Surviving Iceland

When you travel to Iceland, you might acquire the sixth sense—and no, not the one involving Bruce Willis and dead people. The Icelandic sixth sense allows you to see huldufolk (hidden people), magical creatures that 80% of Icelanders (and many visitors!) believe exist. Some huldufolk are friendly, upstanding citizens. Others are up to no damn good. To help you get through your trip to Iceland, Let’s Go offers a brief survival guide:

Elves: Apparently, some look like humans, which makes picking them out a total crapshoot. Strategy: No cause for alarm. They’re harmless and live in their Westman Islands village.

Faeries: A deceptive bunch. The beautiful faeries are known to lure you with soft, plaintive music. Then, BOOM—they’ll carry you off. Strategy: Earplugs, or just run if you hear soft, plaintive music.

Gnomes: Small and subterranean. Strategy: Nothing to fear. Icelandic roads are often built around their settlements. They’re that respected.

Trolls: Bad news if you run into one of these nocturnal beasts. Some live in the Icelandic town of Dimmuborgir, near Mývatn. Strategy: Although they’re ugly, trolls fuss over hygiene. Get them dirty, mess with their hair, etc. The power plant at Nesjavelliri, for example, maintains a shower for the trolls to enjoy so they don’t meddle with Reykjavík’s water supply. An A+ tactic.