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Where Was It Shot: ‘Noah’
“Russell Crowe ate here while filming in Iceland,” I gawk at my friend over a steaming pile of pad Thai. Back in 2014, Crowe reached biblical heights as “Noah” in, you guessed it, ‘Noah’. Crowe endured nearly 40 days and 40 nights…
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Reader’s Letter: “Help Womans To Make Love”
Hello, I’m Flo from Romania. I’m looking for dating and job in Iceland. I remember one article when it says “Iceland government is paying for boys to immigrate to help womans to make love”. Is this true? I’m very interested to live…
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Ask An Astronomer: Do The Clocks Change In Iceland
The short answer is no. Here’s Dr Þorsteinn Sæmundsson from Almanak Háskóla Íslands (University of Iceland Almanac) with the long answer: Daylight saving time was first introduced as an emergency measure in World War I (1916) to save fuel and make better…
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Back To Basics: Crafting An Eco-Village, 45km From Reykjavík
A hand-painted sign marks the entrance to a brand new festival in a town you’ve probably never heard of. Instead of lager there are lectures, and instead of music there are man-made machines. Welcome to Iceland’s very first Nordic Permaculture Festival, a…
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Sacred Sweat: A Near Trip To The Sacred Seed Sweat Lodge
“The most important thing is to treat the ritual with respect,” explains Laila, ceremony leader of the sweat lodge at Sacred Seed near the Golden Circle. As I approach the dome-shaped tent clad with towels and rope, flames from the fire pull…
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Salmon, Sashimi And Skuggi The Dog: A Night On An Island In Iceland
Just an hour’s drive from our beloved capital lies the tiny island Traustholtshólmi, population: 1. As I stand at the mouth of the river waiting for my host Hákon, wind pulls the hat straight off my head. A few minutes later, a…
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New In Town: Bao Bun
It’s a-bao time Chinese street food arrived in Reykjavík. Parked outside Skúli Craft Bar, the Bao Bun food truck offers steamed buns filled with not-so traditional fillings like fried fish, portobello mushrooms, beef strips or pulled pork with Korean kimchi. You can…
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Where Was It Shot: Bon Iver “Holocene”
Let’s take a break from second-rate films to explore the world of music videos. This time it’s king of indie-folk Bon Iver. Where better for the haunting melody of the critically acclaimed “Holocene” than Iceland’s dramatic south coast? Released in 2011, the…
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Word Of The Issue: Farfuglaheimili
Iceland may be on everyone’s bucket list, but did you know that it’s also a firm favourite with migratory birds? Each year, thousands of species stop off en route to sunnier climes. Enter “farfuglaheimi,” directly translated as “home of migratory birds.” In…
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A New Hope: Meet The Women Fighting Domestic Violence
Iceland: a utopia for women, forged by equality. In recent years, international surveys have consistently named the country as the best in the world in which to be a woman—yet reports show that 25% of Icelandic women have experienced domestic violence. Police…
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Ask An Expert: Can I Have A Pet Snake?
If you’re some sort of snake-man hybrid looking to emigrate to Iceland, we’re afraid it’s bad news. In this country, it’s against regulations to have a pet snake, turtle or lizard. We asked Þorvaldur Þórðarson, Manager of Import and Export at the…
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Ask A Limnologist: Are There Any Mosquitoes In Iceland?
Professor Gísli Már Gíslason, Professor of Limnology (the study of lakes and fresh water) at the University of Iceland, explains: “Mosquitoes are not found in Iceland, though they are common in neighbouring countries like Greenland. In Britain for example, there are 32…
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Times Capsule: Hannesarholt
There’s nothing special about Hannesarholt, a 19th century building hidden in the heart of Reykjavík. At least, not from the outside. Inside, the house tells the story of Hannes Hafstein (1861-1922), a lawyer and prolific poet who was declared Iceland’s first Prime…
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Moss, Memes And Bodily Fluids: Tourists Let Loose In Iceland
Earlier this month, international press reported that tourists allegedly carved “SEND NUDES” into moss-covered hills in the south of Iceland. Who wrote it, and where exactly do we send these nudes? It appears as though the Instagram generation will do anything for…
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The Wonder Of The Westfjords: One of Iceland’s Best Kept Secrets
Three hundred and twenty-one kilometres northwest of Reykjavík lies Látrabjarg, the westernmost point of Europe, and arguably Iceland’s best kept secret. Látrabjarg is set in Iceland’s wild Westfjords, a stunning peninsula blessed with unspoilt nature, mountain roads and monumental landscapes. Although it…
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Giant Beer Keg Could Break Record For World’s Biggest
Hipsters rejoice! A giant 12 metre beer keg brimming with 50 different craft beers on 78 different tabs has “safely” arrived in Iceland to delight day drinkers at the craft beer festival Bjórfestival on June 24. The keg emigrated from the state…
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Scratching The Twitch: Birdwatching In Iceland
At 8am, two men arrived at my door dressed in utility trousers and plaid shirts. Friends for over seventeen years, Edward and Sigmundur (Simmi) are old hands at birding in Iceland. This was the time for my initiation. Edward gave me a…
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Last Item I Bought: Andri Már Sigurðsson
Guys, we’re curious about your shopping habits. So don’t be surprised if we one day hunt you down the street and ask: What was the last thing you bought? Name: Andri Már Sigurðsson Age: 33 Job: Busker/street performer Last purchase: Pipe tobacco
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Cabin Fever: A Guide To Iceland’s Smaller Spaces
I have always been fascinated by small spaces. I grew up in a concrete jungle, inhabited by more than 1.1 million people, and had to trek for miles to escape the city. That’s what brought me here. In Iceland, it’s easy to…
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A Defining Moment: Húrra’s Open Mic Night Fosters Fresh Talent
In a city saturated with culture, where do the young guns go? The comedians who want to see if they’ re actually funny, or the songwriters fresh from signing in the shower? Reykjavík is refined, a victim of its own success, and…
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Modern Day Viking: Meet The Man Bringing The Past To Life
I never thought I’d get the chance to meet a king. Although he may not reign, Gunnar “Viking” Ólafsson does have royal blood. Gunnar is a living, breathing Viking based here in Reykjavík, and founder of Einherjar, the city’s only group dedicated…
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Buy Shit: Stamps, Schnapps, Gourmet Chocolate & Sheepskin Rugs
Back away from the stuffed puffin. These Icelandic products are where it’s at. Stamps Remember in the good old days, when you’d go on holiday and pick up a mighty fine stamp? Me neither, but if you’re scrambling for space in your…
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Batting Up A Storm: Iceland’s Cricket Scene
This just in: Iceland has a cricket team. They might not have a pitch and they might not have the kit, but who cares. Iceland Cricket is serious, and they’re ready to spread the word about the sport in the face of…
