remoter settlements across
Iceland's northwest and northeast. Íslandsflug is the largest of these operators, and also offers combined
air-and-land tours of a day's or more duration from Reykjavík to various popular spots: Húsavík for
whale watching; Mývatn for the lake and nearby hot pots; and Vestmannaeyjar for puffins and more
volcanoes.
Booking flights presents no particular problems. Note, however, that bad weather can cause
cancellations at short notice and that it's best to book ahead for summer weekends and holidays. For the
up to date fares, online booking and other information go to www.airiceland.is.
10
Other things of interest
Electricity is 240v, 50Hz AC. Plugs are round pin with either two or three prongs; appliances fitted with
overseas plugs need an adaptor.
web pages:
http:/ www.icelandreview.com
www.grapevine.is
www.reykjavik.com
www.icetourist.is
www.iceland.is
www.iceland.org
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is the International Airport in Iceland called?
It’s called Keflavík International Airport (KEF)
2. How do I get from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík?
The easiest way is to take the Flybus (www.flybus.is) which costs 1.300 ISK.
3. How much in advance should I get to Iceland, and how longer should I stay in Iceland after
the camp in order not to miss anything from my work camp?
Please make sure to come one day before the first day of your work camp to Iceland, and leave
the country at the earliest one day after the last day of your work camp.
4. What kind of accommodation is provided?
The accommodation is a basic sleeping bag accommodation with mattresses and cooking
facilities. Please be aware that you will share a room with other volunteers.
5. What is included in the price for the accommodation in Reykjavík?
The price only includes the sleeping; no meals are covered with the price. Participants are asked
to cook their own meals in the provided kitchen.
11
6. How do I get to the accommodation?
WF will provide with a map and directions on how to reach the accommodation as soon as
possible, so please be a little bit more patient ☺
7. How do I get into the accommodation?
We will drop you an envelope with the key at the BSÍ Bus Station (the station you arrive with the
Flybus). Just go to the service desk inside and tell them your name and they will hand you out
your envelope (Off course only if you have booked accommodation beforehand over
[email protected]!).
8. My plane is arriving late at night. What can I do?
No problem, the BSÍ bus station is open all night, and with the key you have access to the
accommodation at all hours.
9. When do I turn the keys back?
Before your departure from the accommodation, you will put the key in the designated box or
give it to the person taking care of the accommodation and the fees.
10. When do I pay the fee for the accommodation and my work camp?
You will pay for it in the accommodation to the person that is in charge of it.
11. I would like to get to know my participants before the camp starts. How can I do this?
You will definitely meet some of the participants of your camp in the accommodation in
Reykjavík before the camp starts.
12. How many people will take the minibus?
That depends on how many participants choose the minibus option. But it’s usually just about
everyone.
13. When does the minibus leave after my work camp?
It leaves in the morning of the last official day of the work camp towards Reykjavík. You will
definitely be back in Reykjavík in the evening of the last day of your work camp. But please
make sure that you don’t book a flight back home on the last day of your camp because we
always have to expect some delays when driving in Iceland.
12
14. How is the accommodation going to be like in my work camp?
The accommodation will be quite basic, and you will sleep on the floor. In most cases, our
participants are hosted in a community facility like a school or a community house.
15. Do I have to bring a mattress to my camp?
No you don’t have to bring a mattress; it will be provided by us.
We are looking forward to welcome you here in Iceland – takk fyrir
13