Thank you for pasting your thoughts of Mission Iceland on to the Europe a la Carte Blog.

Well as a lucky winner of the all expenses paid trip to the Canary Islands I would like to officially thank the ambassadors and the Canary Islands tourism board for this great opportunity. I visited the link and read the other blog and I must say I both agree and disagree. True, I think it may have been executed a bit better although since I didnt take part in the mission here I of course dont know the full extent of it so I cant be a judge or jury. If there wasnt any promoting going on in Kringlan and Smaralind, the countries biggest malls then I believe that would have been a mistake but other than that I see nothing to complain about.

I was in school at the university when I was first pitched the offer and I thought it was great, the ambassadors were nice and open and I realized this was definitely something I would tryout for, I then attended the party on wednesday and had a brilliant time. The DJ was upbeat even though things were rather quiet to start with but as time went on and alcohol went down then things livened up a bit. I managed to talk to alot of representatives and gained a few friendly acquaintances who I had a good time with.

It was then on thursday that I arrived for the interviews, I did have to wait 90-120 minutes and I think it would have been nice if I had been advised to go home for an hour but alas, I am a patient person and also with the prospect of such a generous gift I waited patiently. When it came my turn I put on my smile and had the same conversation in different variations though about 15 times and then had 5 different talks and one very unusual one. But of course the interviewees wanted to know why we wanted to go, what made us special, whether we were fun/outgoing etc. etc. so I answered as best I could.

So now I am waiting excitedly for 2 more weeks before my trip, I am looking forward to seeing what the schedule/programme for the trip will be and I definitely can’t wait :D So I would like to at least thank the tourism board in C. Islands and the ambassadors and I will definitely try to enjoy every moment of my trip.

regards, Jon Petursson

As you mention the Icelanders haven’t even been to the Canaries yet so that should certainly create plenty of buzz in social media circles.

Sounds like the No Winter Blues Campaign has been successful in the ascent of the Canaries to the top of your Winter Sun list. Have you been to the Canaries previously?

If I was the Canaries tourist board I’d be rubbing my hands in glee at the controversy – Haven’t they heard that there’s no such thing as bad publicity (up to a point of course) especially in social media circles. If people are talking about the campaign and not saying anything bad about the Canaries that’s a great result and they haven’t even brought the Icelanders over to Canaries yet.

I hope you’ll be getting an invitation to the Canaries; I must admit after having heard the interview, suddenly I’m starting to put the Canaries to the top of my list as a winter destination. I fancy Lanzarote myself after finding all about Cesar Manrique

http://www.heatheronhertravels.com/cesar-manrique-and-the-volcanic-island-of-lanzarote/