Back at the stables, over a cup of hot chocolate, Marteinn tells me that there are unexpected hazards for the unwary rider.

BBC: Iceland on horseback

Hours can tick by sitting at a window, hands warmed by a cup of hot chocolate, watching people in thick fur coats and hats wending their way through the wintry mists of the city.

BBC: Krak��w, inside out

Why spend the night stepping over pools of vomit when you could watch the entire thing on television, from the comfort of your own home, with a steaming cup of hot chocolate in hand?

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