yet is home to Europe’s largest glacier;

卻又是歐洲最大的冰原停駐的地方

it’s perched on the edge of the arctic circle,

這裡地處北極圈的邊緣地帶

yet is warmed by the Gulf Stream,…Iceland truly is,

卻又有墨西哥灣流為它帶來暖意....冰島真的是

the Land of Fire and Ice. It’s also the land, of story.

冰火交融的土地。而且這片土地上充滿了故事

The marks of human hands are few and far between on this windswept land.

在這被風雕塑的土地上，有著少許人跡

Footprints are quickly reclaimed, but stories,…linger forever.

旅者的足跡雖然很快的就被覆蓋抹去，然而故事...則會永遠被傳誦

Such is the sheer force and beauty of this place that Viking warriors

就在這片充滿力與美的土地上，維京的勇者門

have been transformed into poets, and family stories into epic sagas.

被寫進了史詩般的詩篇中，屬於家族的不朽傳說也被傳誦著

When Norseman, Ingólfur Arnarson,

當那古老的挪威人， 殷格.雅納遜

first caught sight of these shores over eleven-hundred years ago,

在 1100 多年前看到冰島的海岸的第一眼時

he cast the wooden seat pillars of his chieftain throne overboard

將自己象徵首領的木座柱子丟入海中

and vowed to build his farm wherever they washed up.

並誓言將在柱子升起的地方建立起自己的家園

Three years later the pillars were found and a settlement was born.

3年後，木柱被發現了，墾殖時代於焉誕生

That settlement became Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital,

當年那個地點現在正是冰島的首都，雷基亞比克

a city two-thirds of Icelanders now call home.

目前有大約2/3的冰島人居住這個城市裡

With a population of only 300,000,

由於其人口數僅有30萬人

Iceland can feel like the most isolated place on earth,

讓冰島像是一個遺世獨立的國度

yet Reykjavik is only a three-hour flight from London,

雖然雷基亞比克和倫敦間僅有3小時的飛行距離

and just under six from New York.

離紐約也只有6小時

Reykjavik is one of those places that’s not sure if it’s big town,

雷基亞比克屬於那種你無法斷言它是個大鄉鎮

or a small city, and therein lays its charm.

或小城市的地方，這也正是它的魅力所在

It’s relaxed and welcoming,

這裡的休閒逸致令人流連忘返

yet possesses a fierce creativity

又充滿著狂野的創造力

and cultural life that holds its own against other European capitals.

其獨有的文化特質，與其他的歐洲首都有著截然不同的風情景致

Most buildings here are a response to the natural environment,…

大部分的建築物都依著其天然的環境而建造

simple and low, to beat the North Atlantic winds,…colourful,

簡單並且低樓層，以抵抗北大西洋的海風...其用色鮮豔多彩

to brighten the spirits through the long dark winters.

來使漫長的寒冬中也有令人亮眼的神氣

Yet there's grand civic architecture here too,

還有壯觀的市區建築物

buildings truly inspired by Iceland’s natural beauty.

這些建築的靈感都來自冰島的天然美景

Like a spire from a fairy tale ice-castle,

就像是童話中冰雪城堡蜿蜒矗立

the soaring central tower of Hallgrímskirkja watches over all of Reykjavik.

哈爾葛林母教堂高聳的塔樓可以俯瞰整個雷基亞比克市區

Designed to mirror the geometric shapes of ancient lava flows,

其設計彷似火山熔岩流動的幾何圖形

few other churches in the world so honour the natural world.

是少數幾個向大自然致敬的教堂

Iceland’s conference and concert center,

冰島的會議中心及音樂廳

Harpa, is designed to reflect the city’s sky,

哈帕，其設計閃耀映照城市的天空

harbour and cultural energy.

海港及文化力量

Once again,

再一次的

the island’s dramatic geologic formations are honoured here,

這棟建築凸顯了冰島戲劇性的地質結構

as well as the incredible winter spectacle of the Northern Lights.

以及冬天時令人驚嘆的北極光

Icelanders value their heritage buildings too.

冰島人也非常珍視祖先遺留的建築

When Reykjavík modernised in the mid-twentieth century,

當雷基亞比克在20世紀中期走進現代時

dozens of the city’s older buildings were relocated to the last of the city’s farms.

許多城市的古老建築移進了在城市中最後的農莊中

Today, Arbaejarsafn, serves as a museum which allows visitors

今日，Arbaejarsafn已經成為一個博物館，讓遊客有機會

to walk through the pages of earlier times. While at the National Museum of Iceland,

走入冰島屬於過往的時光扉頁，在國立博物館中

take a voyage through Icelandic history,

看見冰島的歷史

from the present day, back to the Settlement Age.

再從現代回到墾殖時期

Wherever you step in this city,

不論何時，當你踏進這個城市

nature beckons you,…over windswept waters, across the mountains,

大自然便不斷向你招手... 越過狂風颳起的大水,穿過綿延的山脈

and into limitless horizons.

進入無限蜿蜒的地平線中

Many of the country’s most popular sights are within easy reach of Reykjavík,

在雷基亞比克，冰島大多數的著名景點都可以很容易到達

often by public transport.

只要利用市區的大眾運輸

Immerse yourself in the spirit of Iceland,

讓自己沉浸在冰島的精神中

at the Blue Lagoon. Here, and at hundreds of volcanic baths across the island,

在藍潟湖，以及島上數百個火山浴池中

locals come to soak in the healing thermal waters,

當地人會來到這些療癒之池中泡浴

share gossip with neighbours, and even conduct business meetings.

和鄰居分享生活瑣事，甚至進行生意會談

Not far from Reykjavík is an area known as The Golden Circle,

離雷基亞比克不遠處有一個名為黃金環的地方

which encompasses three of Iceland’s greatest natural wonders.

這裡包括了三個冰島最大的奇景

Just 30 miles from the capital, is Thingvellir National Park,

離首都30英哩遠的地方是辛格韋德利國家公園

considered the country’s heart and soul.

是國家的心臟與靈魂所在

Here, you can actually walk between the tectonic plates of North America and Europe,

在這裡，你正是在北美與歐洲的構造板塊之間漫步

that have been drifting apart for millennia.

這裡每千年就漂移分開一點

Stand upon the shore of the country’s largest lake,

站在冰島最大的湖邊

…wander the grass covered lava flows

...漫步在被草覆蓋住的熔岩柱間

and imagine the clans who gathered here for Iceland’s open air parliament,

並想像著當年在這裡開著露天議會的宗族們

for two weeks each year, for over 800 years.

那是一個每年2個禮拜，持續了800年的傳統

Also in the Golden Circle,

並且在黃金環中

experience a boiling cauldron of hissing steam vents and belching mud pools,

體驗彷若嘶嘶冒著熱氣的大氣鍋排出蒸氣的景象以及爆發的泥漿池塘

at the Geysir Geothermal Field.

這就是蓋錫爾間歇噴泉地

The Great Geysir itself has been quiet in recent years,

蓋錫爾本身這幾年都很安靜

but nearby, it’s little brother Strokkur, still puts on a show,

但在不遠處，它的小兄弟斯特羅科間歇泉依然持續活躍

thrusting water into the heavens every 10 minutes.

每10分鐘，其強力的水柱灌進天際

If there’s one natural wonder in The Golden Circle that outshines them all, it’s Gullfoss.

如果有任何能讓黃金環奇景相形失色的，那就是古佛絲瀑布了

Early last century, the waterfall was threatened by a hydroelectric project,

上一個世紀初，這個瀑布曾經因為一個水力發電專案而有被破壞的危險

until a local farmer’s daughter walked barefoot to Reykjavik

直到當地一位農夫的女兒赤足走到雷基亞比克

and threatened to throw herself from the falls unless the project was stopped.

威脅要跳下瀑布才阻止了該項專案

Today, that woman is regarded as Iceland’s first environmentalist,

現在，這位女性被稱為冰島的第一位環保鬥士

and The Golden Falls have been protected, forever.

而黃金瀑布則得以永久受到保護

For many visitors, their Icelandic story continues

對於許多遊客而言，屬於他們的冰島故事

no further than Reykjavik and The Golden Circle,

就停留在雷基亞比克和黃金環

which is a shame, because the further you roam, the greater the adventure.

這其實非常可惜，因為更多的驚喜就深藏在不遠的前方

Iceland’s main ring road circles the entire island,

冰島主要的環狀道路環繞整座島嶼

stringing together an endless series of epic landscapes and tales.

把無盡的壯觀地形景觀與傳說串連一起

An hour and a half’s drive east from Reykjavik

從雷基亞比克往東一個半小時的車程

is one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls,

有一個世界上最美的瀑布

Seljalandsfoss.

塞里雅蘭瀑布

Follow the trail behind a 200 foot veil of pure glacial water,

順著小徑的後方是200呎長猶如純白面紗的天然冰原水

where throughout the ages, adventurers have come to pause,

好幾世代的探險者來此逗留

and breathe in the mists of this sacred place.

在迷霧中的聖境沉浸歇息

Drive another 18 miles east, to Skógafoss, where according to folklore,

再往東開18英哩就到了斯科加爾瀑布，根據民間的傳說

a Viking buried his chest of gold behind the falls. Years later,

有一位維京海盜在瀑布後方埋下了一箱金子，多年後

a local boy found the chest and attempted to wrench it from it’s hiding place,

一個當地的男孩發現這個箱子並試圖將箱子硬拉出來

only to tear off its handle before the chest vanished again.

結果只有在箱子再次消失前拽下了箱子的把手

On sunny days the falls create a double rainbow, a treasure in itself.

出太陽的時候,瀑布會映照出一個雙層的彩虹,這是屬於瀑布的珍貴寶藏

Continue eastward towards Vík, the southern-most village in the country.

繼續往東走就到了冰島最南端的村莊—— 維克

Here wedged between the mountains and the sea

這裡正座落在山與海之間

lie some of Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes, weather, and legends.

展示了冰島最戲劇化的地形景觀，氣候以及傳說

Explore the basalt sands of Black Beach,

在這裡一探黑沙灘和玄武岩砂的面貌

considered one of the most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world.

這裡被稱為是世界上最美麗的非熱帶海灘

Just offshore rise the basalt sea stacks of Reynisdrangar.

離岸不遠處矗立著傳說中的海上小精靈

Locals say the formations are the remains of two trolls heading out to sea,

當地人說這些石柱就像兩個準備出海的小精靈

who, when caught by the rising sun were frozen in the morning light.

卻被升起的太陽困住，而在晨光中被石化了

The shorelines here are made up of otherworldly rock formations and caves,

這裡的海岸線是被傳說中來自陰間的岩石及洞穴所組成的

like Hálsanefshellir,

像是Hálsanefshellir岩洞

said to be a monster’s lair until a landslide sealed the entrance only a century ago.

曾有傳說是一個怪獸居住的洞穴，直到一世紀前的一次山崩封住了洞穴入口

Hike across the natural arch of Dyrholaey and sit surrounded by puffins.

徒步健行穿過Dyrholaey天然拱門並且坐在海鸚環繞間

While below, waves that have travelled uninterrupted,

往下看,海浪一波接著一波

all the way from Antarctica, end their journey against Iceland’s most southerly point.

從南極洲遠道來到冰島最南端結束它們的旅程

Follow the ring road for another two hours,

跟著環狀道路再走2個小時

into the ethereal light of Jökulsárlón Lake.

進入到Jökulsárlón Lake欣賞天光之美

Here, at the tongue of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier,

這兒，在Jökulsárlón Lake的舌尖之處，是歐洲最大的冰原

icebergs break away and float for years,

裂開的冰山長年在此漂流著

melting down until they are small enough to tumble out to sea.

慢慢的溶成可以流入海裡的大小

A magnet for photographers and filmmakers,

這裡吸引了許多攝影家及影片製作人

Jökulsárlón has been the setting for modern day legends,

Jökulsárlón已然成為現代傳奇故事最愛的場景

like James Bond, Batman, and Lara Croft.

像是007，蝙蝠俠，和古墓儷影等

From the wild, windswept shores of the East Coast to the volcanic wonders of the north,

從西邊狂野， 颳風的海岸到北邊的火山奇景

Iceland’s ring road offers one jewel after another,

冰島的環狀道路提供了一個又一個的珍奇景色

all strung together with mile upon mile of absolute solitude.

串聯起好幾英哩綿延的孤寂悲壯

Stand before the northern horseshoe falls of Selfoss.

站在北邊的Selfos瀑布前

Then just downstream,

然後順流而下

feel the earth rumble beneath your boots at Europe’s mightiest waterfall,

到歐洲最強大的瀑布前感受世界在腳下轟轟作響

Dettifoss, who’s plume can be seen over half a mile away.

Dettifoss瀑布飛濺出如羽毛般的水霧在半哩外就可以看見

Nearby the Myvatn region awaits, whose centerpiece is a tranquil lake,

靠近Myvatn 地區有一條河川安靜的蜿蜒其中

surrounded by nature in all its violent beauty.

在充滿力量的大自然環繞中安祥流動著

Take a careful walk through the boiling landscape of Namafjall.

小心翼翼的穿過Namafjall滾燙的地形景觀後

Lose yourself amid the lava pillars and dark castles of Dimmuborgir,

在火山岩柱和暗黑的Dimmuborgir城堡中迷失自己

the place where Satan is said to have landed when God cast him from Heaven.

傳說這裡是撒旦在被上帝放逐後曾經落腳的地方

Then, peer into the caldera of Krafla Volcano,

然後，再去看看Krafla Volcano的火山口

and witness the incredible geothermal power that resides just beneath the ice.

見證藏身冰原中那不可思議的地熱能源

Just to the west of Myvatn,

在 Myvatn 的西邊

is a waterfall forever linked to a turning point in Iceland’s epic narrative.

是一座和冰島歷史故事中轉捩點息息相關的瀑布

When civil war threatened to tear the island in two in the 10th century,

在10世紀，當內戰就要將這個島拆散分裂成兩半時

Iceland’s law speaker united the country under one faith,

冰島的首領促使全國統一信仰

Christianity. In a symbolic act of conversion,

也就是基督教，在一次象徵改革的儀式中

the chieftain hurled his pagan totems off the falls,

首領將他異教徒象徵的圖騰丟入瀑布中

which have been known as Godafoss, the waterfall of the gods, ever since.

從那時候開始，這邊被命名為Godafoss —— 上帝的瀑布

After a few days on the road,

經過幾天的路程

the tiny city of Akureyri appears like an arctic oasis.

北極圈中的綠洲Akureyri出現在眼前

Known as the Capital of the North,

這是內戰時北邊的首都

Akureyri is the perfect place to warm up and enjoy some comfort and culture,

Akureyri是一個享受悠閒及文化的最佳地點

before heading off into the wilds again.

在這裡整裝休憩準備好再出發進入荒野之中

There are some stories we never want to end, that we never want to put down, but rest assured,

總有一些故事讓我們欲罷不能,不希望它結束，放心

this, is only an introduction. In Iceland, every side road,

這只是序幕，在冰島，每一條道路

every path is a story waiting to unfold. From the vast interior,

每一個小徑都有故事在等待著人們去發掘，從廣闊的內地

to the West Fjords, each untouched beach and windswept plain is an unwritten page.

到West Fjords，那些還沒有人跡的海灘以及颳著強風的平原都是待寫的扉頁

So come, and live your own Icelandic story, it’s one you’ll keep telling, for the

所以，來吧， 來寫下你自己的冰島傳說，這將是一個會不斷被轉述的故事

rest of your days.

在你人生的每一天